Rita HaagI write for the same reason I read: to find out what happens next. I love working and playing with words, and finding the exact one---or combination---that precisely expresses my thoughts. I rejoice in those moments when it suddenly occurs to me wher a word or a phrase I've used all my life came from, or when some situation sparks an idea that turns into a short story that evolves into a novel. I'm grateful to have the time, interest, ability, and desire to create stories; the gift of imagination that has kept writers' block at bay; and the gift of empathy that enables me to create realistic characters and situations. Writing has always been my strength, but fiction has become my passion. Read More Read Less