O, Little Town of Clifton Forge

I'd like to delve into the Portals series a little by giving some insight into the places, people and things that I found inspirational during the writing process.

At the beginning of chapter 1, book 1, we find ourselves with Abby in the small town of Clifton Forge, Virginia.

Yes, it is a real place. In fact, I happen to be sitting in it as we speak... er... read.

Growing up as an army brat I moved a lot; we were either stationed in Germany (where I was born), Oklahoma, or upstate New York near the Canadian border. I called Maine home during my last two years of high school, but Clifton Forge was always "home base" for my family.

My dad was born here, and my grandparents kept their large house for the family to visit. I fondly remember the occasional summer vacation or Christmas holiday spent there. Grandma still lives that house, baking bread and making cheeseballs at 92 years young.

Clifton Forge is a wonderful place to live; it's nestled right in the mountains of Alleghany County, between the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah mountains. We have the beautiful Historic Masonic Theater and Amphitheater, train museum and a brand-new IGA. You can find hiking trails all around, from Douthat (pronounced "Dow That") State Park to Roaring Run, and most importantly it's blissfully quiet.

The local nightlife can be found downtown at the game shop, where - if you bring your best Pokemon cards - you'll make some good friends. There is a tavern on Main street that makes excellent burgers and has even started brewing their own beer. If you want a faster pace, I suggest you head to the next town over to visit the Wal-Mart, or you can visit Roanoke forty-five minutes south.

This is the perfect place for Abby and her father to hide. This - like so many other small towns in America - is a place where you can relax, be a part of a tight-knit community, and have some friends that would go to the ends of the earth for you... and beyond.

So it Begins...

When I was a young girl, I remember reading Rudyard Kipling's "Just So Stories" about the origins of things... the alphabet, and rhinoceros skin and elephant trunks. I was fascinated by how things happened on the banks of the great, grey-green, greasy Limpopo river, all set about with fever trees. As I grew older, I learned more about the author and all his adventures between India and England, which fueled his ideas behind everything he wrote. He led an adventure-filled life in the wee hours between the 19th and 20th centuries, which - for me - grew into a deeper appreciation for his work.

The same copy of "Just So Stories" still graces my bookshelf, along with other childhood favorites like Yertle the Turtle, and new friends like Harry Potter.

It makes me think, as I venture into this world of writing, what would be said of me as time goes by? What will my Wikipedia page say about me? And, more importantly, what will they say about the pages upon which I toiled for many years; the work that reflects the inner workings of my mind?

Perhaps, dear reader, I should contribute some insight?

So, that's what this blog is for... to delve a little into the canon of my "magnum opus" as it were. I'm going to try linking things together over the coming, unspecified length of time so you might grow a little more knowledgeable about the characters, places and yours truly.

I'll do my best not to add any spoilers to unpublished works. As of this blog, there is only one book, but my brain is full of ideas and stories, so stay tuned!

You can find my book on Amazon, here.