Imaginary Friends

When I was little, I had imaginary friends. And, the truth is, I still do.

I recently saw a shirt that read, "Writer's Block: When Your Imaginary Friends Won't Talk To You". I laughed at the truth in it! Elle and Jak, along with all the other characters in "A Tale", are my grown-up imaginary friends. I spend hours with them. Sometimes I have conversations with them and even arguments too. I understand their secret hopes. I sympathize with their deepest fears. And, whenever I am lonely or bored or sad, my characters will always be there to keep me company.

My good friend went away to college this week and, again, I am faced with the trials of growing up. Life is in constant motion and change, and I loathe it. I feel like Peter Pan. I want to run away to Never Land and remain forever young.

I suppose that's why I love to write so much. Because, even when I'm eighty-two and a half, I can still "play pretend" in my novels and no one will ever think the less of me. For a few hours at a time, I can escape to a world where dragons and princesses and knights in shining armor really do exist.

By the way, this photo is by Annie Leibovitz (who has done an AMAZING collection of Disney photographs). Here are a few more she's done:

My life would be absolutely complete if Ms. Leibovitz did the cover art/photography for "A Tale"... Indeed, I am a big dreamer.  But Les Brown says, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars."

Novel Update: Phase Four fully underway. Three chapters completely edited. 78 days.