I’m feeling inspired! As I write in this eclectic 1960s hotel room in TriBeCa this afternoon, I’m reminded of Harper Lee who wrote TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD not far from here.
In 1964 she said, “I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird. I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of the reviewers, but at the same time I sort of hoped someone would like it enough to give me encouragement. Public encouragement. I hoped for a little, as I said, but I got rather a whole lot, and in some ways this was just about as frightening as the quick, merciful death I’d expected.”
As I plug away at outlining my newest book, I’m inspired by her words and one of her later projects in the 1970s. To get an idea of what my new book will be about, check out this CBS Sunday Morning.
My”murders” are set in Virginia a century earlier than Harper Lee’s visits to the Deep South to attend the trial. And as always, the characters in my book have ties to Selma and her families.
For some reason, Harper Lee is inspiring me to bring these characters and their stories with me, no matter where I am or how far I may be from home.
