Authors are dreamers with their eyes wide open. We spend our time with imaginary characters, having conversations with them, thinking about them constantly. Writing can be an emotional rollercoaster—it might sound dramatic, but there's truth to the whole tortured artist thing. No wonder readers are so curious about how authors’ minds work! What sparks an author's imagination? Why this story, this way? We definitely pour pieces of ourselves into our characters, but, honestly, most of us aren’t nearly as fascinating or complicated as the characters we create.
Here’s a glimpse into what went through my mind while writing A Life in Frames:
Most of this multi-layered literary saga, spanning more than two decades and vast geography, unfolds in my protagonist Lejf Busher’s beloved Namibia. Namibia is one of those places you never forget once you’ve been. This extraordinary land of deserts and endless skies is a wandering dreamer’s paradise, and Lejf fully embodies that spirit, living with his heart and soul immersed in its vastness.
No desert captures the imagination quite like the Namib Desert, the most researched and photographed desert in the world. For this story, the haunting beauty of the ancient red dunes at Sossusvlei became the perfect backdrop for my complex protagonist to find solitude and confront his inner demons.
The story explores relationships, social and environmental issues—themes close to my heart. But to make characters feel authentic, they need to act in ways that fit the story and genre, and as writers, we take liberties. That’s where personal views and a character's actions don’t always align.
Setting also plays a critical role in storytelling. Choosing Otjiwarongo as Lejf’s hometown was a practical decision (shoutout to the wonderful people of Otji!). Its central location in Namibia made it easier to move characters around—a necessity in such a vast, sparsely populated country.
This book isn’t just about Namibia’s breathtaking landscapes. As a photojournalist, Lejf travels to many fascinating places. While you’ll find yourself dreaming beneath star-filled desert skies, you might also stumble upon surprising insights. Culture and what constitutes it fascinate me. It’s incredible how people growing up in the same place can turn out so differently. When we expand this to countries and ethnic groups, the role of cultural diversity becomes even clearer. Yet, when we take the time to learn about other cultures, we discover a universal truth: deep down, we all desire the same things—love and security.
I hope you’ll join me as I continue sharing thoughts from A Life in Frames and other projects in the works.
Stay well!
Leonora Ross is a Canadian artist and novelist. Her literary saga, A Life in Frames, explores themes of family and relationships, mental breakdown and recovery, travel, world cultures, and social and environmental justice.
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