Reading and Dreaming to Stir New Writing

Editor’s note: A version of this initially appeared on Bookclique five years ago. I’m sharing it here as the days get colder.           

I remember winter nights curled up with The Baby-Sitters Club series when I was a tween. Easy reads before bed, they made me feel hopeful – about having friends as family, generating creative ideas, building a successful business, and taking care of good kids. But things weren’t always warm and sweet. Conflict came over handling troublesome babysitting charges, dealing with out-of-touch parents, fitting into blended families, getting along in school, navigating first loves, infighting among club friends. All was resolved, however, when each book wrapped.

I sometimes dreamed of having adventures with the seven tight-knit friends. It’s partly why I wrote my first novel with a 30-year-old main character leaning on her female friends from childhood while pursuing an innovative career and embarking on romances with different men. A subplot revolves around the complexity of the friends’ relationship. In my writing, I was hoping to revive a touch of the magic I felt while reading the once-popular series.