The inspiration for my novel, The Pelican Trees, came when I was visiting Sanibel Island, in southwest Florida, many years ago. I went for a stroll on the beach one afternoon, and I stumbled upon a large banyan tree flanked by two pine trees. All three were full of pelicans.
Suddenly, thoughts started popping in my head like popcorn in a popper. The characters in the story who are still so dear to me, Shelby McKinney, Luther Mellon, Mabel Saunders or Stuart Finkel, had yet to come to the forefront of my mind. All I knew that day was that I felt inspired to write a Christian novel.
A few years later, The Pelican Trees was published. On many levels, it’s still my favorite book.
