Where'd the time go?

Whoa. 

I'm not entirely sure when it happened. Probably somewhere between flying by the seat of my pants and changing my last name.

Two years ago today, my baby, the brain-child that is Pendomus, landed in my head.

My first rendition of Runa.

Two.

It's hard to believe so much time has passed since my main character Runa's first inception;

I had been playing with my kids outside on a chilly October morning (Duh, Carissa... two years ago today. But I digress...) The sunlight was flitting through the broken, stain-glass leaves above... I was peacefully minding my own business, oblivious that a young girl and her entire world would pierce my day and never let go of my heart.

She wasn't quiet. She wasn't serene. 

Instead, Runa was escaping. 

She needed a way out and she needed it now. Her voice was so strong, so clear, that I knew this was how I needed to start Pendomus.

I've gotten feedback from some of my beta readers to consider changing the opening sequence. For some, having a girl running away isn't a strong enough connection. Why should you care about her? Why should you care that she's running away, even?

I've given it a lot of thought and I guess, the answer is simple.

It's not about you.

For me, as the vessel of this story, it isn't about the reader. It's about my connection to Runa and dammit, she wanted to be introduced that way.

Call me crazy, and perhaps there's a valid case to be made there (HA!), but I need to be true to her. So, pardon me if I say I really could care less about formulaic novel writing. (Says the crazy woman after writing a post about plotting her next books... heehee...) I care about staying true to my vision. The voices in my head and the world they bring with them.

So anyway... it is with Runa in mind (and heart) that I say...

"Happy Inception Day, Runa! I have been forever changed because of you."