Where Imagination Begins: Writing in the Places That Move Me

By Tonya Lockhart

To be honest, the first words of my very first story were written in a hospital. I was genuinely bored, caught in the lull of strange television channels that seemed to drone on endlessly in the waiting room. With time to spare and my mind wandering, I reached for my journal, and wrote for an hour, completely zoned into my own little world. It was an unexpected spark of inspiration.

One of my absolute favorite places to write is near water. There's something about the breeze, the gentle rhythm of waves, the sound of water meeting earth, it all settles me. I once spent a weekend at a beach house, setting up my laptop on the deck with a cup of Irish coffee in hand. As the waves crashed and the morning sun poured in, I found myself fully immersed in writing and ended up finishing the majority of Paternal Poise. The beauty of writing by water is not just the tranquility, it's the life happening all around you, children playing, couples walking hand in hand, girlfriends laughing and sharing stories. It’s like witnessing flashes of dialogue, characters, and scenes waiting to be written.

My second favorite place to write is the airport. Much like that hospital waiting room, the airport gives me a space to disappear into my imagination. It's busy, unpredictable, and raw. Oddly enough, many of the deeper, emotional conversations in my writing have been penned while sitting at a gate or tucked away in a terminal café. Maybe it’s the clash of emotions all around, the crying children, the loudspeaker announcements, the hum of transit carts, that stirs my need to give voice to my characters. And then there’s the flight itself, calming, suspended in the clouds, full of quiet perspective and those cinematic moments that end up as scenes in a novel.

While these places hold a special place in my creative process, I’ve learned that inspiration doesn’t wait for perfect settings. I scribble thoughts on sticky notes, send texts to myself, write on the backs of receipts, wherever and whenever creativity strikes. Life itself is the muse. I just try my best to live it fully and write it honestly.

Black Women Writers Who Loved Their Pets

I love my dog! He is my best friend and knows all of my secrets. He is who I test some of my new material on. In my mind, he gives me very critical feedback. All in all, he is my ride or die. We go everywhere together. I've been blessed to have a companion that matches my energy and is a full delight to be around.

Wrapped in warmth and wisdom, my favorite editor hard at work.

I jest many days that he is a dog that presents as a cat. He loves to perch and keep a watchful eye on the neighborhood. He'll let me play dress up from time to time and he'll even watch football with me. But he really lights up when it's time to play with his doggy best friend. They see each other and immediately get ready to run, jump and tussle. Every day he patiently waits for me to finish whatever human thing I deemed important so that we can hop in the car and head down to his friend's house. For at least an hour, they are in perpetual motion, either chasing each other, boxing, or chewing bones side by side. I say they are best friends, but they are truly more like brothers. I could have never guessed that by inviting my little guy into my life, it would result in me having four or five dogs to truly love.

Cap, forever in our hearts, pictured here with his loyal companion, a bond that reminds us love never leaves.

Pets are a phenomenon and the literary world did not escape them. There are so many famous and not-so-famous authors that thrived with loving pet companions. Two of my favorites, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, had cats. Now, I don't know if I could ever go down that route, but it's good to know that there are good cat people out there. They managed to have the most amazing careers with those feline jokers hanging about.

Michelle Obama has Barack, but Bo is the cutest. He looks so fluffy and lovable that you can't do anything but warm up to him (if Secret Service would let you pet him).

I'm sure there are even more authors out there with four-legged friends that bring much joy and laughter. It is my hope that my pup's literary critiques will continue to help me grow as an author and bring another good story to life.

Three Lovely Ladies: The Making of Louise Ann Moultry

In honor of Mother's Day, I want to pay homage to three of the women that inspired the strong character of Sequoya's grandmother, Louise Ann Moultry. When developing who Louise was, I took attributes of two of my great-grandmothers and one of my grandmothers.

The greatest thing about this trio was that they were best friends. I'm not sure which came first, their friendship or my parents' courtship, but either way, my brother and I were truly blessed.

MBG was the most loyal and hard-driven Christian woman I had ever met. There was nothing that her late husband could have done wrong. She didn't believe in back talk or eating out. When her husband died, she married herself to the church and served faithfully to the day she died. She wasn't a pushover, she was headstrong and independent. Even though she barely topped five feet, she stood tall as a redwood to me. She was my first heroine.

LTW was dependable. She understood her calling, she was humble and giving. You knew if you surprised her, she would have a full meal prepared with at least two homemade desserts, just in case. My dad would almost beeline straight to her house, especially if we arrived in the morning. All he would talk about was his momma's biscuits and preserves (they were the best I ever had, by the way).

RJW was reliable. She was patient, kind, and calm. She wanted to share the small joys of life with you. Her favorite thing to do was to just sit out on the porch and speak to people as they went by. She always welcomed company and never tired of just chatting with her neighbors. She didn't ask for anything, and people always wanted to do for her.

Now that I look at these words, they don't give these ladies any justice. I could go on and on about these women, but I guess you'll have to read my next project to know more about Louise and the three ladies that inspired her character.