Lucia of Fatima

My research pile

Ever wonder how an author writes a story? Sometimes I put down a book like Anne of Green Gables and try to imagine how Lucy Maud Montgomery created Anne. The little orphan girl jumps off the page as a living, breathing character. Let me give you an example. Here is the moment when Matthew Cuthbert first meets the little orphan girl at the train station. 

She wore a faded brown sailor hat and beneath the hat, extending down her back, were two braids of very thick, decidedly red hair. Her face was small, white and thin, also much freckled; her mouth was large and so were her eyes, which looked green in some lights and moods and gray in others.

As some of your may know, I also write books for young people- four to be exact. I read books like Anne of Green Gablesfor inspiration. You see I am writing a story about another intriguing character, although this character really existed. Lucia de Santos of Fatima, Portugal became one of the most famous children in history. Lucia, along with her cousins Jacinta and Francisco, were three peasant children who lived in the early 1900’s. From 1916-1917, they witnessed nine extraordinary visions with supernatural visitors. 

Come with me as I try to bring this story to life through the eyes of ten-year-old Lucia. I have been working on the rough draft for six months. I arise at 4:30 in the morning, brew up a pot of black English tea and read daily scripture from Magnificat magazine. After teatime, I climb stairs up to the dormer, turn on the computer, and start writing. What is that like? The story unfolds scene by scene, like a little video is playing in my mind. Sound mysterious?  In some ways it is. 

Come join me on this adventure into creativity, starting from rough draft to finished product. Every week I will post 30 second videos showing where I work, helpful writing prompts, and other tricks of the trade. Along the way you will meet the truly heroic children of Fatima.