Pretty, isn't it? No, that's not a question; it is beautiful in this part of the country. I selfishly wish that it was less populated and that fewer people came through here during the summer, but it's nice to share the beauty of the area with others.
I remember when I first came to Montana in 1999. What a different place it was back then, and oh how I miss it. I'd already spent most of my life in the Rockies, so it was familiar, yet wilder and grander in some ways. Land that was once farmed and used as recreation has been bulldozed for shopping centers and box stores no one needs. It's to the point where I venture into the neighboring "city" once a month (often less) as I prefer to remain in my smaller town. I often wonder if I'll stay here or go in search of someplace quieter and a bit more off the grid. I am looking.
I will say that without my time here, I may not have written that first Montana Gallagher book, the book that started it all, (or the Crooked Creek series, Whitcomb Springs series, and other books that followed) and I'm grateful for the inspiration this place offers, not to mention the scenery.
Speaking of inspiration, the temp outside has warmed up to a nice -12°F with a feel of -25°F (as of this posting) and a deceptively bright sun that beckons one to venture outdoors, until you do and realize it's a tad chilly, so I'm staying cozy and warm inside with words floating around in my head waiting to be put down.
The new manuscript is with my editor, so I have edits to look forward to soon.
After the American Civil War, many sought refuge as far away from where they fought and suffered, and an influx of those seekers found what they wanted in the great American West.
The vast and unexplored lands provided the perfect canvas for individuals to start afresh and build a prosperous future with a multitude of new opportunities. And of course they could enjoy a sense of freedom and adventure. The rugged landscapes, vast open spaces, and untamed wilderness captivated the imaginations of many individuals who yearned for a fresh start.
The stories in the Whitcomb Springs series share the tales, albeit fictional, of those who sought this new beginning, who wanted great adventures, or those who simply needed something so different that turned away from all that was familiar to see what might await.
Without hopes and dreams, without the promise of a better future, life would be devoid of meaning and purpose. Hopes and dreams are the fuel that drive us towards achieving our goals and aspirations, bring light when all around us is dark, and they deserve to be nutured—whether off the page or on.
What point is there to creativity, to the imagination, if we are not allowed to break rules without censure? The wind and rain and snow and sun follow the rules of science, and yet how abominably dull they would be without the occasional surprise, the rule-breaking moments that send us into shock or delight.
A sudden thunderstorm in the middle of a hot summer day, or a blizzard in an area that rarely gets snow. Even something as simple as an unexpected rainbow can turn an otherwise ordinary day into one of extraordinary pleasure.
So, too, must the imagination be set free to experiment, to challenge, to cast aside what we are told must be done. Words, and the stories they create, have boundaries that creativity continues to conquer.
