(Guest post by Tracey Byrnes)

A lot.

No, seriously, far too much to tell you about in a blog post. I’d be writing a novel. *wink*

Then there’s the “I could tell you, but…” aspect attached to several things. Far be it from me to drop any spoilers about Charles’ upcoming books.

What, you thought I’d slip up and reveal a critical story detail or three? *chuckles*

“Never say never,” but it’s unlikely. Although I’ll go on record as saying that book five in his Big Easy Bounty Hunter series promises to be a heck of a ride. I’m looking forward to immersing myself in the latest action and hijinks.

Back to what happens.

[Lack of] spoiler information notwithstanding…

It’s always time well spent.

Laughter and conversation abound. So do the breaks for comfortable silence. Although he’s learned that I can be a chatterbox at times. (Sorry, Charles! I’ll work on containing my not-so-inner “giddy kid with epic sagas to tell.” #Probably. Okay, maybe.)

Tasty food is a must to fuel lengthy stints of wrangling words on backlit screens. Dedication to stories by itself won’t keep butts in chairs and fingers on keyboards. Just ask your stomach about not refueling the next time it grumbles while you’re working on something. I bet it will agree.

Brainstorming happens at odd moments, sometimes while swapping tales. An Adirondack rocker might quietly creak in the night air as insects hum in the background. Words get written and edited, often in the wee hours best known to night owls and third-shift workers. The non-human contingent shamelessly takes advantage of any opportunity to garner attention.

It’s downtime and work time rolled into one, and usually the best of both.

For me, it’s also a chance to reconnect, recharge, and “people” without being in a crowd. An extrovert I am not…put me in a large gathering and sooner rather than later, I’ll find a hole and pull it in after myself.

“But what about the stories?” you insist.

That’s an easy answer. It’s all part of the “how it happens” in storytelling. Real life meets imagination meets creative license in a case of “What if.” To quote the Bard:

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.

William Shakespeare, from “As You Like It,” spoken by Jaques

*Stock image by Janet Meyer from Pixabay