I am into the tactile when it comes to grounding myself in character. I’ve worn a big ass, bold labradorite ring while writing Maggie. For Michele, I wore a diaphanous white linen gown. Katie was all about yellow and pink “sleepy sheep” pajamas. For Ava, I wore a triskelion silver pendant. Emily—a silver fox totem pendant. Honestly, I found while writing Maggie that rings work better than anything to keep me muse-based, because I see it and feel it on my fingers as I type.
Music also helps me stay centered on whomever I’m writing at the moment. For Katie, I listened to the Dixie Chicks. Emily took me to contemporary male country stars, like Jason Aldean and Cole Swindell. I was very inspired by John Legend’s “All of Me” when writing Going for Kona for Michele, and ultimately moved to Jah Rule’s version of the same song for Michele’s second and third books. I was all about Rihanna for Ava. Maggie led me to Lucinda Williams, who I now dearly love.
As I type this, I have one more book to finish for Maggie before I open my heart, mind, and soul to the fierce Laura. She’s small and bright, loyal and feisty. I think of her as a little cardinal. I have a stone picked out for a ring for her already, although I don’t have a feel for what she listens to yet. It’s an enormous bloodstone agate.
I can’t wait to see what my goddess friend/jeweler Anita comes up with for it when she works her Jewelweed Sprouts magic!!!