Lara D. Elliott - Inspirations

I'll let you in on a little secret. Several of my novels are set in or near the little town of Mecklenburg. While this town exists, it has a different name: Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Mecklenburg was actually the name of the town way back when. The Mecklenburg Inn still stands on German Street. The Christmas parade scene in my novel-in-progress was inspired by the many parades I have marched with my students in this very town.

If God were steampunk we’d all have gears, Sound receptors in place of ears, Hands with multifunction parts, Steaming boilers instead of hearts, And scopes for eyes to see ten miles. (We’d still have teeth ‘cause God likes smiles.) His perfect mechanical innovations: Like clockwork would run God’s creation. Another piece written for a picture prompt in my writing group. (Originally posted February 20, 2016) If you like this poem, check out my other related poem:  http://laradelliott.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-mechanic.html Would you like to read all of my poetry? Check out more  here !

Want to know a cool fact about me? I was named after a song! My mom absolutely loved the song "Somewhere My Love" also known as "Lara's Theme" from the movie Doctor Zhivago. The character's full name is Larissa (my full name too) but her nickname is Lara. When my husband and I named our sons, their first names didn't have any special meaning other than we liked the names. Their middle names, however, are after my father and grandfather. Bonus Fact: "Lara's Theme" includes accompaniment on a balalaika, the Russian folk instrument similar to a guitar but with a triangular shaped body and typically only three strings.

I had to cut it--the prologue to my novel-in-progress. It was a great scene, but didn't start the story in the right place. I still love it, so here it is for you. “He posted it!” Maddie shoved her phone back in her pocket and grabbed her bag. “What? The list is up? Already?” My heart thumped up in my throat.   Maddie shot off down the hall. “Come on, Aria!”  I slammed my locker shut and threw my book bag over my shoulder, nearly toppling with the heavy load.  “Slow down!” I chased after her. Our pace slowed to a race-walk as we passed the office, but then we sprinted down the last hallway. I started wishing that my locker hadn’t been on the opposite side of the building.  I rounded the corner to the band room just after Maddie and spied a crowd of people huddled around the bulletin board. As I approached, my steps slowed and my ears were muffled with the blood pumping through my body. My nerves took hold and the scene in front of me became a blur...

The doors to the “Reverie Repository” whooshed open and Azlyn stepped into the candle-lit lobby. The moonlight from the atrium barely reached this level, providing only a strange blue-ish glow. Madame Penelope sat behind the counter, grinning like the Cheshire Cat, the flicker of candlelight glinting off her teeth. “Welcome back. May I help you find something or would you like to pull from the ‘Random’ bin?” “I think I’ll browse around tonight." Azlyn nodded and turned to face the grand array of choices. Madame Penelope sank back onto her stool and began filing her nails. “Don’t take too long.” The old oak floors creaked under Azlyn’s feet as she passed the first set of shelves.   Each dream sat bottled and waiting. Some dreams were housed in tiny vials. Others, large urns. The purple ones always drew her eye, but she never hesitated to select a yellow one or a nice teal. The placards posted on the ends of each display were starting to yellow with age: “Recent...

I finally finished the sonnets for my novel-in-progress. The first is from the main character, Aria. She is quite the poet, and later turns that talent into songwriting. The second "sonnet" is from Zed, the goof-off character, as you can see by what he wrote. His full text didn't make the cut for the novel, so this is the only place you can see it in its entirety. Enjoy! Aria's Sonnet: When e’er the land is wrapped in ice and snow,  My heart does long for days of sun and warmth, But Winter hides from me the dear sun’s glow And forces me to warm beside the hearth. When Solstice turns the nights to longer days, New promises of warmth in Spring do rise, But Winter’s winds and cloak of snow still stay, Delaying fields of green and bluer skies. When e’er at last the friendly melt does come, My weary heart is slow to beat again, But Spring’s warm smile brings love under the sun, Reviving me, restoring life within. ...

Perhaps love is in the air with Valentine's Day just around the corner. Anyhoo, I finally had a wave of inspiration for the love sonnet which I needed to put in my novel. One of the characters wrote it for his English assignment. Funny thing is, my real life student was writing a sonnet for class just the other day as well. I love a challenge when it comes to rhyme schemes and syllable counts.  “My heart beats like a drum when she is near. Each part of her a wonder to behold: Her voice a tune that is so sweet to hear; Her laugh a melody that won’t grow old; Her face a perfect canvas for a smile With eyes that warm and sparkle in the sun. I cannot gaze but for so short a while, For she departs too soon when day is done. My heart sings out a song of endless love Though only stars do hear it in the night When darkness wraps around me like a glove And hides my love for fear she won’t requite. I dream of days when she at last loves me A...