Now that I have traded the nomadic lifestyle for apartment living, I find myself with a lot more time on my hands. I realize now I spent most of my time taking care of the basics of daily living: restocking food and water; replenishing essentials like plastic bags, baby wipes, and rubbing alcohol; dumping trash; finding safe places to sleep at night; searching for safe places to park during the day. My life was filled with the endless chores of surviving while living in a car.

Things are a lot different now. I have modern conveniences I used to take for granted: a kitchen, a bathroom, a proper bed, space to move around. A patio! After four months, I’m still amazed when I can walk across a room.

Besides all the wonderful amenities I now enjoy, I also have a lot of free time, which means I now have time to start my next novel.

When I was writing my first book, Parched, I challenged myself to write 50,000 words in 30 days, in my own personal NanNoWriMo. I wasn’t sure I could do it. To my surprise, I exceeded my goal.

I started my second book, The Oracle, in Portland and finished it in Tucson. Oddly, my residence when I arrived was a mobile home park on a street called Oracle. Is that bizarre?

The trilogy, the Seamier Side of Magic, began in Tucson and ended during a dog-sitting gig in Scottsdale, progressing in fits and starts while I roamed the country in my Dodge Caravan. It wasn’t easy writing on the road, given my lack of consistent electricity and internet access. Not only that, my characters kept defying my directions. Plus, I fell into a frustrating quagmire writing Book 3 when I discovered I had to wrap up all the loose ends from the first two books. Hence my vow never to write another trilogy.

Now, four months into my new housing miracle, I have time to begin the next project. I can’t tell you what it is yet, because that would attract the creative energy vampires, but I’ll give you a hint. Think deluded artist meets intractable reality and you’ll pretty much have it. If you are curious about my inspiration, read this blogpost.

The creative journey continues.