E is for Emeralds: A to Z blogging challenge

In Going Through the Change, I got to play with that comic book mixture of science, mysticism, and magic to explain why the crazy stuff that happens happens. The origin story of each woman's power involves a highly individual combination of factors. Good golly but this stuff was fun!

Would the tea have made Jessica weightless if she weren't a cancer survivor? Did Patricia's transformation have something to do with her red hair? Was it something in Linda's or Helen's family history?

Dr. Liu's experiments draw from traditional Western medical knowledge, Chinese medicine, astrology, herbology, chemistry, homeopathic remedies, and, my personal favorite: gemstones. In particular, Chinese emeralds.

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As a child, when my class field trips or my family went to the Museum of Natural History and Science in Cincinnati, Ohio, one of my favorite parts was always the gemstones. I like that part in the museum more local to me now, too: The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

It's fascinating how things that are essentially just pretty rocks have become so valuable. Even more fascinating are the ones believed to be cursed or to have magical properties. I guess I never lost my childhood fascination with gems. It was cool that it showed up in my novel!

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This posting is part of the A to Z blogging challenge, in which bloggers undertake to post every day in April, excepting Sundays, which amounts to 26 postings, one for each letter of the alphabet--preferably along a theme. My postings will all be about my debut novel and my experiences writing it and seeing it published.

Blogging A to Z is a great opportunity to connect with some excellent bloggers and interesting people. I encourage you to check out other participating blogs, too!

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