Inspirations for Writing

As you all are reading this, I'm at a week-long work meeting/conference for the day job.  It's a busy week full of trainings (I'm giving 3) and getting together with workers from all over the state and fun.  The best part of the week is a banquet where we honor exceptional workers and adoptive families.  One of the families being honored this year is a family I have had the privilege of working with for several years.  They have adopted three boys and are in the process of adopting the younger brother of one of their sons.

Anyway, the week serves as a great inspiration for the day job, reminding me of why I do what I do.  Which got me thinking about what inspires me in my writing job.

My first inspirations is my parents, who just celebrated their 49th anniversary on July 4.  They are still very much in love and it shows!  Watching them, I know that happily ever after does indeed exist.  I will never forget when I was in high school and my best friend was spending the weekend.  We had gone upstairs to gossip and be silly, but Prim forgot something and ran back downstairs.  She came running back up the stairs and told me that we needed to turn a hose on my parents.  At the time, I was mortified!  Now I think it's very funny.  Kind of. 

My father is a 25 year AF veteran so I grew up watching the brave men (it was mostly men at that time) who served our country so selfishly.  That was the beginning of inspiration #2.  My love of men in uniform began early!  Now when I venture onto a base the men aren't too old for me, but mostly too young (although some are within range of my inner cougar!).  My son is in the AF and is about to be promoted to 1st LT.  But I still admire and am inspired by what the uniform stands for.

And then there's the wealth of fine looking eye candy available for inspiration #3.  My current favorites include Hugh Jackman and Joe Manganiello.  Alexander Skarsgard and Henry Cavill aren't too bad either!  I frequently search for images, all in the name of research, of course!  A good browsing session really gets my muse going!  She's shallow that way.

Who's your favorite leading man?

P.S. Hopefully, next month I'll have a new cover or three from the Class of '93 Trilogy to share with you.  And an excerpt or 2.  I'm very excited that the Class of '93 Trilogy will be available for Kindle!