IWSG: If I could be anyone . . .

As we march into Spring, the Insecure Writer's Support Group challenges writers to answer this question on the first Wednesday of March:

March 5 question - If for one day you could be anyone or *thing* in the world, what would it be? Describe, tell why, and any themes, goals, or values they/it inspire in you.

When I was a kid, I read as many books as I could check out of the library, falling into historical fiction as if it were an escape from what surrounded me. My dreams were to sail to the Southern Seas, to travel the world, to climb mountains. I never actually thought this would happen, holding the current book in my hand, lost in places so far away I couldn't hear anyone at all. 'Nose in a book,' my mother would say, losing her patience and whacking me. I left at seventeen and never looked back. I also don't drink.

I never thought I'd fall in love, get married, have children, or live in a lovely cottage on the hill with a white picket fence in front. That cottage never materialized, but I still remember that day I met Allen, my husband of now over 50 years. He said, "I really like you, but I like to travel." My reply? "So do I." Did I say that he loved bookstores and libraries as much as I do?

I've traveled more than I ever imagined, explored cultures that yet resonate, and I became a college teacher of writing, helping others find ways to express their dreams and set their own goals. Once retired, we settled near family, with two grandkids who brighten every week.

And I began to pursue my longheld dream of becoming a writer, starting with historical fiction (somehow I got stuck in the 1840s), then dabbling in other genres -- police procedurals and art crime mysteries. All inspired by that lifelong love of travel.

So, if I could be anybody, I think I am simply happy being myself.

And, starting tomorrow, March 6, my latest book goes on special. Unleashed Pursuit, a story about a woman police officer on the run who winds up in a small town in Oregon. Take a look, if you like. I still love to encouraging reading, so all of my books are available on Kindle Unlimited.

Now, the snow has melted, temperatures are slowly warming. Maybe spring will truly be here with first flowers in a few more weeks -- a good spring for all of us.

Consider visiting the awesome co-hosts for the March 5 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse Van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Liza @ Middle Passages! Say hello, leave a comment, and celebrate each day! 

Oh, and there's still time to read a book!