I love this quote, and even more so, how well it reflects upon me.
It's kind of funny, but when I started writing "Taken", I had no idea that my writing had anything to do with me. To me writing was just an adventure that called to me (an adventure that my oldest son helped me hear the call of) - a dream awaking from a slumber that I hidden deep within me. However over the last couple of years, especially when I go back and re-read my published books, I'm both impressed - and embarrassed - with how much of me I put into them. I had been in a bad place - emotionally and mentally - when I set forth Ava's adventure in "Taken". And as I wrote Ava's story, instilled strength into her, I too gained confidence in myself, in what I wanted to do. ("Bring me to Life" by Evanescence had a big impact on developing Ava's story, and really helped me begin to break the shackles I had put upon myself). Ava might have begun my liberation, but it has been every story I've written that has helped me and reminded me of who I am. Each character, not just the main protagonist, has torn from me a piece of my being: who I am, who I want to be, who I'm afraid to be or become, who I will never be... It is remarkable that the more I re-read my published books, the more I can see - the more I understand - this quote. It's amazing how empowering writing has been, how reading my books reminds me of the hope, strength, and good that I want to have and be for others.
