Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Colorado Is For Writers

By

Dora Machado



Colorado has to be one of my favorite places in the world. The views of the Rocky Mountains are breathtaking. The people are friendly, fit and youthful, no matter their age. Nature indulges, facilitating so many of the activities for which the State is known, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, biking, hiking, fly-fishing, rafting and . . .  writing?

Yes, writing.

It's easy to find inspiration among these mountains. It's easy to keep the mind focused when surrounded by such stunning vistas. I find myself energized by the folks who tackled the slopes with the same energy and enthusiasm I feel when I tackle a story. It goes against the principles of oxygen deprivation, but I find that the mind flows effortlessly at ten thousand feet, especially after a few hours of skiing or snowshoeing, and a little nap.



We've had some epic snow dumps so far this year and the snow has been delicious. Those of us who frequent the mountains of Colorado on a regular basis, couldn't be happier. I heard a few people complaining about the cold weather this year, but I'm not one of them. When the going gets tough on the mountain, when the wind picks up and you can't see the chair lift in front of you, I head indoors. The way I see it, it's time for some serious writing.

I've produced some of my best writing in Colorado. These mountains have inspired thousands of words out of me. I'm always grateful for the opportunity to come out to Colorado and share in the state of mind that makes it such a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts and, yes, for writers too.


Do you have a special place that inspires your writing?




****

Dora Machado is the award-winning author of the epic fantasy Stonewiser series and her newest novel, The Curse Giver, available from Twilight Times Books. She grew up in the Dominican Republic, where she developed a fascination for writing and a taste for Merengue. After a lifetime of straddling such compelling but different worlds, fantasy is a natural fit to her stories. She lives in Florida with her husband and three very opinionated cats.

Dora also writes features for Murder By Four, an award-winning blog for people interested in reading and writing, and Savvy Authors, where writers help writers.


To learn more about Dora Machado and her novels, visit her website at www.doramachado.com or contact her at Dora@doramachado.com.

For a free excerpt of The Curse Giver, visit  http://twilighttimesbooks.comthingsTheCurseGiver_ch1.html.




4 comments:

Aaron Paul Lazar said...

Dora, I so envy you your mountains and lovely snow. We've had a fair amount in NY, but not enough to consistently "play" in. My most favorite place to write is in the Adirondack Mountains, just northeast of here. The Sacandaga River is such a wonderful writing companion. That, and a glass of good wine! Thanks for this lovely post!

Unknown said...

I loved my time in Colorado! It's beautiful out there. I only miss it sometimes, though. =D

Unknown said...

I have to agree with Steven that Colorado is beautiful. Aaron, you need to show us pictures of The Sacandaga River. Sounds lovely!

Aaron Paul Lazar said...

All right, Dora! I will repost my article about writing on the Sacandaga soon - with plenty of photos. Loved your pix!