The spirit of the land and people at the Foundation are definitely contributing to my creative process. I am amazed at the progress I have already made on my book.
For me the time and space provided at the artist studio, set behind Barbara Waters' home, is essential to formulating a cohesive story.
The image above shows my living room floor covered with nearly 100 books stretching well beyond the photo's frame. I finally selected about 40 reference books and stories that form the backstory for the novel 's plot about the human community's journey toward a sustainable future on Earth.
More than time and space, the opportunity to spend time with Barbara Waters, an author in her own right, philosopher and patron of the arts continues to be one of the highlights of my residency. Recently I helped Barbara start her own blog about her adventure as a newly diagnosed Parkinsonian. Here is a link to her blog. Please refer anyone you know who is dealing with this disease; I am sure Barbara's blog will most encouraging and filled with links to important sites:
www.parkinsonsfromthehorsesmouth.blogspot.com.
Another upbeat in my residency was the visit by my daughter Heather who briefly found shelter at the studio for her painting. Heather's water color of El Salto mountain and the surrounding countryside was created in the Upper Pasture not too far from Frank Waters' memorial site under the great oak tree. She listened to a brief reading of the draft and made excellent suggestions. We sat in the yard at night contemplating the constellations and weaving stories. I miss her enriching spirit now....
I have completed Part I of the draft, however, constructing a likely scenario (speculative fiction) for the devolution of the status quo and the evolution of a new mindfulness about human habitation is my constant challenge. In the back of my mind I can hear a friend's query, "Susan, how will you make it a page-turner?" Indeed.
Till my next sojourn into Arroyo Seco to take my seat at the tables of the Taos Cow - a hot bed of interesting people, ice cream delights and wireless - be well!
Susan
