The Writing Muse

How an extraordinary guy ignited the fire in my writing

Jim (Super Jimmy) and I during his chemo treatment

Enter the Muse

Throughout my writing career I've enjoyed the inspiration from many souls including my amazing husband, Chris, my cats, Josephine the crow, and Super Jimmy.

Life has a funny way of bringing individuals together to achieve something great.

In 2015, Jim's wife, Melodye, reached out to me. She and I had worked together during the 90s, drifted apart, and then reconnected via social media. Not long after that first contact, we set a date to meet at a local brewery. Melodye, Jim, Chris, and I were like four peas in a gigantic pod!

I soon learned that Jim had written a manuscript. At the same time, I was toying around with a fantasy novel but was confused on how to get it published. Melodye connected Jim and me, and during a one hour phone call, I realized we had a special bond, a relationship bound together by trust and respect.

The thought of publishing my book left me overwhelmed. There are too many moving parts and most of the important steps involve unfamiliar methods.

But Jim encouraged me to hammer away at the first novel. "Write as the characters tell their story," he advised. "Let them lead the way."

He supported me 100 percent.

Then one day, Jim revealed his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. He would soon begin radiation and chemo treatments.

Now it was my turn to be the supportive one. I put my book on hold so I could spend as much time as I could with Melodye, Jim, and Tim, Melodye's brother.

But every time I arrived at Jim's chemo treatment, he asked for an update on my novel. I'd quickly change the subject or make a joke. But Jim wouldn't let me off that easily because he wanted me to move forward. He didn't want his situation to interfere with my success.

Jim always thought of others.

Not one to let the mood stay serious for long, Jim used his chemo sessions as a creative opportunity where we discussed our manuscripts and character profiles. He'd cleverly work in questions about what delayed me from taking the next publishing move. Despite my efforts to ignore his inquiries, his insistence that I move forward finally struck a chord.

I realized Jim was my muse and I needed to finish it for him.

"Just push your book out into the universe," Jim counseled. "You'll learn so much more once it's published."

Jim received his angel wings on February 25, 2021 and the first edition of Beginning of Tomorrows was published in the summer of 2021.

Jim was right. Once the book was released I learned more about editing, cover design, formatting, marketing, etc. And carried those lessons forward as I completed each subsequent book in the Chronicle of Ceres pentalogy.

To recognize the positive influence Super Jimmy had on my writing, I decided to celebrate him in the four remaining books. Jim was a proud Irish man and I honored him by including a Flanagan's Irish Pub in each novel.

I'm especially fond of the final scene in the fifth book, "Ascension of the Chronicle". The Speaker of Truths shares the words and deeds of the chosen four in Flanagan's Irish Pub, a magical bar that can teleport anywhere in the world.

I'd like to believe that that same bar has been to Summerland to visit my muse, Jim.