Hope

Wow.
I was walking to work. It's November in Southern Saskatchewan. It's most definitely winter, brrrr... but we have sun today, which makes everything feel perfect. I know it's going to be un-sunny and cold beyond my worst nightmares soon, probably tomorrow, I mean let's face it... but feeling the sun on my face today makes me happy in this moment and I like that. It's like a weird hope that grips you when you know it's hopeless.

This is what I saw today, and I think this little plant agrees with me:

Life pushing through the snow. Really, I don't have to say more.

Ever see something that pushes you to try harder? What inspires you to live? Now that is determination and  hope when really, there shouldn't be, but of course, hope is a bugger like that isn't it? Ever have hope grip you when deep down, you knew it was hopeless?

Looking Through the Archives For Inspiration

Time Jumping to 1917

Ok, so I don't get far from home (who does with fuel prices nuts like this, eh?)

But! I do travel through time and wanted to take you all with me.

Here is a 1917 photo from the public archives at work.

I love it, but what are these poor souls doing?

Anyone got any ideas that might kick off a really great story?

Well, it inspired me. Here's my little story to go with it.

How to Fight a Lightning God

We were all lined up, arms out, as if we might break out in a game of Red Rover at any moment. Truth was, we didn't play games anymore, not since the war anyway. Not that the war was a problem for us out here in Saskatchewan, no, it was the bugs and the damn gods that made our lives hell.

We stood our ground, like the priest taught us, waiting for the lightning god to stop threatening us. I did my best to ignore the skeeters, but when one got up my nose, I slapped it. Freddy panicked and grabbed my sleeve as if I might abandon him.

If one us was hit, we were all goners anyway. Jimmy looked fearless, even little Michael kept his jaw firm. Annabelle didn't give away her emotions either way. I glanced at the convent. The priest was palming his rosary. Lot of good that did me, I was the idiot in the middle. If one of these guys let go, I was going to get the full jolt. Maybe this was my punishment for that sip of fire whiskey I stole last week. I told Jimmy that shit was gonna end with us in hell.

"Hold tight." Jimmy hollered as the skies darkened and I suddenly understood what my brother meant in his last letter. There are some things we just don't ever need to see. Was he caught in a war between gods, too?

When The God of Lightning showed himself-- all dark and stormy-- Jimmy swore. Can't say I blamed him. I would have too, but to be honest, I had no more use of my tongue. Only thoughts in my little pea brain were that if this god wants his land back, we should hit the fields.

But then something magical happened. The winds picked up. The priest, he took a step forward. "The wind goddess has arrived. Stand strong." Did we have a choice?

Whatever the priest saw made his eyes bulge and he dropped the rosary that never left his hands. Damn, I was tempted to look, too, but the sting of her icy wind forced my face forward. We were gonna die.

I have to give those guys credit, not one of them let go. Not even after the lightning god retreated. 

Huh. The priest was right, our strange formation summoned The Goddess of Wind and she got rid of the jerk storming our lands. 

Nine in a line. Who would have thought something so simple could be so powerful? Until that moment, I thought the priest was nuts. How much did he know about these gods?

The wind blew and blew across the prairies, and still, we held on.

LOL. Poor souls. By the amount of wind we have around here lately, they're still holding strong! But it works- no lightning at all!

Do you have any idea what they were doing?

Where do you look for inspiration?

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

Wanna play? Add in the title of your current WIP in the comments! You know you wanna.

I was tagged by Erin Kane Spock !!! Thank you so much. Check out how much fun this is- I answer questions, you read the answers. See how easy that is?

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop:
 Interview Questions:
 
What is your working title of your book?
Ghosts on the Prairies

Where did the idea come from for the book?
Oh a few ghostly places like a conversation with a friend, an image I couldn't shake that's been haunting me for twelve years, a picture that gave me nightmares, and some things inside me that snap when someone puts a keyboard under my fingers.

What genre does your book fall under? Historical Romantic Suspense. Heck yeah.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Well, um... I'd rather ask them first, those hot boys and girls are rather busy these days.
 
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Antoine refuses to leave a woman he loves to a life of slavery, but after fighting Clement for her freedom, will her and her son fit into his world? 
 
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? I'd let my agent handle things. I would if I had one.

 
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? I didn't count the minutes, hours or even days, but I'd say a few weeks. It was a writing binge, so everything is just a blur.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? notaone comes to mind. Go figure. 
 
Who or what inspired you to write this book? My ancestors. They haunt me. Maybe a past life too, hard to say, I was binging at the time.
 
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Running through tunnels, burning crosses, ghosts in every possible form, churches exploding, bootlegging, drugs, and a romance that haunts my sleep.

Tag 5  writers to celebrate with!!! Go check out their worlds.
Victoria Lindstorm
Vicki Tremper 
Elizabeth Varadan 
Richard Hughes
Valentina Hepburn

Include the link of who tagged you and this explanation for the people you have tagged.
Rules for The Next Big Thing Blog Hop:

***Use this format for your post
***Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (work in progress)
***Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.

Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:
What is your working title of your book?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
What genre does your book fall under?
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Include the link of who tagged you and this explanation for the people you have tagged.

HEY! Share the title of your WIP. For fun!!!! And! don't be shy to give us a one line synopsis.You know you wanna.