FUN FACTS ABOUT CHASING FIREFLIES

Time for another fun fact about CHASING FIREFLIES!

To see last week's post, go HERE.

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CHASING FIREFLIES takes place in China.

It is based off of some of my daughter's experiences while she spent a semester there teaching English.

However, it also includes a few personal touches from my life also.

Like the time I was voted Most Shy in high school during the Senior Most competition.

When we took the yearbook pictures, it was awful.

(Yep, here they come, actual photos from my yearbook!)

One of the Class Clowns is standing on her head.

The Most Spirited are hanging in a tree.

The Most Active are, well, being Most Active.

Then there was me and the Most Shy boy in the school, standing there looking awkward.

Being shy and introverted has been my personality all my life.

So, I decided to write about a shy and introverted character.

I found it to be challenging. How do you write about a shy introvert and still make her seem interesting?

By definition introverts are:

Someone who is drained by social encounters and energized by solitary, often creative pursuits. Their disposition is frequently misconstrued as shyness, social phobia or even avoidant personality disorder, but many introverts socialize easily; they just strongly prefer not to.

I quickly realized I made the same mistake the world makes when seeing a shy or introverted person.

Label them as boring.

Which is simply not the case.

While being shy and being an introvert are actually not the same thing, I have both qualities, so I gave my character both as well. 

I had to delve into my own mind and ask, "What would I do in this situation?"

I realized there is so much more to a person than what meets the eye.

When choosing the cover for CHASING FIREFLIES, I loved the image we went with because her hair is covering her eyes, speaking to her shyness and desire to not be noticed.

I learned that being shy and/or introverted is not a fault, it's simply part of your character.

Embrace it!

My sisters think I’m crazy.

But, I’ve never forgotten the mysterious woman from my childhood who told me Paul is the name of my one true love.

She told me to search far and wide for him.

I haven’t stopped looking ever since.

When I stumble across an article about a successful American entrepreneur named Paul who lives and works in China, I’m intrigued. When the opportunity to teach English in China presents itself on the same day, I know it’s not a coincidence.

It’s destiny.

My sisters say I’m chasing a dream.

Just like the fireflies we tried to catch on the warm summer evenings of our youth, the dream seems beyond my grasp.   Will my quest for the elusive Paul always be just short of fulfillment?

My sisters tell me it’s a fool’s errand.

Until I remind them of the day we saw the Red Bird.

The memory silences them.

The Red Bird Incident remains inarguable—and proves my search for Paul is not a silly fantasy.

I will find Paul . . . I will.

GOODREADS


To read more fun facts about CHASING FIRELIES, go HERE.