It’s been a while, but I have been known to use the phrase, “When hell freezes over.….” One can use this in a location such as Houston, because it so seldom freezes over. Not that I am comparing my favorite city to hell, mind you, but there are a few similarities during the summer when the temperatures jump up to three digits. Anyway, 2025 started off with snow. It was enough to stick to the ground with enough padding of the white stuff so people could slide down any and every hill in the city. Not that anyone had any type of sleds, but they did have pool toys and cardboard boxes that served the purpose. Since I am a full-time writer and don’t have to go anywhere for work, I thoroughly enjoyed it. You would think that I would feel so inspired by the beautiful scenery that the words would flow out of me and onto the page, or computer screen, or whatever. That did not happen. Is this the dreaded writer’s block that I hear other writers talk about? I would love to say that I have never suffered from this before, but I would be lying. Has anyone ever attempted to write an entire book about how it feels and how to cope with the dreaded writers block? I’ll research that the next time I am stuck for words and content.
The world has been crazy lately. In addition to the winter wonderland that has set in around many parts of the country, California has been on fire. I was mesmerized by watching the size and enormity of the blazes. Since I am many miles away and know nothing about fighting wild fires, my best contribution seemed to be watching CNN and picking the appropriate organization for my donations.
Okay, so now we have one part of the country freezing and the opposite end is burning up. And, my most pressing assignment is to write a blog about what it is like to be a writer and what my methods are to accomplish this. I think. Then I sits and thinks. Then I thinks some more. Crickets. Nada. Nothing. I am too distracted by my own thoughts about all of the crazy stuff that is going on right now. Whatever happened to normal? Maybe, I’ll go for another walk in the snow and think some more later on.
What to do? I start calling on all of the Creatives I can find or think of. I talk to them via zoom, talk to them over dinner, talk to them on the phone. I read poetry and look at works from my favorite visual artists. Because of this search, I found a new author! Yes, I have yet one more book to read while I am not writing. But this is a good book full of medical mysteries, strong characters, and suspense.
The Panacea Project by Catherine Devore Johnson is my new discovery. I heard the author give a talk about her writing and writing process. She even read the first chapter of her novel for her entranced audience. I am always impressed by what writers (and Creatives in general) are willing to put up with to work on their latest project. Catherine Johnson has a full-time job, a husband, and children. How does she find time to write? She just does it and she finishes her work. I am always impressed to learn that other writers submit their creations to so many journals and agents and publishers. Finally Catherine found the correct fit and the rest is history. Since this novel revolves around a medical mystery with much intrigue, of course, it should become a movie that is filmed in the heart of the Texas Medical Center.
I snapped a quick picture of Catherine while she was presenting at this author’s talk. I learned a lot listening to her. She is a local author here in the Houston area, so hopefully I will be there when her next novel is completed. I felt humbled that she can juggle family, work, and life in general. My biggest responsibility is my cat. And, I might add, my cat is very supportive of my writing endeavors. So, I am writing once again and it’s not all journal entries. Some if it involves actual story telling! Many thanks to Catherine Johnson for the inspiration. You can check out The Panacea Project on both Amazon and GoodReads. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.
Until next time.……