Over the past nine weeks, the IWSG Anthology blog has featured posts
from nine of the authors in Voyager: The Third Ghost.Our author today is, last but not least, L.T. Ward.
L.T. Ward on her short story "Return to Cahokia" ...
Before January 2019, I was not a writer. I had been a stay-at-home mom with four children, working part-time in marketing. My eldest, a teenager, had come home one day the previous December and told me that her dreams of becoming an actress were stupid. Before my frustrations at her dismissing her aspirations settled in fully, I asked her why she felt that way. She explained that everyone in her life said it was foolish, lacking pragmatism, and that she should focus on a more reliable future. When I said acting made her happy and that I supported her in her creative goals, she said it didn’t matter and couldn’t be done.
I asked why. She said because no one in her life ever did anything they wanted, just what they were expected to do, especially me.
That set me off, because NO ONE, not even me, was allowed to convince my children they didn’t deserve to go big with their lives. So I started writing.
For my first novel, I had researched Cahokia Mounds, the pyramids located outside of St. Louis, MO were fascinating. To see them firsthand, I took my children to visit the mounds during a vacation. The pyramids were beautiful and the history there, rich. I wanted to learn more, but found there was a lot of missing history as the city had demolished so much of the land during urban development. I went home inspired and a little sad, but the images and feel of the sites wouldn’t leave my mind.
Back home, I started a second novel, completed it, then tried to figure out my next step. Both novels needed heavy editing, but I wasn’t ready to tackle that. Yet, I had found in writing what I saw my daughter has when she is on stage--satisfaction. I googled “insecure writer help” and found The Insecure Writer’s Support Group. It was everything I needed to push me in my aspiring writing career.
The IWSG put out a call on Facebook for their upcoming middle grade anthology. The theme for The IWSG Anthology was Historical-Fantasy/Adventure. Both of my novels were young adult fiction, but they each maintained speculative fiction. I still had that needling idea about Cahokia Mounds from my visit so I decided I had to write a short story to submit.
To begin writing, I thought back on what had inspired my novels. Weather. I live in an area fraught with erratic weather. I’d seen the damage of floods, F5 tornados, and violent winters. Mother Nature is powerful and magnificent. Each season, I’m in awe of the effects the sky has on the land and people below. Weather isn’t common small talk because it’s convenient; it’s because we all care about it. During long walks, I watched the skies, felt the winds, and the idea for “Return To Cahokia” grew.
To my extreme surprise and thrill, my very first short story will also be my first publication. The story and its creation are very near and dear to my heart, which adds to my joy at its upcoming release.
An added bonus: My eldest has resumed her big dream aspirations.
The Birdman Tablet
The Birdman is etched on a lot of the artwork and pots that have been found at Cahokia.
Cahokia Mounds State Park, Collinsville, Illinois, USA
Photo by L.T. Ward
Blurb
Will Tonalli, her mother, and her siblings, Warm Weather Gods, complete their spring journey back to Cahokia, and what will happen if they don't?
by L.T. Ward ...
“Tonalli, my daughter,” my mother calls, “have you prepared yourself for our journey?”
“Yes, Mama,” I tell her. Mama knows my siblings and I are all ready for our return to Cahokia. It has been nearly eight months since our last visit, and we are--literally--bursting with anticipation to return.
Since our departure from our summer home, my family has traveled long distances over the earth, until we reached the dark, chilly waters in the east. We rode the clouds south, toward the warmer climates, as is our duty as the Warm Weather Gods. We spent our winter lounging and resting over the lands, providing the luxurious humidity and heat our people need. Wintering over the southern lands, they reward us with offerings of their bountiful harvest. Cocoa is my favorite, but my mother, Yolotl, loves the offering of guava.
But now, spring is nearing and we get to finally return to our favorite home.
“Come along, Tonalli,” my mother says. I follow her obediently, walking carefully atop the clouds. My father, Yaxkin, never joins us. He has to remain behind to lighten the days, reflecting his warmth to his brother, Metztli, to brighten the nights. Mama will guide us, though. My many siblings and I will make the journey every spring to Cahokia without Papa, but he will visit as best he can. He usually makes time several weeks in the late summer, just before we prepare our eastward trek to the sea. And he will join us for the Arrival Celebration.
Bio
LT hails from the Land of Corn,
otherwise known as Central Illinois,
where weather inspires her literary works.
When not writing speculative fiction
shorts and novels, she spends her days
raising a brood of plague monsters
(a.k.a. her children) as well as
satisfying her never-ending thirst
for knowledge through reading,
meeting people, and first-hand life experiences.
LT hails from the Land of Corn,
otherwise known as Central Illinois,
where weather inspires her literary works.
When not writing speculative fiction
shorts and novels, she spends her days
raising a brood of plague monsters
(a.k.a. her children) as well as
satisfying her never-ending thirst
for knowledge through reading,
meeting people, and first-hand life experiences.
Coming on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 . . .
Our authors will share their favorite middle grade books.
* * * * * * * * * *
Upcoming Blog Interviews and Virtual Tours:
1. March 16 - Yvonne Ventresca http://bookshopwithstaceyhoran.libsyn.com/bookshop-interview-with-author-yvonne-ventresca-episode-063
2. May 4 - June McCrary Jacobs https://authorjunemccraryjacobs.blogspot.com/
3. May 6 - C. Lee McKenzie, Author https://www.cleemckenziebooks.com/blog/
4. May 6 - Literary Rambles – Natalie Aguirre https://www.junetakey.com/#writersgambitblog
5. May 11 - Juneta Key https://www.junetakey.com/#writersgambitblog
* * * * * * * * * *
The release date for VOYAGERS: The Third Ghost
is May 5, 2020,
but purchase links are available,
and you can preorder a copy now.
Print 9781939844729 $13.95
EBook 9781939844736 $4.99
Juvenile Fiction - Historical / Action & Adventure / Fantasy & Magic
Dancing Lemur Press/Freedom Fox Press
Amazon - Print https://www.amazon.com/dp/193984472X/ Kindle https://www.amazon.com/Voyagers-Third-Ghost-Yvonne-Ventresca-ebook/dp/B083C4WPR5/
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/voyagers-yvonne-ventresca/1135912991?ean=2940163430857
ITunes - https://books.apple.com/ca/book/voyagers-the-third-ghost/id1493413956
Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/voyagers-the-third-ghost
