An Inspiration

"You are an author," You might say.

"Yes," I confirm.

"So, tell me," You continue. "Who is your favorite author?"

"Louisa May Alcott" I answer without hesitation.

Little Women is definitely a favorite of mine. This year marks the 150th anniversary of this timeless treasure's publication.

Now, I must admit that I watched the movies (notice this is plural) before I read the book. However, when I did finally read the book, I could not put it down.

The relationship of the sisters, the bond of family love, the uniqueness of each one of the characters, the humor, the heartache, the little stories within the plot that always point to a moral choice that must be made all come together to make this a classic tale.

Jo states in one chapter, "I like good strong words that mean something." I have a feeling Louisa May Alcott believed this because you can certainly see this in each and every one of the books she authored.

Every word was purposeful. Every situation had meaning. Every page flowed together, sentence by sentence with wise advice from the characters that we can apply to our own lives.

This is what I wish to do with the stories I tell. I want my books to have meaning; not merely a culmination of words, but well thought out strong words that mean something to those who read them and cause them to think a little deeper.

Louisa May Alcott's stories certainly inspire me to be a better author.

If you have never read Little Women, I encourage you to do so and learn the lesson Louisa May Alcott wished to teach through the March family. And if you have already read it, pick it up again on this 150th anniversary year.