Shall We Dance?

 

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I was delighted when this image was chosen for the cover of my latest novel from BWL because of the dynamic dancing feet of a Cherokee Fancy Shawl dancer.  Here's one in motion at a pow wow...

I love featuring dance in my stories for many reasons.  A dance can prove a vibrant setting for a scene. It can illuminate character.  Who wouldn't be charmed when a confident dancer urges a shy partner out onto the dance floor?

It can be a springboard to romance. I grew up delighting in Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers musicals of the 1930s that were playing on television in my childhood a generation later. Wow, I was transported into another world of glamor and spectacular dancing!

My parents met on the dance floor in those 1930s and were champion Peabody dancers well into their 80s. Their complementary moves and in syncopation were, to me, a symbol of their 66 year marriage. 

When we invite readers into our stories it's much like being asked to dance... to trust the elements of our writing moves to bring us both to a place we've never been. I'm eternally grateful to readers who have accepted my offers of...shall we dance? 

Reading and Writing Buddies by Helen Henderson

 

Fire and Amulet by Helen Henderson
Click the cover for purchase information

What is the first thing you think of when you see writing buddy? You might picture a critique partner, face tense in concentration as they hunch over a manuscript. The image could even be detailed enough to include scribbled comments in red. Or maybe your idea is three people chatting online, brainstorming ideas for a collaborative work.

My first image for reading buddies was a group of women in comfortable, upholstered chairs in someone's living room. Side tables hold glasses of wine and plates of chocolate candies or other treats. Next was a book club. Their vibrant discussion takes place in a small cluster of chairs in the corner of a library or local book store. However, this post follows a recent meme trend. The reading and writing buddies varied by gender and age, but all have one thing in common -- four feet. The reading and writing buddies are cats and dogs. 

Meet Pepper, my childhood reading buddy. We sat on the ground in the shade of an ancient willow tree. The books being read were my parents' collections and the piles of books checked out of the county library. The westerns of Zane Gray and Lois L'amour competed with the tales of Cherry Ames. No, it never made me want to be a nurse. That was my mother's dream, at least until she graduated high school too early to be accepted.

Many years later, another four-footed companion kept me company. Tighe curled up next to me on the couch and tolerated being petted as I read. Gentle nudges reminded me he was still there whenever the caresses slowed or stopped. He had more challenging behavior as a writing buddy. Lying on my feet or my lap as I typed didn't interfere with productivity. Until he decided it was time for a snack or to go prowl the yard. Then if I didn't respond quick enough to taps on my hand, a leap and strut across the keyboard challenged me to move him. I refuse to answer who won the stand-off. 

 

I hope you enjoyed meeting my reading and writing buddies.

 

To purchase Fire and Amulet: BWL

~Until next month, stay safe and read.  

Find out more about me and my novels at Journey to Worlds of Imagination.
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Helen Henderson lives in western Tennessee with her husband. While she doesn’t have any pets in residence at the moment, she often visits a husky who has adopted her as one the pack.