Wordy Girls

I realize this is a totally unreasonable rant. But it's been a long week already, so please indulge me!

I'm not usually a huge fan of historical fiction, but I've read two really good ones recently: Hattie Big Sky and Our Only May Amelia. Kirby Larson was inspired to write Hattie Big Sky after learning her great-grandmother proved up on a homestead in Montana, and a diary written by Jennifer Holm's great aunt inspired Our Only May Amelia.

I'm jealous. 

I grew up with very private, some might say antisocial, parents. I couldn't even tell you how many aunts or uncles I have (though I know it's not many), and I do not know any cousins. Family ties were not important to my parents, at least not as they applied to visiting relatives!

So when I hear writers talk about the amazing discoveries they made about their very own aunts, grandparents, etc., I get unreasonably jealous. My childhood was a very run-of-the-mill suburban one, but maybe my relatives had great adventures! Or maybe not. But still, it would be nice to know. 

Or maybe what I'm really wishing I had was the spark of motivation that would turn into an award-winning book!

OK, time to go create my own motivation based on something other than very cool ancestors!