Nature’s Inspiration

Aside from two of my books—one of which I am currently writing—my novels stick to rural settings.  Cattle ranches and farms are familiar settings, including all of the Windswept Saga and my upcoming novel.  This should surprise no one—aside from the eight years (give or take a few months) I lived in Lexington, my entire life has been rural, pastoral, a quiet setting where nature drives most aspects of your life.  My ancestors were farmers; I grew up surrounded on three sides by a cattle-grazing pasture.  I haven’t always been a great helper, but I am increasingly trying to help my dad in the garden; when I plant the vegetables myself, I know exactly where they came from.  I guess with that background information, it should be little surprise that I’ve written several books where mountains feature prominently, where characters break out the fishing poles or ride across an entire ranch on horseback.  I live in Kentucky, so little wonder that horses feature in nearly every book in some shape or form; this is also a big state for farming of every kind, but it cattle, poultry, pork, or vegetables.  Sometimes I think that I will break from the mold and write about urban settings—and maybe I will—but there’s an ease that comes from describing the green grass of home, and the mountains that so lovingly envelope their residents.  After all, who doesn’t want to be able to look up into the night air and see a sky full of stars?