I tend to be an all-or-nothing kind of person. When I set my mind on a goal, I pursue it without reserve. For instance, in high school, I loved science. I loved it so much, I dropped AP English so I could take AP Biology and AP Chemistry. I joined the Science Club and baked superconductors in the school kiln.But I’ll never forget a scholarship interview I had with some engineers. They laughed that I had included some awards for poetry in my scholarship portfolio. “A poetry writing engineer.” I can still feel the heat in my face as one man shook his head in disbelief.
Only a few months later I attended a Department of Energy science camp at Lawrence Berkley Laboratory and realized what a life of science might mean for me – sleeping on a cot in the lab so I could run experiments day and night. I knew I wanted more out of life than a lab.
Once again, that all-or-nothing side of me kicked in, and I turned my back on science in pursuit of the written word. I immersed myself in Stephen King, Anne Rice, Jean Auel, and Andre Norton. I majored in English in college, and even started my first novel as my senior thesis. Fantasy, Romance, Horror. I wanted to write it all.
Now, twenty years later (yes, that’s telling my age a little) I have finally found my “voice.” And guess what? It happens to be smack dab in the middle of my two favorite subjects – science and fiction. I guess the pendulum had to swing both ways before coming to rest.
Do you have a passion that influences other parts of your life? How have you found a balance?
© Tam Linsey, 2011. All rights reserved.
Cross posted at www.TamLinsey.com
