There is something profoundly serene, enchanting and romantic about moonlight. There have been songs written about it. For myself, every romance novel I write usually has at least one moon scene. The chart of moon cycles is beside my calendar when I edit. I think I’ve always been mystified and intrigued by the moon. My childhood was marked by man’s first steps on the moon. When I was a teenager, my cousin and I would sit on a swing in my backyard under the moon, listening to a transistor radio and singing Beatles songs. Moonlight seems kinder than sunlight. Instead of showing our flaws for the world to see, it bathes us in a glow that is not so harsh. I can vividly remember one of my first dates with my husband on a college campus…under the moon. For whatever reason, I draw inspiration from it. The moon is a meaningful element in my indie-published novel WISH ON THE MOON, a selection in my Finding Mr. Right series.
Over the past two decades, writing has never been a hobby. It has always been my vocation and career. But as with any job, I look for elements that bring passion and sparkle to what I do. I want each couple to be unique, each romance to be truly theirs. That becomes more difficult after writing over ninety books.
A few summers ago my husband decided to take on the project of putting a patio in our backyard. He did a wonderful job of it. And I got involved in decorating around it with favorite plants and flowers. This has become a hobby of mine. We literally have a farm to the rear of our yard and I love the bucolic feel of it. After eye surgery, I couldn’t enjoy the bright sunlight as I once did. So I began sitting on the patio at night. I also found the creative urge surrounding me more then. After my husband would turn in, I would go out on the patio with my tape recorder and just absorb everything with my senses. Some varieties of petunias have the sweetest scents at night. The firefly show from the grass to the treetops is almost as inspiring as the moonlight. Then there is that silvery white glow that seems to touch everything with poetic beauty. I could take a deep breath, start taping (I use a tape recorder to write) and become involved in my story world in a way that I hadn’t since I first began writing. Even when fall breezes blow in and there is a nip in the night air, I bundle up in a coat and blanket, sit on the patio and let the moon lead me into romance.
I believe all writers have a muse. The moon is definitely one of mine. What is yours?
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| WISH ON THE MOON on Amazon WISH ON THE MOON on Barnes and Noble |
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| WISH ON THE MOON Audiobook on Amazon WISH ON THE MOON on iTunes |
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USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 87th novel will be released in 2015.
Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.
Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below.
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©2015 Karen Rose Smith
