Wednesday, January 15, 2014

My Inspiration

I must confess that I’m a sucker for a good love story, and I credit my wife for my penchant for writing romantic stories. When I first met Marsha, I fell for her head-over-heels. I was incomplete at the time and didn’t know it. Afterward I felt whole, and that is the subject I like to explore in my stories—people who are incomplete finding fulfillment and wholeness in one another.

Sometimes I wonder if it might be more “manly” to write a page-turning spy thriller or a heart-stopping war saga. But when I sit down to write, love stories are what naturally come out, thanks to Marsha.

She is my biggest supporter and my toughest critic! Especially regarding my female characters’ thoughts, feelings, and actions. Sometimes Marsha laughs at my efforts, and sometimes she just rolls her eyes, but I trust her judgment implicitly and would not dare commit anything to final form without her approval. So far I have been unable to slip anything by her—I know because I keep trying. She picks me up when I get discouraged, and she keeps me grounded when I get carried away. Both of my novels are dedicated to her, as will be my third one (entitled Following Rain) when it comes out in 2015.

We’ve been married for forty years, and Marsha was then and still remains my inspiration. Thanks for the journey to date, love.

7 comments:

Debby Mayne said...

I love this post, Darrel! You and your wife are both blessed to have each other!

Cherie Burbach said...

Lovely post, and so inspiring. You just keep writing what God puts in your heart, Darrel.

Darrel Nelson said...

Thanks, Debby. I do feel exceptionally blessed to have Marsha in my life.

And Cherie, I'm glad God has put this approach into my heart. I find love stories uplifting and inspiring (as long as they're not cheesy or sappy).

Darrel Nelson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Darrel, I'm like you. I can't write without a strong spiritual thread and a strong romantic thread.

And every book I've written has been dedicated to my husband of 49 years, in addition to whoever else I dedicate it to.

Darrel Nelson said...

We are both fortunate, Lena, to have such wonderful people in our lives. Not only is it a great source for our writing, but it is so much more than that, since writing is only one small part of our mortal journey.

Susan P said...

So inspiring. :) Congrats on 40 years!! Thanks for sharing with us.