Cruisin’ the Coast: A Lesson for Writers By Shannon Redmon

My husband and I just returned from the Cruisin’ the Coast Car show in Biloxi, Mississippi and the event transported us back in time. My husband is the classic car enthusiast and loves to look at all the different unique vehicles. I like to watch his face light up when he sees a cool car he likes. His favorites are the old Corvettes or any other Chevrolet car. 

My apologies to all the Ford lovers out there. 😄

The one thing that struck me the most was how each of the classic cars displayed a uniqueness, from the color of the paint to the individuals who drove them. From large wheeled monster trucks to suped-up low-riders crowding the streets, not to be outdone by showroom quality stingrays or rusted out rat-rods. 

Every car brought something unique to the table, not to mention the smile on the driver’s faces. 

The locals assured us the steroid hyped-up car show was something they looked forward to every year. They attended so they didn’t miss the burnouts, flame throwers, boat cars and even the gigantic flyer wagon cruising up and down Beach Boulevard. 

However, you might be wondering what a deep south car show has to do with writing.

As I looked in the faces of the attendees and wiped the humidity from my brow, I found myself admiring the passion and uniqueness of each person there. They spend months, maybe even years, getting their automobiles in tip top shape to bring to the asphalt for the ultimate ride, just as writers spend months, perhaps years, perfecting their stories, making them as unique as possible for their readers.

Once accepted by the publishing world, we get to display our shiny new creations onto the shelves of bookstores. 

We are lifers. 

True writers and car aficionados never give up, never quit and always present their best. 

The only thing better than the roar of the road, wind whipping through our hair and the smell of salt air is a story that takes us to that wonderful escape more often than once a year.

The only thing better than the roar of the road, wind whipping through our hair and the smell of salt air is a story that takes us to that wonderful escape more often than once a year @Shannon_Redmon @MaryAFelkins #seriouslywrite

Shannon Redmon remembers the first grown up book she checked out from the neighborhood book mobile. A Victoria Holt novel with romance, intrigue, dashing gentlemen and ballroom parties captivated her attention. For her mother, the silence must have been a pleasant break from non-stop teenage chatter, but for Shannon, those stories whipped up a desire and passion for writing. There’s nothing better than the power of a captivating novel, a moving song or zeal for a performance that punches souls with awe. A rainbow displayed after a horrific storm or expansive views on a mountaintop bring nuggets of joy into our lives. Shannon hopes her stories immerse readers into that same kind of amazement, encouraging faith, hope and love, guiding our hearts to the One who created us all. 

Shannon’s writing has been published in Spark magazine, Splickety magazine, the Lightning Blog, The Horse of My Dreams a compilation book with other authors published by Revell, and the Seriously Write blog. Her stories have been selected as a semi-finalist and finalist of the ACFW Genesis Contest and won first place in the Foundation’s Awards. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. The StoryMoore Blog is named in memory of her father, Donald Eugene Moore. 

Connect with Shannon: 

www.shannonredmon.com The StoryMoore Blog 

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Shannon's debut, Cave of Secrets, released October 1st and is available for purchase on Amazon.