Memories are a powerful part of who we are. Good or bad, they shape how we respond to our everyday experiences. It’s why we go to class reunions, funerals, weddings, birthdays, holiday dinners we know will include the uncle who drinks too much and the mother who can’t stop telling stories about our potty-training mishaps. We want to remember, to connect.

Some memories are with us always, while others we go looking for in things like photo albums or conversations with older relatives. Then there are those that resurface out of the blue. I was recently watching a show on Netflix and in one scene a little girl is dancing with an older man by standing on his feet. I used to do this with my grandfather but hadn’t thought about it in years. It made me smile.

Writers draw from their memories when crafting characters and plot lines. Unless it’s a memoir, they mold these memories into something new. They break them into pieces and stitch them together like a quilt fashioned out of many colors and designs. Something our readers can all relate to on some level.

It’s what makes our books feel true. It’s what brings our readers back with each new release.