Does Snow Inspire You?

Over the past week we've had a record breaking amount of snow here in Texas. Of course it doesn't take much to make a record of snow in Texas, as most of you know. But as I stared out into the white wilderness this fluffy stuff created, I had to ask myself. Does this inspire me to write? And is it a good inspiration or bad? The answer might surprise you.



Snow is white, and white as far as color goes, is sort of non-descript. In other words just the color is bland. However, if it had snowed before Christmas all sorts of excitement might have been induced. A white Christmas in Texas is something to behold, does not happen very often. I know I'm sixty-four years old and I've had a few Christmases here. When it does snow at Christmas a conversation piece. And to tell the truth I'm not sure why, it is the same no matter what time of year. But at Christmas the kids get so excited if even a drift of snow happens by.

Therefore, I would have to say that to be inspired by snow in Texas at least, it has to come around Christmas time, when we're making cookies and all kinds of goodies for the company we will have. Who minds being cooped up in the house when someone is making cookies?

This year we had a record breaking 5" in the DFW metroplex. That is cause for some excitement in itself. Usually when we get it, it quickly turns to brown slush and freezes over into something creepy like black ice. So to get 5" all at once is something for us. And the kids do go wild. Down here, you won't find the kind of toys for snow you will find up north. No, kids get a hold of cardboard and make their own toys. And do they every have fun. Garbage can lids, old swing seat, anything that will slide will do.

So getting back to my main question, does snow inspire you? As a writer, it can, but I truly think that this comes from sweating out a few summers here in Texas and dreaming of a snow filled night around the fireplace. Now that is romantic.

I wrote a book called Heart of the Wild, available now at Smashwords.com, where the hero kidnaps the heroine and takes her to his cabin in the wilds of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. A blizzard traps these two in the cabin and they are faced with their secret feelings for one another. Just the fact that they can't go very far makes it difficult for them to get along. So in this case snow did inspire me, and yes, I did write it in the middle of summer. So I would say that snow does inspire, but having the real McCoy makes it less romantic and more of a hassle. The thought of snow is what inspires. You think about Christmas, you think about cozy fires, so my answer is yes, it does inspire, but since we had a week of snow and ice I don't know about you, but I am truly ready for the good ole sunshine how about you!

Take a gander at Heart of the Wild.

Buy link for this one is : http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/8656