Damn, I Wish I'd Written That

I often feel like I wish I'd written stories I've read by other authors - sometimes it's a whole story, sometimes it's just a line or two. I like to think of it as a deep and abiding love and respect for words and stories that affect me.

But the one story that I most wish I'd written is The Wild Wood by Charles deLint. Originally, I'd bought the book on eBay because I collect the artwork of the illustrator - Brian Froud. When the book arrived, I flipped through it to look at the pretty pictures. Before I knew it, I found myself sucked into the story and I had no desire to get out.

I fell in love with the magical world created by deLint. I didn't just fall in love - I wanted to crawl inside the book and live there. The writing is both haunting and poetic and the descriptions powerful. Any time I pick this book up, I fall into it again just as deeply as I did the first time I read it.

I got so much more than beautiful artwork. I discovered an author who to this day remains one of my favorites. I'd love to write a book that affects people in the way The Wild Wood affects me.