That is great advice. I've been a writer since I was big enough to hold a pencil, but, in actuality, I've written next to nothing in the last 10 years or so. When I first started writing stories as an adult, I wrote what I knew, but what I knew at that time was messy and sinful and nothing ever came to anything and some of it I'm now disgusted by. It was all written by a too-young woman who was very lost.
But now I'm almost 40 and I have God. He has only recently begun to reveal to me His plan for my life. And that is to write. So I have begun blogging (thegozette.wordpress.com)to get back into the swing of writing (10 years makes one rusty) and have started a freelance writer's course that has so far been very helpful in getting me back to a writers mind. I look forward to learning from your Train of Thought Method book when I am able to purchase it.
I have never been anywhere myself, but my little area of Western Canada, and when I saw those stories of yours like Red Ink, I assumed that you must have visted those places and am very surprised to find that you hadn't. That gives me hope that someday, if God is directing me to write fiction (which I'm not really sure He is or isn't - He hasn't pointed that part out yet) I may be able to write stories like.
I haven't exactly read any of your books yet, Kathi, but I look forward to doing so (I got your free Kindle version of Valeria's Cross, but I haven't started it yet). From what I've seen and read of you from your website and blogs, I consider you a mentor (you and Dawn Wilson). I'm so grateful to God that He directed that I should happen across writers like you (and Dawn) that I can learn from.