Why Rivermist?

When I was about twelve or so, I began drawing a series of pictures.  It started with a sudden desire to draw dragons, but eventually became more and more about the people in the drawings.  I ended up with over 120 sketches, as any time I drew, it ended up being a picture that pushed the story forward.  Most of the characters in the (chronologically) second story came from this, as did part of the plot. 

I didn't write the story itself until later, and then wanted to know how my main antagonist became the way she was.  After that, I liked the characters but wanted another story, so I used them again, same names, same mannerisms, slightly different personalities, but on a different planet.  This repeating of characters became part of the story itself, and, as I myself accepted reincarnation as a part of my personal beliefs, my characters too began to reincarnate throughout a series spanning several planets and millions of years.  It's now part of the overall plot--how to become free from the cycle of reincarnation, how to end suffering, how to awaken awareness beyond the physical.

For me, Rivermist was a lot about exploring my evolving belief system.  It's become nine stories (plus a short aside that precedes them) I had intended to arrange into three books taking place on three planets:  Phantolia, Earth, and New Phant, but the last story, the one I'm stuck on, and have been for the last three years (unheard of for me!) takes place on a different planet and is far different than I had expected.  I thought I was writing backstory, and 80 pages in, I was finally getting around to the place I had initially intended to start.  I think about letting Guardian, as I've been calling it, move to the back and focus on the beginning, which is where most things start, after all. 

Most writing is a reflection of the author's mind.  Indeed, my psyche is likely mapped out in these pages, but I try not to take any of it too personally.  It's basically a story about wanting to go home and recognizing the obstacles preventing us from seeing that we never left.  What are we, why are we here, and why does it feel like there are people I belong with somewhere out there?

I'm looking forward to this re-evaluation of my journey and the new steps it will bring me.

Peace, light and love.