Books teach us how to live! They give us trial runs for big emotions, escape from the mundane, and love stories that defy the ages.
Perhaps most important in this age of social media where people become personal brands, books remind us that real people are complex. They are flawed and complicated and sometimes completely contradictory and still absolutely beautiful. Even heroes doubt themselves. Even the beautiful feel self-conscious. Athletes might also be thespians; bookworms might love high fashion. Characters don’t have to fit into a box. Neither do people.
I slide into a few boxes as a writer. I’m a literary omnivore and passionately write everything from picture books to adult thrillers. My kidlit represents my jubilantly optimistic, whimsical side that loves to brainstorm and gets lost in Neverland. My adult lit represents my edgy streak. I wrote my first thriller when I was six years old and vividly remember how delicious it was to write something so dripping in suspense. People can be completely contradictory. But there is some common ground in all my writing.
Because I’m beautifully flawed, my characters are as well. Whether I’m writing an adventurous middle grade or a historical spy thriller, everything I write is packed with humor and heart. I don’t know any other way to live than with laughter and love and I don’t know any other way to write.
I’VE GOT SOME EXCITING THINGS IN THE WORKS, SO CHECK BACK SOON!
Cortney Dirks 