Okay, I'm going to do a little shameless bragging about my hubby. He's a middle school language arts teacher, a great dad, a guy who makes me laugh--and... he just published his second book! Scott E. Miller, author of PRAIRIE WHISPERS and now, PRAIRIE SUNSETS. That's him on the right in the picture at a local booksiging. I'm in the middle. And my CP and best bud, Sherry James, is the red-head on the left.
My hubby writes young adult historical fiction, based on his family history of pioneers settling in Nebraska. I've always admired how well-read he is on young adult lit (even better than when I was teaching full-time and tried to keep up 
). And, like me, he has an appreciation for genealogy and history. So I love how he has combined his interests and written these books. PRAIRIE SUNSETS even has a budding teen romance subplot (I got to consult on that part 
). If you'd like to see more about Scott and his books, he now has his own webpage in connection with my website. The link is below.
As we were celebrating his book release last week, I got to thinking about how many creative people are in my life, or have been a part of it. My grandmother was an artist and master teacher--she worked in many media, though I think sewing, pottery and jewelry-making were her favorites. Man, did I have some fantabulous doll clothes from her growing up! 
Quilts, too. My mom wrote a humorous newspaper column and comic strip for years--and has the coolest knack for collecting things like Santa Clauses and wedding cake toppers and Snow White memoribilia and decorating her home in wonderful ways. My dad has always loved carpentry as a hobby, and now that he's retired, he does even more. Each of us kids, and now grandkids, has a piece of furniture made or restored by him. I've done theater since the age of 5, my hubby even longer, my mom before that--my son has been onstage and worked behind the scenes, and is a super talented musician (He has a jazz band concert tonight, in fact). Plus, I have many, many friends who write, paint, sing, act, design and build costumes, decorate lovely homes, cook like chefs and more!
So am I drawn to others with creative energy similar to mine? Is that why I love to read books and write them? Sing? Perform? Is all that creativity in the genes? or an environmental thing? Does creativity beget creativity? IOW, if you're around a creative person or persons (I thought of the eHQ boards!), does it make you want to create something, too? Or am I just lucky to have so much creativity in my life? I certainly think I am. 
I can't imagine how my life would be without being surrounded by people who love to talk books, and writers and carpenters and musicians and actors and more.
How about you? What creative elements are part of your life? Does it inspire you to create, too? Or to appreciate other creative endeavors?
Happy Valentine's Week!
Julie Miller
PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS / ARMED AND DEVASTATING--The Precinct: Brotherhood of the Badge mini-series--Intrigue, June/July 08--Both are a Romantic Times Top Pick!
The Intrigue Authors Summer Blog Blitz starts July 1... www.juliemiller.org
Creative Connections
Julie--
I'm a firm beliver that creativity is positive energy and positive energy attracts positive engery. Surrounding yourself with other creative people, I think, does spark your own creative juices and inspires you. I know I'm always anxious to get back to my own writing after I've been to a writers conference, or even after just spending a few ours at my local writers group.
Happy Hearts Week to you, too!
Sherry James
www.sherryjames.com
www.sherryjamesromanceauthor.blogspot.com
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Cowboy Fling, Ellora's Cave, 5 Hearts Romances & More
Congratulations to Scott!
What an awesome achievement! Bravo!
I do indeed think creativity in others does encourage creativity in ourselves ... esp. if we are raised in that environment .... sadly, I wasn't ..... growing up on a farm didn't lend much time for those things, so I've never really developed that side of my nature ..... I am thankful though that Mom was an avid reader and she encouraged me to read ..... when I was in my early teens, I have visions of someday writing my own romance ... even had ideas jotted down and was published in the highschool year book ..... alas, that's as far as I went .... but that's okay ...... you all write so wonderfully, I'd rather savour your words than struggle with mine
~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
Creativity, in this sense...
..really isn't part of who I am.
I absolutely LOVE being able to enjoy the creativity of so many wonderful authors... I truly just bask in my ability to read and be taken away.
Do I envy writers? Nope! I can write; thoughts and things that happen in my life, and years (& years) ago I used to write poetry... it was just something that worked for me.
My youngest daughter can write and draw... wow, can she! Right now she's 15½ and she's been writing stories of one kind or another ever since she thought to do so... her pictures when she was little were definitely more stories than portrayals of what was around her. She still is always writing, and her imagination soars. Reading some of her work from junior high, my oldest daughter and I could not get over just how talented she is.... I still shake my head wondering where the heck she got it! The drawing, well, my brother is a fantastic artist so I'm sure that Teresa gets some of her talent from my side.
My son, too, when he was in elementary and junior high school, amazed his teachers with his writing ability. Alas, he was terminally bored in school and never did finish school (and to date ~ he's almost 24 ~ has no intention of ever doing so).
But his facility with languages (mostly self-taught after one course) ~ and here I'm talking about Japanese and Cantonese, with a smattering of Mandarin! ~ is definitely, in my mind anyway, related to his ability to write.
I'm good with kids ~ that's what I do. I babysit from my home and have been doing so for about 17 years now. It's something that actually comes quite easy ~ most of the time; there are days.... *sigh*
And Congratulations to Scott! I checked out his website and the stories are very appealing; I've already ordered the first one (just 'cause the availability is better here in Canada).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
kalyko ~ Reading: One of life's little joys and a much needed reward!
I love people who read books and other talents!
Thanks for the kudos, gang, I'll be sure to pass them along to Scott. It's fun for me to see how excited he is about everything. I'm still psyched whenever I finish a ms or see my book on the shelves or advertised early here on eHQ. But I'm at a little different place in my career than he is starting out--it's fun to watch him discover every new thing--like watching your child grow up and discover all the new and wonderful things about his world. My hubby will be tickled pink to know you checked his webpage, ordered a book and offered congratulations. Makes me proud, too!
And as a mom/teacher/writer/reader myself, I LOVE hearing how you grew up and live in an environment that encourages reading. You are definitely lucky. And it's certainly a blessing to pass that love for reading on to others. My own son had a difficult time learning to read, but we as parents never gave up, and we always modeled reading for him, and read to him lots! Now, at 18, he has not only mastered the skill, but he's learned to enjoy it as well. He's a definite fantasy fan. I still get on the verge of being teary-eyed every time I see him turn off his game or TV and pick up a book and read. Proud mama!
As far as creativity, there are numerous kinds in this world, and they all amaze me. I think everyone has a strength or strengths--be it writing a book or raising kids or cooking a gourmet meal or teaching someone to read or laying a perfect road and so on and so on. It's inspiring to see someone discover and embrace their strength(s) and add that skill and magic to the world.
Thank you.
Julie Miller
PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS / ARMED AND DEVASTATING--The Precinct: Brotherhood of the Badge mini-series--Intrigue, June/July 08--Both are a Romantic Times Top Pick!
The Intrigue Authors Summer Blog Blitz starts July 1... www.juliemiller.org