How Many People Did You Kill Today?

My first three novels were thrillers. One dealt with a murder and a shaman who stalked the protagonist across the outback. The second featured a Hindu-American FBI agent who had to access the powers of the dark goddess Kali to bring a serial killer to justice. The third (as yet unpublished) follows a Native American Lakota man who must stop the leader of a cult before he enacts the largest mass murder on American soil.
So, now I'm writing about an infectious disease specialist who discovers that mass outbreaks of violence worldwide are caused by a prion disease...a prion that has manifested due to all the religious hatred in the world. The novel deals with the intersection of quantum physics and shamanic wisdom.
Of necessity, a lot of people die. My life partner, who has kindly given up my presence in our home so that I could spend six weeks at the Rensing Center writing this novel, calls regularly to fill me in on all the messy house upgrades he decided to do while I am gone. To kick off one conversation, he asked, "How many people did you kill today?"
Many. And the death toll is rising.
That's the life of a writer for you!

Thoughts on the Creative Flow

Yesterday I arose at the unholy hour of 4 a.m. (Yes, I know, every hour and thing in this world is sacred but some are unholy, at least as far as getting out of bed is involved.)
Now, the only time I normally get up that early is for one of four very important reasons:
1. Hunt
2. Fish
3. Dance at a Native American powwow
4. Travel somewhere fun
Not that the numbering indicates the order of priority or frequency; it's just how it came to mind.
At any rate...that unholy hour.
I got up then in part because I went to sleep at 9:30 the night before. Why did I sleep then? Because I was tired.
Why did I arise at 4? Because I was awake.
I was ready to write.
I worked until 8 then ate breakfast. And because eating makes me tired (as well as the 4 a.m. waking time), I took a nap. By 9 I was writing again.
After lunch I went for a walk and did some food shopping in town.
Then I wrote again.
I created 12 pages yesterday, about 3,600 words.
That's one of the best parts about residency programs. You're able to do what moves you in the exact moment you are moved.
There's a power to setting aside purposeful time dedicated to a creative project.
There's even more power in the ability to write whenever you are moved to write. No worrying about whether you're disturbing a partner; no concerns over when the phone might start to ring and pull you away. No activities going on except those that nurture and support the work.
And, of course, I have the loving and patient support of my other partner, Hari. Here's a snapshot of him lounging on the porch of my residency home while I write in the morning sun.