Yep, this is the inspiration behind my debut teen novel, Free Runner: my fifteen-year-old son. I must give credit where credit is due.
Here's the back story: Last summer I received word from my editor that the book I was writing for a series would not be published due to the discontinuation of that series. My book on frontier photographer H. H. Bennett would not see the light of day. My dreams of starting small in the publishing world and working my way up the ladder crumbled. So, I did what anyone else would do. I gave up--on non-fiction and went straight to my first love, writing fiction. But wait, there's more.Let's get back to last summer. I witnessed my son and a few of his friends performing gravity-defying stunts at our prospect-league baseball stadium. My son is not a stunt man nor is he a stunt double. The next day, I watched in horror as he and his buddies were running, jumping and flipping from everything at a local park. I asked my son, "What on earth are you doing?" His response, "Parkour, Mom. Free running?" He showed me Tempest Freerunning Academy's website on his iPhone. My fist reaction, "You're going to break something." My second reaction, "This is awesome!"
My brain failed to make a connection. My neurons forgot to send me the memo. Fast forward to last November. With spiral notebook in hand, I was jotting down mid-grade and YA lit ideas with my critique group, participating in #PIBOIDMO--Picture Book Idea Month. I don't write picture books, so I was using this month to generate ideas for an older audience. I stood up from the couch, stopped breathing and scribbled Free Runner for entry number 13. Ideas flew out of my brain at break faster than my kids can make a mess of a clean house. The third week in November, I glued myself to the couch and wrote most of the novel. I didn't register for #NaNoWriMo but pretended to be a participant.
The fastest growing extreme sport in the world is the catalyst for my debut teen novel, FREE RUNNER, and my dare-devil of a son. I haven't told him yet about his "inspiration," so if we could keep this a secret.
Look for my contemporary action/adventure/mystery thriller novel coming January 2014! Working on a website, so stay tuned!!!
#yalit #amwriting #parkour #freerunning #freerunner #debut #novel
