… or how I came to write my first novel.

The idea to write a novel came to me right out of the blue. This was back in 1986 if you can believe it. Thirty-eight years ago. (I just have to take a minute to get my head around how long ago that was. On the bright side, though, wouldn’t “All good things come to those who wait” apply in this situation? You’re all nodding, right?)

I say 1986 because that’s the year Barbara Brandon’s “The Passion of Ayn Rand” was published, and so it must have been that year she was the keynote speaker at the National Libertarian Party convention and autographing her book.

Late each afternoon of the convention, the speakers that day held salons, and as a convention attendee, I could choose whom I wanted to salon with. I chose Barbara Brandon. Not surprisingly, 38 years later, I don’t remember much of the discussion, except for this one question. Someone in the back asked Ms. Brandon why she thought no one since Ayn Rand had written a novel, like “Atlas Shrugged,” about freedom.

I don’t remember her answer, but to my ears it sounded weak. I shot up my hand.

It’s safe to say the tenor in the room was devotion to Ayn Rand. A lot of libertarians at the time came to that philosophy after reading Rand and had great respect for her writing. As for the person, Rand had a high regard for herself and did not suffer fools, gladly or otherwise. She was not to be challenged.

So there went up my hand, certain I had a better answer: that likely everyone (or at least every libertarian) was too afraid to challenge Ayn in her domain.

Ms. Brandon did not agree with me, probably thinking I was a bit cheeky if not sacrilegious, and I sat down. And that’s when it came to me. My eureka moment: “If no one else is going to do it, then I’ll do it,” I said, although not out loud. “I’ll write the Great American Novel about freedom.” Like I was daring myself. I wonder, if I’d known then that it would take me 38 years to get it done, would I have been so eager to take the dare?

Funny. In the intervening 38 years, there hasn’t been a novel written with the major themes of freedom and liberty, so if nothing else, it looks like I have that niche pretty well sewn up.

A Monday morning treat – the angelic voice of Laura Smith …