Cait London Is On Her Toes

Who can resist these?

As an Aries, my creativity meter runs high and energetic; we're sort of go-for-it people. That is why I celebrate my April birthday all month long; I see no reason to confine it to one day. Ready to take on challenges, I'm blogging in 2 places today: here about Toes (as they apply to writing) and I’ll probably drop by my own blog. Check my website for further schedules.

Wilson, my pumpkin who is currently sitting in my bread bowl and watching television, has drawn much interest. Wilson was purchased last October, intended to be the content of one of my homemade pies. However, his longevity is attributed to my too-busy schedule. In February, he sat at my bread bowl while I drove to my daughter's in Lexington, KY, some 9-11 hours of snow and ice covered roads. We were too busy to attend to Wilson, named after Tom Hanks' Wilson, and he returned to my home, secure in his bread bowl. He's actually a great companion, and there are pictures somewhere of him wearing leis. I blogged about him at Love is an Exploding Cigar earlier, and he has developed quite a fan base.

He listened attentively while I debated my upcoming articles about Self-Talk, Reinvention, or Toes. All three topics are very pertinent to me now, in my high creative-Aries period.

While driving the other day (and I do a lot of that), I listened to a great podcast from the Writing Show. (Lots of good writing helps on podcasts now.) A shy writer described how she overcomes her difficulty when promoting her books. Basically, she does what every writer should do, be her own best supporting friend and does Self-Talk, affirmations, etc. But it's nice to have other support, of course.

Which brings me to Claire, the empath featured in the first book of my psychic triplet trilogy, AT THE EDGE. The youngest triplet by 3 minutes absorbs the emotions and physical problems of anyone close to her and of necessity, must be reclusive. This leads to a life of creating designer handbags in rural Montana.

I drove all over Montana and wrote several books from that research. I did not have Wilson then; he missed the experience. (I don’t know why he is a “he.” I guess there’s a pumpkin sex expert somewhere in the realm. If so, please comment.)

Wilson would have also liked my visits to Lake Michigan, the setting for Tempest's story, A STRANGER'S TOUCH, and April release. Tempest's gift, or her curse as she sees it, is in her hands. She’s also a sculptor. I identified closely with her because I am an artist. She must wear gloves to protect herself from psychically absorbing the history of an object, or something of the individual who held it. Marcus would like Tempest's naked hands on him, but he also wants her help in finding a cold-case killer. Lake Michigan ties into the danger any of these triplets face when near large bodies of water, a universal portal for psychic contact. And someone definitely wants to contact and kill her entire family. She's determined to find the agent relic that may protect her family.

Which leads us to Leona in October's FOR HER EYES ONLY, set in Lexington, KY, Bluegrass country. Leona is a precognitive and suspected to be the most fierce and strongest of the triplets. Leona’s story ends the story arc begun with AT THE EDGE.

Story arcs, each with individual romance and suspense, but with continuing, building threads toward the final conclusion, are not easy writing projects. Tension has to build, each story leading to the next.

Which brings me to the subject of Toes. In the photographs, they're all very individual with unique shapes and abilities, just like the contemporary triplets descended from then ancient Celtic seer (I use runes, rather than tarot) and Viking chieftain (love Vikings). But each toe leads to the next and has a function within the framework of the foot, just as chapters relate to the book as a whole.

With all of the books written, I think of how much I've enjoyed the journey for this departure from my usual. This trilogy "stretched" my skills, and every writer needs that. I am also reminded of how much of me and my family went into each book. (My sister and I suspect we are psychically linked, much as the triplets.) I think of how much intrinsic research each writer carries within them, all the makings of stories just ready to be tapped.

Wilson seems to have enjoyed the ride, too.

Kathleen says: My introduction comes at the end because Cait's obviously a woman who enjoys a good road trip, so I wanted her to jump right in and be her go-for-it self! Cait's been a good friend of mine for a very long time, so it's my special pleasure to announce that we're celebrating her first appearance on the New York Times extended bestseller list this month with A STRANGER'S TOUCH.

What do you really think about the paranormal or the supernatural? Have you had any experiences? Even second-hand from someone you trust? Do you believe any of it? Fear it? Wish you could exercise a power or two? In your fiction do you like scary, fairy, woo-woo, scary woo-woo, scary fairy, other world...what else? And what added elements--humor, gore, sex, mythology--what else? What works for you, what doesn't, and how does any of this relate to being human (which, at its heart, is what story-telling is all about)?