Global Events Can Spark Your Imagination

If you feel like the world has been spinning out of control during these past few months, you’re not alone.

First, we faced the coronavirus and then witnessed the massive protests for racial equality. We haven’t even begun the ruckus that’s sure to unfold as we approach the presidential election here in the U.S.

I’m a news junkie, so I tend to pay attention to events taking place in the world. I try to tune out the noise when it becomes too much by concentrating on my writing. But the evening news has a way of capturing my attention.

In some ways, science fiction and fantasy writers are lucky. We draw upon events in the world as fodder for our plots. We use them to stimulate our imagination, asking what-if questions. And often, we come up with some pretty creative results. So, in a way, I’m really doing research by clicking on that Apple News app while I work.

For example, my books include a virus that’s threatening to take over the world. But it’s not the kind that causes a physical disease; it’s a computer virus intent on destroying humanity.

My invented world of Elthea’s Realm contains elements that real scientists are working on right now, such as extending life and eradicating disease. I populate my fictional world with a variety of races. None of them (except the bad computer virus) seeks to enslave or oppress others.

I write about islands suspended high above the ocean. Perpetually-flowing rivers run off the edge of these islands. Pebbles can glow in the dark. In Book 2, a race of giants molds stones to fit together perfectly in a fortress they constructed. In Book 2, I also depict a virtual reality existence, which is more authentic than real life.

The world I write about is far from perfect. My characters face deadly challenges every step of the way. They encounter heartbreak and loss, people are killed, and not everything ends the way they hoped. But isn’t that the way of life?

What about you? What sparks your imagination? Let me know by adding a comment below, or use the contact form on this website. I’d love to hear from you.

While you’re at it, let me know what you think about the creativity of my books.

Remember to use your curiosity to fuel whatever you do in life. You’ll never know what will come of it.

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