The stillness of smoky summer days is conducive to writing, allowing me to focus without any interruptions. Of course, such days come with a cost.
Our valley is surrounded by wildfires at the moment, which means smoke from all directions. The air is heavy with the smell of burning wood, like several out-of-control campfires. The smoke is a reminder of how quickly and drastically nature can change, and how delicate our existence is in this wild landscape.
Several scenes in my work-in-progress (a Crooked Creek installment) feature the characters' facing off against the elements. Whether it be rain, cold, or the unexpected surprises of nature, even fictional friends are at nature's mercy. They're calling me back to their world in 1868, and I'm eager to return. David Tolk's beautiful piano music has kept me company for my last two writing sessions, and now the soft melodies of Stuart Jones's Celtic Piano album are playing in the background.
