Catherine Friend
Catherine Friend

Daydream Believer

I spend a great deal of time escaping from my life through daydreams. I always have. The critical thing to know here is that I have a fine life. Good parents, safe childhood, boring adolescence, stable relationship, etc. And even though I’m trying to stay engaged in this insane political situation, I still need to run now and then to a happy, quiet place where Trump can’t follow.

As a teenager, most of my waking hours were spent thinking about being able to fly and rescue people from burning buildings. Or being struck by lightning and suddenly being able to sing well enough to become a rock star. Or turning into a mermaid. Or being beamed up to the Enterprise by Captain Kirk (I hadn’t yet figured out that Lt. Uhura would have been much more to my liking.)

I think this is why I write romantic adventure fiction—it allows me to continue escaping. What would it be like to be flung back in time to 11th century Spain? I loved daydreaming about this for The Spanish Pearl and The Crown of Valencia. What would it be like to be a female pirate in the 1700s? More daydreaming for A Pirate’s Heart. Or an archeologist searching for a tomb? (The Copper Egg) Or a modern woman meeting Queen Elizabeth I? (Spark)

Scientific research is confused about daydreaming. Early studies claimed it made you lonely and unhappy, but more recent studies say that daydreaming can: 1) increase empathy; 2) enhance your memory; 3) improve creativity; 4) lift your mood; and 5) lead to self-discovery through imagining the possibilities. (Self-discovery has convinced me that, sadly, I’m never going to turn into a mermaid.)

For some of us, reading is a form of daydreaming, and I’m not going to apologize for that. I don’t always want to read books about traumatic moments or about important but difficult issues. I want to be entertained. I want to escape.

It’s not that I don’t like challenges, but I have plenty of those in my life, thank you. I want the books that I read, and that I write, to let me escape into the lives I’m not leading, and never will.

3 Responses

  1. “It’s not that I don’t like challenges, but I have plenty of those in my life, thank you. I want the books that I read, and that I write, to let me escape into the lives I’m not leading, and never will.”

    Ah, so well said!

    I have just recently discovered you and am very, very happy that I have! I found “A Pirate’s Heart” and “The Spanish Pearl” in the club house library of the women’s community I lived in and they intrigued me. Luck for me I grab them up! At the end of “A Pirate’s Heart” I immediately picked up “The Spanish Pearl”! The book goes everywhere with me so I can read. I haven’t been this excited about reading in a very long time! THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL STORIES, CATHERINE!

    I plan on purchasing your other writings and the new ones right away. I have been “out” for 40 years and have read a lot of books with lesbians as the lead characters and I have been so pleasantly surprised at the wonderful way in which you portray your characters…all of them…I can’t say enough good about all of it.

    BTW…I grew up around the Twin Cities and in central MN around Crosby and Isle! We’re truly sisters! Take care and I can’t wait for my new books to arrive!

    Best to you and Melissa…perhaps we may meet someday…it would be fun!
    Linda

  2. I made a comment here but I’m not sure it is posting so I will try again. Sorry if it is a duplicate :)….

    “It’s not that I don’t like challenges, but I have plenty of those in my life, thank you. I want the books that I read, and that I write, to let me escape into the lives I’m not leading, and never will.”

    Ah, so well said!

    I have just recently discovered you and am very, very happy that I have! I found “A Pirate’s Heart” and “The Spanish Pearl” in the club house library of the women’s community I lived in and they intrigued me. Lucky for me I grab them! At the end of “A Pirate’s Heart” I immediately picked up “The Spanish Pearl”! The book goes everywhere with me so I can read. I haven’t been this excited about reading in a very long time! THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL STORIES, CATHERINE!

    I plan on purchasing your other writings and the new ones right away. I have been “out” for 40 years and have read a lot of books with lesbians as the lead characters and I have been so pleasantly surprised at the wonderful way in which you portray your characters…all of them…I can’t say enough good about all of it.

    BTW…I grew up around the Twin Cities and in central MN around Crosby and Isle! We’re truly sisters! Take care and I can’t wait for my new books to arrive!

    Best to you and Melissa…perhaps we may meet someday…it would be fun!
    Linda

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

The Big Pivot

About Me

After twenty-five years on the farm, I’m adjusting to the adventures of city life. Part of that adjustment is figuring out what I want to write about now, since sheep are no longer part of my daily life. I’m challenging myself creatively by painting with pastels and playing the ukelele as I seek my new writing path.

Archives

Occasional Newsletter

Catherine Friend is a fiscal year 2021 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.