So, to quote a former late night television personality, “How hot is it? It’s so hot, chickens are laying hardboiled eggs.”
Yep, I don’t have to tell you that it’s hot down here in Georgia. Even my pup, Bella, won’t stay outside very long. She lies in the mulch where it’s cooler on her belly for maybe five minutes then she heads back into the AC. Don’t blame her.
So we, as in Southerners, should be used to the summer heat, but I think that this year the heat is worse. But maybe we say that every year, who knows? But for me, my go-to-bed prayers include a big fat “thank you for air conditioning.”
Today, I’d like to welcome my guest blogger—Author Amy Rivers. Amy was born and raised in “southern” New Mexico and currently resides in Colorado. She has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Nurses, Novelty Bride Magazine, ESME.com and Splice Today. Wallflower Blooming is her first novel.
Why I Write About Women
There’s a reason why I write about women. Two reasons actually. First, (the obvious) I am one. They say you should write what you know, right? But more importantly, I write about women because they are amazing creatures. I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by strong, determined, and wise women. I was raised in a family of loud-mouthed, opinionated, generous, complicated women who laugh in the face of adversity, love with their whole hearts and understand the importance of family.
Writing Wallflower Blooming, my debut novel, was a very introspective process. It’s easy to want to write a novel about a strong woman who does all the right things, but, in my experience, that woman does not exist. As human beings, we’re fallible. We make mistakes. Sometimes very big mistakes (I know I have). We cower when we should fight. We fight when we should collaborate. Even seemingly insignificant experiences can create a tidal wave of emotions in us and we don’t always understand why. So as I wrote my main character Val, I thought less about how to make her heroic, and more about how to make her human.
My plan as a writer is to continue contemplating women and how they react in different situations. You’ll probably notice my interest in politics, social justice and psychology woven into my stories, and I hope you’ll join me and the women I write about on our adventures in life, love and whatever else is out there.
You can follow me on my website: www.AmyRivers.com, or on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. Wallflower Blooming is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon. And, of course, your honest reviews are greatly appreciated. Happy reading!
Thank you, Amy.
See y’all in August when I will be sharing Part Two – Interview with A Strong Southern Lady with Jan Sheppard Kelleher.
Bye, Y’all
Jody
Jody Herpin 