Writing Journey & Creation of Mason's Lake
It took many years for this first novel to find its way onto the page. For three decades, I spent my days as a Language Arts teacher, surrounded by other people’s stories, teaching them how words could shape meaning and memory. My own writing waited patiently in the margins of busy days and lesson plans, and lived in the quiet spaces left over at the end of long days. It was not until my children grew up and left home, and the house grew quieter, that I finally found the space to listen to a story that had been waiting for me. The idea for Mason’s Lake surfaced as time finally slowed enough for stories to rise.
Once I began writing, the novel unfolded in its own way, shaped by memory, patience, and moments gathered over many years. It began as a simple idea and slowly deepened as I wrote. I knew from the start that I wanted to explore the life of someone who was adopted and searching for the truth of his beginnings - someone searching for roots that had always been just out of reach.
In the beginning, I never imagined a ghost would become part of the story. But when the idea appeared, it felt right, as if it had been waiting all along. As the story unfolded, that presence felt inevitable, as if the past itself had stepped forward. The ghost, who knows the main character and quietly guides him, became part of that journey, leading him down a path where history, family, and the past gently reveal themselves.
The heart of the novel remains a search for family, identity, and belonging, but the ghost plays an important role. It becomes a guide, gently leading the main character through memories, history, and the quiet realization that understanding where we come from helps us understand who we are.​​
Questions About the Book
Was writing about character of the opposite gender difficult?
Parts of it were difficult. However, I grew up with four brothers and mostly male cousins, so it seemed almost natural for the main character to be male. I guess that is because it was mostly what I know...it is what I grew up with. Also...part of the plot connects to the fact that he is male.
Why did you add the ghost?
The idea came to me late one night. I find that most of my best ideas surface in the middle of the night. I found that to be true with my lesson plans as a teacher, as well. When those night visions enter my mind, it is hard for me to go back to sleep until I accept the ideas niggling at my brain! I have to get up and write it down before I can go back to sleep.
Ghost stories are also a part of my family history. My grandfather's brother (my great-uncle) was a medium at Lily Dale for a lot of years. Stories & tales we hear about the family that have been passed down show us that the ability tends to run in our family. It has captured the interest for many of us. One thing to note...the man in the story who can feel ghosts around him represents the people and the tales that I have heard about my family.
Will the paranormal in your story scare your readers?
The ghost in the story is not a scary one. It has a purpose and it is simply to help guide the main character to find the answers he is seeking. The ghost knows more than the main character does and it is simply a guide.
Will you write another book that connects to this one?
I definitely plan to write another book. I have ideas to connect it to Mason's Lake and the characters found within.