Embracing the power of the written word has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. Historically, the world of fiction called to me.
Readers are pulled into a whole new world as they experience life through the eyes of new characters … and that thrill of allowing readers an escape drives an author to create. As a writer, my love of storytelling has always been a part of my life. Sometimes it has lived in the shadows as I pursued other priorities and sometimes emerges one keystroke at a time.
Writing my own story was never the plan. In fact, writing non-fiction in a first-person frame has always been a challenge. I could stare at a blank screen for hours without finding the words and would find myself once again drawn back to the world of fiction. That was until this past year …
A personal health journey unlocked the world of non-fiction. Focusing on the things that bring me true joy also brought with it a desire to share some of those things with the world.
Travel has always had a special place in my heart. Whether it is strolling through the squares in Savannah or wandering through Washington D.C … I have found inspiration thinking of the people who have walked before me.
With that comes a passion not only for the history and legacy of the those souls but also a true passion for enjoying the beauty of nature, the ingenuity of the human spirit and the spirituality that comes from both.
Moss swaying from the live oaks and water trickling from the fountain in Savannah’s Lafayette Square … true bliss.
Then there are the sunrises and sunsets in the Florida Keys. It is a space where warmth radiates, nature blooms and the world just seems so alive.
As I started writing my own story this year, I thought about all the inspirational things in this world. The lapping of waves on the sand, the incredible artistry of the beach at dawn and the melodic nature of it all … it is magical.
There are so many places in this world I have already explored and so many I still want to see.
I invite you to come along with me on this journey. There will be some writing about my health journey, blogs about my exploration of this amazing world and some writing about what truly inspires me along the way.
My hope is that through it all you will find your own sense of a world worth exploring.
As I write this introduction, my last trip to the Dry Tortugas comes to mind. I asked the sea plane pilot if I could sit in the cockpit with him and was thrilled when he said yes.
The truth was that flying in small planes makes me nervous. For this particular trip, however, the adventure was so worth any ounce of fear.
Hovering low over the water allowed us to spot the sea turtles below, the shadows of ship wrecks, and the most brilliant colors I could ever imagine.
As we started to land in the ocean with the water spraying around the sea plane … I was inspired.
This world is far to big to feel alone. We are connected by so much beauty.
Please join me as we explore it together.
K Shaye Runyon 