Connection as Inspiration

My first novel, Waiting at Jimmy's, came to life a result of me wanting to read a book that I could connect with during a specific time. In the first few years of my post-grad life, I had the hardest time figuring out what I wanted to do or where I wanted to be.I felt like every Christian fiction book I read at that time was about awesome women with super successful careers where they were using their talents in amazing ways. (Now, that might not be a completely accurate representation of the books on the market, but that's how it felt.)In comparison, I was stumbling around trying out different jobs in different cities attempting to decide what I wanted out of life. In other words, I felt like a mess and the books I was reading only confirmed that.I wanted books that were about young women in their twenties who maybe don't have it all figured out. Women I could relate with on a personal level.As Toni Morrison once said, "If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."So I did.Have you ever read a book that made you feel understood? A book that you connected with on a personal level? Tell me about it in the comments!