Dream On by Pat Simmons

Some people have dreams that are vivid, silly, or with messages—warnings or guidance about situations.

I have an assortment. Last week, I had a dream I would call a weird horror flick. I arrived at a house to deliver groceries. The front door opened after I knocked and it was dark inside. I sensed a trap. The twists and turns were so crazy in this dream that I finally sat in the middle of the highway, praying for a mac truck to run me over. I woke up, trying to shake the silliness, but when I closed my eyes again, I returned to the same spot in the middle of the highway.

When my husband has “horror” dreams that he won’t easily admit are scary, he wakes up, screaming, then laughs himself back to sleep. I’ve learned to roll over and ignore him.

However, some dreams can’t easily be dismissed. One of my books, The Keepsake, was inspired by a dream. I didn’t want to write the story, so I conveniently forgot the details, thinking I would be off the hook. Nope. A few days after later, God sent the same dream again, same details.  Fast forward years later, the book has not only been well received, but some churches have used it for their couples’ ministry. I guess there was a message in that dream.  

In another book, Defense of Love, there was a scene that came alive in a dream. To this day, I can still see that character’s eyes, taunting me. The image was creepy.

Otherwise, my dreams are a result of what I ate or watched on television the night before. Sometimes, when I’m focused on finishing a book, my characters want to cry, talk, or do something important. Mentally, I’m shouting at them to go to bed, because my body is exhausted. There have been times when I have prayed and asked the Lord to shut down my mind, so my body can get some rest. Of course, in the morning when I’m awake, my characters are in a deep sleep.

What are your dreams like?

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Pat Simmons has penned more than thirty-five titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth who is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a three-time recipient of the Romance Slam Jam Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country. Pat has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.