A Creative Reset and My Mom’s Key Lime Pie

Disaster for Dessert The Bones of the Story and the Elusiv...

A Creative Reset and My Mom’s Key Lime Pie

Man, there is just something about getting out of the daily grind, even if it’s just for a day, that can really help put a new perspective on things.

For me, that reset came in the form of my husband’s work trip to Lake Geneva. I was delighted that I could tag along. I hadn’t been there before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. While Lake Geneva was really pretty, I was even more taken in–and surprised–by the incredible homes and historic buildings in the area. A highlight of the trip was a morning walk that my husband and I took along part of the shore path, which runs right alongside the lake and directly through the backyards of jaw-dropping homes. I veered off the path multiple times as I rubbernecked at the gorgeous properties, enamored with, among many things, the boat houses which looked like the perfect writing retreats. (Whenever I pass the shed display at the mall, I daydream about putting one in my backyard as my very own writing getaway. One day!) We also drove past what looked to be a veritable castle at the lake’s edge.

Similarly unique, we stayed at a hotel with its own distinctive style. The dramatic angles of the structure and lush surroundings cast sweeping and dappled shadows in the courtyard and into the rooms. It was, as the kids say, a mood. Sketching character arcs and plot lines was so much easier there than where I usually write–on my bedroom floor next to the dirty laundry hamper!

With this beauty all around–and the looming laundry monster left behind–ideas came quickly. I was really happy with the work I accomplished on my novel. I am cautiously optimistic that I’ll be able to wrangle these fuzzy ideas into a solid outline before the school year starts. I find there’s something about free-spirited nature of summer that lends itself to the creative process of cooking up a new story. Conversely, I’m hopeful that the school year routine will provide the structure needed to get the words onto paper. On the other hand, it’s also possible that the calculus of youth sports carpools will short my brain. Might be a little of both!

The Pull of the Ocean

This new story is set at the beach. To me, the ocean has always had a magical pull. When I’m there, it’s like staring into a fire. I can’t look away. As a first generation midwesterner, I’ve been back to my parents’ homeland–the Jersey Shore–a few times, and I honestly think it’s the most wonderful place in the world. As a girl, I was overwhelmed by the size and beauty of the ocean and more than a little fearful of its might. I’ve also always loved the changeable moods of the water and the scent of sea salt. The restlessness of the waves spoke to me.

I truly believe that you can’t spend a day at the ocean without being changed for the better. Being treated to a day apart from the daily grind while luxuriating in the sun and gazing on such beauty invariably inspires a new outlook in a person, I think. In this story, an unlikely cast of characters will find their lives intertwined during one unforgettable day at the beach that will leave each of them forever changed.

My Mom’s Key Lime Pie

Another big event that happened this month was that my oldest turned sixteen. Sixteen! As I contemplated her birth and bright life and driver’s license, I whipped up her requested dessert, my mom’s key lime pie. It is the perfect summer dessert and comes together pretty easily. Recipe below