Finding Inspiration

Please welcome Stephanie Burkhart to the Pink Fuzzy Slippers blog.

I'd like to thank Mona and the Ladies at Pink Fuzzy Slippers for having me here today. My latest release is "First Flag of New Hampshire," a YA mystery published by 4RV Publishing. (Okay, it's not quite a romance, but I'd like to think the YA/Mystery/Romance genres cross over well.)

Finding inspiration can be challenging at times – especially for me. I'm a working full time mom with two young boys who not only have copious amounts of homework, but also have several extra curricular activities. Trust me, I'm pooped at the end of the day. When my head hits the pillow, I'm out. Not one single dream between the time I pass out to the time my alarm goes off.

Inspiration does not come from my dreams. So where does it come from?

Surprisingly from a show, a book, a movie, a "what-if" idea that I've expanded on. It comes from childhood memories of watching "Creature Double Feature" on Saturday afternoons as a young girl in the 1970's or from wanting to write my own gothic fiction like Victoria Holt. Or wanting to play with vampires and creatures of the night like Anne Rice. Or in "First Flag of New Hamsphire's" case – my Junior High School English/History Class.

In 1985, I was a Junior in high school on the fast track to college. Being on the "fast" track meant taking "American Studies." It was a 2 period long class that combined American Literature and American History. We had two teachers – Mr. Lord and Mrs. Hussey. It was a demanding class that challenged me to go outside my comfort zone and let me tell you, it's pretty nerve wracking to go outside one's comfort zone as a 17 year old. I learned about Cotton Mather, Nathanial Hawthorne and read Moby Dick.

I took part in historical simulations role playing characters from history. If my class had it's druthers, we would not have declared war on England in 1776. We went on field trips – the most memorable was the field trip to Newport, Rhode Island. Mr. Lord and Mrs. Hussey said at the start of the school year this would be a class that would resonate with us for the rest of our lives. I poo-poo'd the notion. Little did I know that 20 years later when I wanted to write a young adult mystery did I draw on the class for inspiration.  Alyssa and Miguel are two classmates in American Studies called to solve the mystery of the first flag of New Hampshire. It's a race against time, and their classmates, to find the answer.

My question for you is where do you find inspiration? I'd love to hear your answers.

Blurb for: FIRST FLAG OF NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Alyssa has to take American Studies for college prep, and she hurries to the first class. She’s paired with classmate Miguel De Soto to find the first flag of New Hampshire, but the flag has flown only four times in New Hampshire’s past. Can Alyssa and Miguel track the flag through history before time is up?

BOOK TRAILER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIyKiMxpdU8

Hunt For the Flag Giveaway: Answer the following questions about New Hampshire. I’ll pick a winner to receive a Spring book bag (made by my talented friend, Lori Powell), full of goodies to include a GC to Starbucks, chocolates, a magnet and more.

New Hampshire was what state to ratify the US Constitution?
BONUS: What state landmark collapsed in 2003?

BUY LINKS:
 PUBLISHER’S WEBSITE: http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com/burkhart.php

AMAZON: http://amzn.com/0983801835

BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/first-flag-of-new-hampshire-stephanie-burkhart/1039325547?an=9780983801832&itm=1&usri=first+flag+of+new+hampshire

Find me on the Web at:
WEBSITE:   http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER:  http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor
GOOD READS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YOU TUBE CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

Thank you, Steph, for visiting with us at the PFS.