Goodreads asked Lena Goldfinch:

How do you get inspired to write?

Lena Goldfinch Writing a book is a lot like gathering shells on the beach. Something catches my eye and I pick it up. Then something else catches my attention. At first nothing fits together. But eventually there's a pile and connections start to form, making a picture of sorts. This can be a conscious process of researching things of interest, ex. history, settings. And other times it's more like serendipity. You're not looking for inspiration, but it sparks unexpectedly. It feels like I've been handed a gift. Ex. One shell is an interest in Colorado. Another is an interest in communication disabilities. Another is a stray image of a train, we get a puppy, life changes, we lose loved ones, experience grief,... And so on. The coming together of all these disparate things along with characters who take on a life of their own is a kind of magic to me.

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