How do I unwind, or find that much
needed alone time? That precious time is what I call escapism.
I’m a writer and my ideal
escapism—in my imagination—is an isolated cabin in the woods. No phones, no TV
and no disruptions of any sort. Most of all, I’d have no pressure to muddle my
overcrowded brain.
Alas, I have, like people in all
walks of life many constant decisions to make. Do I get my hubby’s
prescriptions filled today? Maybe I should get the wash done, clean the house,
plan meals for the next three days, or go grocery shopping, etc. Hmm. Should I
answer emails, follow blogs, write or concentrate on the outline for my next
story?
Wow, my real life is certainly filled with a
lot of pressure. I’m sure you know the feeling. At times, it’s too much to
bear. Some cope better than others, but I’m the type that still needs that
quiet time alone to soothe the jangly nerves. To do a balancing act and find
some mini-escapism time to regroup.
Personally, I have found the best
escapism, for me, is in books. When all is finally quiet in the house, all
family members in bed, I open a book. Be it thriller, paranormal, romance,
historical fiction, or sci-fi, I forget real life for a little while and escape
into another world. I breathe deep,
snuggle back in my tilt-back chair, and sink into the world the author has
built, whether the novel takes place in the present, past or future.
Be it thrills, chills, sweet
romance, or adventure, I’ve escaped into them all. I was the characters facing
Cujo and then walking along with Odd Thomas speaking to spirits. I accompanied John Corey as he battled the
evil men on Plum Island. I’ve been a member of the Camel Club helping to keep a
good eye on what was happening in Washington.
I’ve flown the galaxy to different
planets with Jean Luc Picard and visited DS-9 to meet aliens. I read how Odo sunk
into his bucket to catch a nap.
I’ve also been a member of a Tac
Team with the strong characters who fell so deeply in love while in the midst
of a dangerous mission.
I’ve sailed on wooden ships flying
the Jolly Roger. I’ve accompanied courtesans into the palaces of great
monarchs. I even went with James Bond on all his spy missions. What a thrill.
Now, you know I’m talking years and
years of escapism, or reading the once upon a time favorites.
What better type of escapism is
there but to live another’s life for a while? Leave your headaches behind and
enjoy stepping into another world for a few hours of alone time and getting
your mind off your real life problems.
About Lorrie Unites-Struiff:
Lorrie lives in West Mifflin, PA, thirty minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. She lives at home with her favorite toy—a computer.
Once a gold medalist teacher/manager for a big-name ballroom dance studio she has retired and now enjoys the quiet life of writing and watching TV. But she loves to have lunches with local writers to keep abreast of the challenging world of publishing.
Lorrie writes in many genres so you never know what she will come out with next. She never wants to bore her readers and enjoys the thrill of entertaining them by writing a good story.
She would love to hear from her fans at struiff@msn.com. Please put “reader” in the subject line. Thank you for choosing my book.
Where you can find Lorrie:
Wow Lorrie, you have been to many places, in this Universe and beyond. lol I, too, have seen the world though reading. How I would love to see them in person one day.
ReplyDeleteLove the post. Looking forward to getting lost in Winnie's world one day soon. :)