Taking Time to Recharge

I live within easy walking distance of Portland’s Swedish Cemetery. It’s a lovely, well-kept, and peaceful place to walk, especially on these beautiful fall days. As I stroll, I stop and admire some of the stones. The various inscriptions and drawings give me a glimpse into the life of the deceased. I am there to think through the characters, plotlines, and next scenes of my book in progress. To get away from the computer. To work out any issues that have come up with my story. Then I realized that each of these tombstones represents someone who has a story to tell. Sometimes I wish I could sit on one of the many benches and have a conversation with them. The Caitlyn Jamison series uses current social, economic, or environmental issues as plot lines. My recent walks in the cemetery reminded me that when I was planning my second book, “Fatal Dose,” my characters took me down an uncomfortable path. I didn’t want to write about the drug overdose crisis. But the characters persisted and wore me down. Having finished the story, I faced a difficult decision about the cover. For days, I scrolled through the websites of local photographers. Then I found Ithaca, New York photographer Joe Scaglione, III’s website. And there it was. The perfect photo for “Fatal Dose.” Joe allowed me to use the photo for the cover of my book. It wasn’t until after I had purchased the photo that I realized it was of Grove Cemetery in Trumansburg, New York, where my Agard ancestors are buried. My writing and genealogy worlds collided. Cemeteries are not only a place to walk, ponder, and plan. They also provide inspiration and sometimes just the right photo.