Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Inspirations

Post by Angela Raines

 So what inspires you? Is it a line, a word, a picture? Today I wanted to share some of my visual inspirations and maybe some history.
This is the area around Wilkerson Pass on the way from Colorado Springs, CO to the South Park region of Colorado. Yes, there really is a South Park. The park is composed of a grassland flat within the basin formed by the Rocky Mountain Mosquito and Park Mountain Ranges at an elevation of 10,000 ft and is around 1,000 square miles in size. It is the largest and southernmost of three high altitude basins in the Front Range of Colorado. The other two are aptly names North and Middle Park. On the West side of the basin are the collegiate peaks.

This is Pikes Peak's Western slope as seen from Wilkerson Pass. My fictional town of Agate Gulch sits between these two areas. 

This photo and old ruin was the inspiration for the town of Agate Gulch. The area is located north and west of the Cripple Creek/Victor mining district and close to the town of Guffey, CO. Guffey is famous for its mayors.  In the 1980-90s animals were elected as mayors of the town, although such an office does not officially exist. According to the locals political parties are called the "Democats" and the "Repuplicans". The last known Mayor of Guffey was a cat named Monster who was elected in 1998.
I just love this photo for the image of the old and new together. It was taken just prior the the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs that destroyed the Flying W Ranch along with numerous other structures. This photo is from that property.

This is a photo of the Gold Coin Club in Victor, CO. For more about this structure and the story of the men who built it: http://westernfictioneers.blogspot.com/2013/11/to-build-empire-by-doris-mccraw.html

I leave you with one of my favorites. This sculpture is in the Pathfinder Regional Park located between Canon City and Florence Colorado. To me it typifies the spirit of the men and women who made the journey West to find a new path for their lives.

 I have two new stories out this week. One "Never Had a Chance" is Western Historical Romance. The other "Lost Knight, Out of Time" is a Medieval short. Both are part of the Prairie Rose Publications 3rd Birthday Bash.
Never Had a Chance: An Agate Gulch Story by [Raines, Angela]
http://amzn.to/2bwsUmI
Lost Knight by [Raines, Angela]
http://amzn.to/2bgWLyK

Angela Raines is the pen name for Doris McCraw. Doris also writes haiku posted five days a week at – http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com and has now passed one thousand haiku and photos posted on this blog. Check out her other work or like her Amazon author page:  http://amzn.to/1I0YoeL

ONE LUCKY COMMENTOR WILL GET A CHOICE OF ONE OF THE TWO STORIES 


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12 comments:

  1. Kathryn AlbrightAugust 17, 2016 at 3:21 PM

    Hello Doris! I love your pictures of Colorado. It has been years since I drove through and stopped there. Now it seems I am always flying 35,000 feet above the mountains in a jet for expediency. I would much rather dawdle and explore. You are so lucky to live there and draw your inspiration from there.

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    1. Renaissance WomenAugust 17, 2016 at 3:56 PM

      Thank you Kathryn. I count my blessing every day. When I moved here in 1976 with friends I had no idea how it would seep into my body and soul. I don't regret a minute.

      Hope someday you get to dawdle and explore again. There is so much here.

      Thank you for the kind words about my photos. I do love going out and just spending a day shooting whatever catches my eye. Angela/Doris

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  2. UnknownAugust 21, 2016 at 10:04 AM

    Doris, thank you for sharing your inspiration. It's always fun to see the how it all came about from the authors.

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    1. Renaissance WomenAugust 21, 2016 at 10:38 AM

      Thank you Carmen. I know you share your inspirations, and what great ones they are. For me it is visual and pieces of history. Doris

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  3. UnknownAugust 21, 2016 at 10:04 AM

    Doris, thank you for sharing your inspiration. It's always fun to see the how it all came about from the authors.

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  4. UnknownAugust 21, 2016 at 10:19 AM

    I like knowing you research the areas for your writing. Your photos are beautiful. Please continue to write and entertain us.

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    1. Renaissance WomenAugust 21, 2016 at 10:38 AM

      Thank you Edwina. I love taking photos and they are great references when I go to write about an area. Doris

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  5. HeidiwriterAugust 21, 2016 at 4:59 PM

    This is wonderful, Doris. It's amazing what we can see that results in a story. It's the "what if" and "I wonder who" that gets us going!

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    1. Renaissance WomenAugust 21, 2016 at 8:01 PM

      I believe so too Heidi. Between the photos and those small pieces of forgotten history, I feel the muse call. It is fun.

      Thank you for stopping by, I appreciate it so much. Angela/Doris

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  6. AnonymousAugust 22, 2016 at 6:08 AM

    Doris and her writing is an inspiration to me that goes far beyond the pages. Her knowledge and investigative research brings life to her work that should teach any reader the compassion of knowing there is a real life beyond modern living. The principles of yesteryear should be remembered and embraced to pass along to future generations, not forgotten.

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    1. Renaissance WomenAugust 22, 2016 at 6:09 AM

      Thank you for your kind words. History is important to me, and trying to pass along that information while entertaining is my goal. Angela/Doris

      Delete
  7. Renaissance WomenAugust 28, 2016 at 7:49 PM

    The winner is Carmen Peone. Congratulations

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