The spark of the idea came from Michelle Scorziello’s story about the inspiration she got from her driving instructor (The limitless Wealth Within). It reminded me of a time when I saw my late husband cross a street to offer his handkerchief to a man, like my character Paul, who had fallen and cut his head on the ground after having a seizure. My husband was the blond man with the hanky. ]

Over my life with him (27 years) I saw him give away hankies in many different circumstances. But I never asked him why he carried them. I never really wondered why until I thought of all the times he pulled a hanky from his pocket and gave it to someone who needed it and I watched people around him being impressed. I heard, several times, people say it was old-fashioned but motivational and that my husband must be a real gentleman.

Today, people are called influencers for what they say and do on social media. Who are they influencing and how? Sometimes they are influencing for the good of humanity and sometimes they are influencing people to use their make-up more effectively or something equally shallow. The Walt character sees the handkerchief being given and wants people to feel the same way about him as he feels about the blond man but instead, he uses the hanky to influence a shallow woman to sleep with him, when he’s already married.

When I write a story I want to explore a small idea and create a world to surround it. Then I let my imagination run amok. I’d say 90% of my stories start with a tiny kernel of reality and truth.