There's always personal inspiration behind a story...

One of the questions I'm most often asked is...where do the ideas come from? My response is everywhere and everything. I can't tell you how often I feel like the ideas and tidbits find me, not the other way around. For the second book in the MERIDIAN series I've sent Meridian and Tens into the geographical heart of my life. Indiana. My roots here are deep and varied, though it's not "home" I often feel as if I'm coming home when I step off the plane. For those of you looking at this page before you've read WILDCAT FIREFLIES, not all of this is going to make sense--you'll have to take my word for it!

The title of the book:
WILDCAT FIREFLIES

The Wildcat is a creek--in my book and also in real life. My grandmother helped spearhead the environmental action in the 60s and 70s to block a dam along this creek, which would have flooded out farmland, drowned landmarks and ruined beautiful habitat. I grew up hearing her sing the Wildcat Creek song. Below are photographs of the creek, her over the years, her 1990 guest column in the Journal & Currier and people enjoying the recreation of the creek. I should also say that there is a cat in the story who is...um, wild. :) So there's a double meaning to that choice.

Fireflies are very cool little insects that light up. There is lots of lore, most among Native Americans, that the fireflies are somehow our loved ones on earth. They play a special part in this book and if I say any more I'll ruin it.

My Grandmother, Connie Wick 1992
Keeping up the Fight!

Again in 2006, one of the last times she was able to ride on the creek

For Anyone who likes more information, or who is interested in continuing to protect The Wildcat for future generations, please consider becoming part of The Wildcat Creek Federation!

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In WILDCAT FIREFLIES, the Feast of the Fireflies is a central event. This feast is fictional, however it is based on The Feast of the Hunter's Moon, that happens every fall at the Historic Ft. Ouiatenon, West Lafayette, IN.

My family often attended, worked in booths, and generally enjoyed it. This is a photograph of me age 4 with my grandmother (notice her period costume!) For more information on the real Feast visit: http://www.tcha.mus.in.us/feast

Other photos of attendees at the Feast:

Meridian and Tens spend a lot of time in Carmel, Indiana. They stumble in Helio's Tea Room. One of our favorite places and run by one of our favorite people, Kathy Kraft. I wish so much you could all go have lunch and shop at Helios and say hello to Kathy, but in September 2010 she lost her battle with breast cancer and the tea room closed. During her illness I promised her that I'd dedicate the next book I wrote to her (at the time I didn't know which one it would be). I'm so grateful that I was able to share with her the book's dedication and the finished manuscript before she transitioned. And frankly, I think my grandmother probably threw a Welcome Home party and met her at the window.