What inspires you? Is it the scent of freshly mown grass, the sight of raindrops perched on a spider’s web, the sound of the ocean rolling to shore or your favorite song? We are moved by what touches our six senses. And I say six because I think we have to include the sense of emotion; we’re inspired when something touches our hearts.

Authors include the senses in their writing to bring the reader into the story, to make the story come alive. The senses also serve the deeper purpose, which is to inspire both the reader and the writer.

We want to be moved. We want to feel for a character. And in the best case scenario we want what moves us about the character to move us in a way that affects our own lives as well. The books I love the most are the ones that leave me feeling hopeful and inspired, alive with possibility.

What books or what else inspire you?

About The Author

My first YA novel, Breathing, will be coming out in April with Viking. I live in Northern California with my husband and two kids. I grew up in North Carolina. Breathing takes place on the Carolina coast, where I often spent family vacations. Like Savannah, I fell in love with an older boy when I was a teenager. Just after Breathing's release, we will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.  Read more about Cheryl Renee Herbsman.

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