Cali Gilbert's Blog

The writing process for the book was quite interesting. I began writing the outline in the summer of 2016 after I had found a home on Coronado Island. Suddenly the story seemed to take on a new direction, and as I was now splitting my time between Los Angeles and the island, my protagonist seemed to make the move as well. I also learned about the mysterious shipwreck on the island and the history behind it. My curiosity led me to learning more, and then making it a major setting in the book.

From August through October of 2016 my Love and I spent quite a bit of time working on character development and creating scenes and scenarios for the plot. It was an amazing collaboration and I learned why were worked so well together. I view things in a big picture and then have a good idea of the plan I want to follow, whereas he tends to focus more on the details within the plan and how they connect to the big picture. I learned a lot and it was great.

It was also a crucial time in our relationship where I had to really rely on my patience to get me through certain times when life just got in the way and the project needed to be set aside. That was quite a challenge, especially in February of 2017 when I hadn’t written a word in nearly two months and was growing concerned that I’d meet the deadline. However, it all worked out and our relationship continued to grow stronger through the process.

So now, we are both thrilled to present to you and the world, TIMING THE TIDES.

Enjoy!

Cali

By October of 2015 I was still picturing the book being about the Titanic tragedy, but tying it in with Venice in the early 1900s. I came up with some ideas of possible scenes, one being the Venice Breakwater which I felt would be perfect for a rescue scene as it was the spot known for the most rescues in all of Los Angeles County. As I often do with my books, I generated scenes in my head and then imagined how they would be brought to life on paper.

It was during the early winter months of 2015 during the book tour for PEARL that I worked on designing the book cover for the TIMING book and started thinking of the direction in which I wanted to share the story. It had become quite a personal story, yet I was determined to write fiction, so I needed to learn about the best way to deliver what I had in mind.

It was also during this time that my relationship with my Love was growing and changing in many ways. He had always been so supportive of my work, but collaborating on a project such as this was something new for both of us, and it had its ups and downs. At times we were both super enthusiastic about the project, and then at other times, there was nothing. So I had to learn to be patient and just work with what was coming when it came, and not try to force anything.

Come back next week to learn more.

Cheers!

Cali

With the return to swimming in the ocean came the visions, visions of what I could only conclude were the past. At first I thought about the time when I was ten years old at the lake, and the incident with the girl at camp when she dunked my head in the water. Yet something was different. The visions were accompanied by not a feeling of fear, but one of security.

There were a couple instances during my ocean swims where the waves were so strong that they would literally pull me under. I remember being in that space with opened eyes, looking around at the world below the surface and yet somehow feeling safe because I knew my Love was also in the water near me. Even though I was driven under with such force at times, I wasn’t scared. That feeling I knew did not derive from my childhood memories. There was something more to it, and my curiosity began to grow.

Come back next week to learn more.

Cheers!

Cali

June, 2015 – The title for this book, TIMING THE TIDES came to me in June during a time when I had been attending a workshop with a marketing guru from the film world. For some reason after coming up with the title, the project presented itself to me in book format, rather than film, yet with a possible adaptation to film once the book was completed.

It was also at this time that I felt I needed to somehow include the story from Titanic in the book, yet I wasn’t really sure how to go about doing that. I did begin to broaden my research and dig deeper into what was coming to me through my visions and dreams.

The biggest shift for me personally during this time was that over the next couple of months I would return to the ocean to swim, and this time not just wade near the shoreline. With each outing I became more and more comfortable with being in the ocean, and I was grateful to have my Love join me. We spent many morning swimming together which was bliss.

Come back next week to learn more.

Cheers!

Cali

May, 2015 – Fast forward to nearly a year later when I first come up with the idea to pursue a new genre with my writing. I had been working on my second memoir, the sequel to It’s Simply Serendipity, entitled PEARL . Most of my focus was on this book and promoting what I had already published over the years, yet I always believe in growing as a writer.

The idea for the book actually derived from my film experience. I had spent the last year enthralled in the world of filmmaking and decided to do a film about Venice Beach back in the day. I shared the concept with my Love and asked him if I could look to him for guidance as he grew up on the beaches of LA, and would be a great resource. He of course was thrilled to assist.

The idea was to focus on Venice from its beginnings when it was founded in 1905 by Abbot Kinney and known as the “Venice of America”. I toured the canals and captured video footage and researched that time period with great curiosity.

Come back next week to learn more.

Cheers!

Cali

June 16, 2014 – the day I finally conquered my fear of the ocean. It was a beautiful day on Santa Monica Beach and after soaking up some sun I gazed out to the sea. I felt it was time. I shared with my Love that I was ready and he assured me that he would be there if I needed him. I slowly walked out as my legs trembled. Slowly I took step after step into the water as the waves crashed against me. I was terrified, yet determined to get through the experience.

With each step my confidence grew. I went out far enough that the waves would beat against my face. I then turned around and returned to shore. I decided to sit down on the beach and simply allow the waves to visit and retreat around me. I felt the motion of the water carry my body with the force of each wave. My confidence continued to grow.

After a while I felt better. I looked over to my Love and he gave me a thumbs up, to which I returned a smile. I felt proud to have taken the plunge. I felt relieved that it wasn’t as bad as I had envisioned. When I was through I returned to my Love and he put his arms around me and asked if I was okay. I replied yes and how I was happy I had gone in. He smiled.

Come back next week to learn more.

Cheers!

Cali

It was January, 2014 when I began having memories of Titanic, triggered one day as I was working on my computer and listening to music on the radio. The song, “The Heart Must Go On” by Celine Dion came on and it sent chills up my spine. Immediately I was guided to begin researching the passenger list of Titanic online. As I skimmed through the names and classes, a couple jumped out at me to research further.

As I read stories of the passengers aboard the great ship, I imagined what it would have been like to live in 1912 and the excitement of boarding the magnificent vessel. Most of my days back in 2014 were spent by the ocean with my Love. Whenever I would gaze out at the sea I’d begin to have flashes that didn’t seem to make sense. They were very brief, yet resulted in experiencing great emotion, as if they touched my heart in some way.

The time by the sea also made me think about my relationship with water, and how I always loved being near the sea, yet would never go in. I shared this fear with my Love and told him that I felt it was a fear I needed to overcome, especially after all this time, 30+ years. He assured me that when I was ready, he would be there for me. That was certainly reassuring.

Come back next week to learn more.

Cheers!

Cali

Do you believe in reincarnation?

Well, I do. In fact, I can remember six lifetimes in detail. Now I know this topic may resonate strongly with some of you, while others are probably shaking your heads saying NO WAY!

That’s okay. This is simply something I BELIEVE, and the basis to writing my forthcoming book, TIMING THE TIDES.

Let me set the scene for you. The story actually dates back to my childhood and a phobia that plagued me for as long as I can remember, but an incident when I was ten years old that triggered a memory.

My parents had sent me off to summer camp at a lake on the east coast of America. Not sure exactly where it was, but there was swimming involved. First of all, let me also share that as a child I loved to swim. In fact, my very first trophy was for swimming.

Okay, back to the lake. 

So there I was, a ten year old trying to find myself. I had recently had all of my long hair chopped off and sported a wedge hairstyle that I hoped would resemble figure skater, Dorothy Hamill’s, but failed miserably. I was self-conscious and nervous about spending the summer away. One day while we were all swimming in the lake, a much bigger girl began teasing me about my short hair and then she did something that completely freaked me out. She came up behind me and grabbed a hold of my hair and pushed my head under water and held me under. I literally thought I was going to die.

She finally let me up and as I gasped for air, something happened that stayed with me for over 30 years. I had been traumatized and developed a fear of the sea. From that day on, I refused to go into water I couldn’t see the bottom of.

That all changed in the spring of 2014.

Make sure to come back next week to read more.

Cheers!

Cali