There are 9 of them sitting in front of me. They are curly, straight, colored, braided, short and long -haired. They are chewing salads and smiling as they relate stories of having babies. They are Panera Bread’s lunch crowd. At least one table of it. Make that three tables pushed together, one square, two rounds.

I do not know this scene. I haven’t lived it myself. Not really. Once when I worked as a dental assistant we had a lull of patients so three of us went to a Mexican restaurant for an hour. This was in stark contrast to race downstairs while a mouth was numbing parade we usually did. The only thing I remember said that day was, “I’m eating my calories in cheese today.” Hmm, I thought. I eat my calories in more ways than cheese every day. But OK.

That’s what I know of lunch meetings.

Two days ago I was depressed. I was going over note page after note page of background on made-up characters. I was willing to write but utterly uninspired. Until…

“A breakout novel rattles, confronts and illuminates. It is detailed because it is real. Its people live because they spring from life, or at least from the urge to say something about life. Their stories challenge our hopes, plumb our fears, test our faiths and enact our human wills.

These novels change us because their authors are willing to draw upon their deepest selves without flinching. They hold nothing back, making their novels the deepest possible expression of their own experience and beliefs.”

                   -Donald Maass

Now I remember. I remember what I want and that it’s worth a fall on my face to try. Because stories rock me, the good ones. And there is a pull in me to create something that “rattles,” and teaches and inspires back.

Carry on ladies, maybe someday you’ll be talking about my book.