Writing this book…….
I have realized one very important detail I overlooked. It was something I kind of took for granted and did a lot of assuming. Now I realize that while writing my book, there is one very important interview I never did. It was my own husband’s!
Charlie is an amazing man! I don’t think I’ve ever really wrote much about my husband because, well it’s my blog, and quite frankly, he is not especially interested in technology or social media at all! But I know when I blogged about the Clayton Fire, I wrote quite a lot about what he’d told me to do and how I had him in my head when I was my strongest. Still, I never really did an official interview about the Valley Fire with him for my book. I simply was going off of the things we went through together, and the things he told me during the days he was away on the fire. Not exactly the best perspective for me to have! It’s really only my perspective unless I do the full interview with him answering the questions. So that’s what I’m doing now!
In case you are just tuning into this blog or don’t know from before, my husband Charlie is a Battalion Chief for Lake County Fire Protection District and in my book, (no pun intended), one helluva guy! He has 36 years of fire service under his belt. He’s seen a thing or two, (as the insurance commercial says), and before the Valley Fire, I never saw him look particularly worried about a fire call. This one, I could see in his eyes and actions when he left, made him nervous!
I told him that the last piece of this story is going to come from him. I have the entire timeline following the Valley Fire mapped out in my book. It’s ready to be finished and starts in the month of November after the fire, and finishes in the month of July. I am currently writing about the month of April. Late April. Like I said, nearly done. Although I did have his story entered into the outline, I now see it was all coming from me. I really need to get Charlie’s full experience written down to put within the pages of the book.
So since this weekend is the first one in months that there is NOTHING on our agenda, I am spending it writing, baking, and cleaning my house for fall decorating. Yard work can be in there someplace for weeding out old summer plants that are tired and replacing them with colorful cool weather beauties. However, the greater part of my time is going to be getting my husband’s words down in the book.
I’ve decided to make the character exactly him. Different name, but still a rugged man that wears both hats of a fireman when on duty, and farmer when he’s off. A proud, stubborn, passionate man that loves his family, loves his land, loves his community, and works hard to protect them all! His will be a character in the book that will definitely stand out and make a statement.
I love fall and all that comes with it. There’s a change in the air, the smell of damp earth and leaves, and for our family we have harvest to look forward to. Grapes first then right into walnuts. It’s busy, beautiful, and traditional. As I make some fig bread this weekend and write while smelling the sweet goodness fill the air of my home, I hope it will propel my writing into a tapestry of art. Inspiration comes from feeling good and this time of year is perfect for all things wonderful.
Please enjoy your family and your homes. They are the most precious things in life. One’s home is where so many things begin and end. Just remember it’s all the stuff in between that counts. I wish you all a great beginning of fall.
*Middle pic of typewriter by Patti Diener. 2 others from Google images.
