Thursday, July 7, 2011

Making My Escape-What Makes a Writer

We've all heard the old addage, "write what you know."

If you look at my novels, you might say I know: druid magic, talking cats, Cupid's arrows, vampires, changelings, and hot seduction.


Okay, okay. I admit it! I know a few vampires. I am myself a human changeling. And my cat talks. The secrets are out. Call the Enquirer!

In all seriousness, like many an author, my childhood shaped who I am today and thus, what I write. I found books at a young age and in my teens latched onto reading as a life raft. I grew up in a turbulent, occasionally violent, home. You see, I do know vampires. Because my vampires are addicts and I know addiction intimately thanks to many a family member who battles the disease. More than one has lost that battle.

My first human changeling, Sadie, struggles with the fears and stigmas mental illness infects lives with. I know those fears first hand, witnessing my mother's battle with her mental illness.

No, my cat doesn't talk. I don't have a cat. Yet. But growing up, my dog Misty was one of the best listeners ever and loved me no matter what. Even when I screwed up really bad.

Along the sometimes rough road I've trekked, that I'll never regret a moment of, I learned about love. I learned how love transforms. Love forgives, love seduces and attracts.

I no longer need the life preserver my romance novels used to offer. I've learned how to swim. And through every heroine's journey, my deepest wish is that someone out there reading about her, will find hope and strength and escape. Just as I did.

What makes a writer? I suppose it's what makes any of us, only with a fire to create burning inside.

Oh, yeah, and a few voices in my head doesn't hurt.

No, not those kind of voices! Only good ones. Promise.

:}Amber Scott

6 comments:

Paty Jager said...

Amber,I like how your voice shines through in this post. I agree, it's the turbulent and the good lives we've led that make us who we are and help us to form the characters we write about.

Judith Ashley said...

Right after my father died and my mother was sick and my brother was diagnosed with end-stage emphysema I buried myself in romance novels -a genre I'd not read much before.
I can relate to having a safe place, at least mentally and emotionally to go when life seems overwhelming (or actually is). My hope is that my novels will provide for others what my favorite authors did for me. Great post, Amber.

Sarah Raplee said...

Amber, I love what you said: "I suppose it's what makes any of us, only with a fire to create burning inside."

If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that we are all more alike than we are different. People are just different enough to make things interesting.

Diana McCollum said...

You seem to draw from your life experiences to make your fantasy/paranormals. Those stories in our heads are what keep us all in the creative mode. I enjoyed your post.

Diana Mcc

Amber Scott said...

Thank you everyone! I debated about getting to personal here. I'm not the kind of person to dwell in the past. I'm so glad I shared and that it connected with you. We do have more in common than many of us realize.

Tam Linsey said...

I like how you related your writing to your life in a way we can truly understand. You made me smile - thanks!