Lynn Crandall: Life is not always what it seems

Lynn Crandall, author of Heartfelt, book three in her Fierce Hearts series, shares some insight into the themes of evolution in her romances.

Lynn: I'm always amazed when scientists make discoveries. It amazes me that our discoveries are extraordinary and at the same time fundamentally revealing about humans and life in general. For instance, the somewhat recent discovery that rats, one of the lowest forms of life on the planet, displayed traits of empathy and sacrifice.

We humans have believed lower life forms incapable of anything but survival skills. So for me, the question is did we miss something or is everything, including rats, evolving?

If my books have themes they are that life is not what it seems and everything evolves. These concepts are behind the drive to open our eyes and see what is really there to see. To see a new world we didn't know about. Of course change is always happening all around us, but to see life in its infinite possibilities requires us to accept that our perceptions color our world. Messages we receive and belief systems passed on to us create our perceptions. In my books, characters are faced with challenges that require them to stick to what they've been told is real and go on suffering in the rut of their perceptions or courageously accept new truths. Because if life is not what it seems — predictable, structured, what we've always known based on doing the same things we always do — then there is no structure and anything is possible. That is scary with a capital S.

In Heartfelt, the third book in my Fierce Hearts series, were-lynx Asia Blue is trying to escape her "abnormal" life. She believes if she creates a life with a human, a man who is not part animal, she'll have the safety and solid structure she longed for but didn't have as a child. As a member of a colony of were-cats, she is called upon to help with life and death situations and she's tired of the drama. If she can just find a suitable man who can give her the normal life of pig tails and puppies and PTA meetings she'll be happy and content.

But when her telepathy with animals suddenly expands to allow her to receive thoughts from humans, she faces another sort of problem. Here's an excerpt of a scene in which Asia struggles with her expanded ability to read minds while on a date with a human male.

—

On top of the thoughts coming from the room and out on the street, every thought in Gavin's brain was spilling out for her to pick up. As a were-lynx, Asia had heightened senses of smell, sight, and hearing. She was very strong and fast. She'd also been able to read animal minds since she turned eighteen, which was the age her were-lynx genes expressed. At first she'd noticed impressions popping into her mind from animals. She'd quickly learned to shut down the link and only got impressions when she'd opened to a connection and asked for it. While open, animals could receive emotions from her, too, she'd learned by observation. Their thoughts carried feelings and were given to her in images, not words. Telepathy came easy to her and she enjoyed having access to the minds of animals. But she'd never tried to make a connection with her fellow colony cats. She didn't want them to feel invaded, so had promised years ago never to attempt to read their thoughts. Her skill had proved helpful a number of times and it made her feel good.

Up until two days ago. Then suddenly she could read human minds. And not with much elegance. Fortunately, the problem, her expanded telepathy, had only involved humans.

Look at those stellar boobs, Gavin thought. Too bad the neckline on her dress isn't lower.

Asia shook her head to clear the competing thoughts and focused on shutting down the inflow of thoughts, just as she had been trying to do for two days. It wasn't working. Human brains were so full of chatter, unlike animals, and so complex. It was challenging to listen to his verbal conversation about the weather and his day at work when she knew he was thinking that.

—

Faced with the problem of managing her expanded ability, Asia turns to Conrad Pike, her BFF and a member of the same colony, whose special ability is that he can see solutions to any problem. When she tells him about her telepathy creating chaos in her mind, he suspects the trigger has been her interest in humans, but he is loath to tell her.

—

Conrad ran his hand through his hair. "Holy s***! Are you sure? When did this happen?"

Asia's dark brown eyes glared at him. "Of course I'm sure. Except when I've been asleep, it's been two days of nonstop chatter invading my brain. I can't tune it out." She started pacing in front him.

"Holy s***!" he repeated. It wasn't like him to be speechless. He watched her pace, back and forth and back again. His heart pounded. Not only was she clearly distraught, the idea of her reading minds made him cringe. She'd never attempted to read his mind or that of any cat in the colony. Suddenly, things were changing. He felt like he was under a spotlight.

"Are you just going to keep swearing or are you going to help me, Conrad?" She shoved her hands onto her hips and glared again.

"Umm … " Still speechless. "Okay, let's take a look at this new ability. Can you read my mind?" He knew it was a self-serving question but he had to know. He felt exposed, like the wide open book he would never choose to be. He wanted his thoughts to remain private. It hadn't been safe growing up to let people get close enough to see his insecurities and needs.

Asia stood very still, her eyes shifting as she seemed to be checking. "Think something."

"I am. I'm thinking holy s***!"

—

With her evolving skill, Asia and Conrad are faced with new possibilities and new truths. They can either accept new things and find love in an unexpected place or choose to stay in outdated beliefs and perhaps settle for something less.

That's the way life is in my stories. In real life it also takes courage to face changing times and stay uncomfortable long enough to be able to appreciate the new, and potentially see a bigger, more beautifully rich reality.

Find out more about Lynn and her books at lynn-crandall.com.