Some might consider me an indie author. Others might look at me as a controversial writer. I have always considered myself a romantic with a pen. The other aspects of who I am, what I write, and how I publish all seem superfluous to the fact that I like to put beautiful romance stories onto paper and share them with you.
Today, with the political climate as it is, these things are becoming much more important to me as an author and writer. This saddens me. I struggle to remember that the issues of book bans, discrimination, and the possible targeting of legal action against my work and even myself as a member of a marginalized community in the United States, must never come into play with my creative process. I am not saying that I cannot and will not write about these issues. I could not possibly write without today's political climate having an influence. However, as a creative writer, I desire to keep my hope for romance and my belief in love alive. This can be difficult when political issues can color my daily life. It is my daily life that I often draw upon for the color and inspiration in my writing.
When I posted my last blog update, I had been working on the content while watching the US Presidential Election results trickle in. I am not happy with that blog post. I was significantly disturbed by the election results. Being the person I am, I could see a threat to the hope for love, peace, and forward unity in our country. I could see the instantaneous disbelief, sadness, and anger surge forth on one side of the country and the permission being granted to the other to exercise their feelings of power, hatred, and oppression.
I admit that I am closely aligned with one side of this equation. I also remind myself of two important facts. First is an historic document. I like to remember monumental written works that have shaped history. Among this list is without a doubt the US Constitution. This document which laid the framework for democracy around the world, is the reason we now have the electorate that the US is currently facing. The second fact is my commitment to peace and love. With these two reminders, I do not remove myself from the sadness and disbelief but am working hard to let go of the anger. I am finding it easier to channel myself back to the creative and what it is that I love about writing.
I am a romantic. I love to write and explore life through the lens of romance. I believe romance is beautiful, tragic, and fulfilling. Writing today is being thrust back to an archetypal state when authors were scripted to what their audiences were allowed to read. But, as the artists that we are, authors need to continue to put their creativity onto paper, craft the stories that must be told, and put forth the unspoken so that the readers can find and carry forth the dreams and ideas that will help to shape tomorrow.
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