"Six Minutes to You" by David Inserra
– Ten women. Six minutes at a time.
Conversation began. Connections were made.
David Inserra and his wife, Ellen Titus, recently celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary. They enjoy life on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina with their dog, Mindy. David’s most recent work appears in the PSPP release, ‘Twists and Turns.’ He is a member of the Island Writers Network and works at the local Unitarian Church. David’s first novel, a speculative thriller titled ‘In Your Own Backyard,’ is currently being queried to agents. He is also a musician who has written over 400 songs, most being about his wife. Visit davidinserra.weebly.com.
Author’s Talk
David Inserra
This “6-Minute Story” is about a night, fifteen years ago, that changed my life. Back then, speed dates were all the rage in our country. I suspect that with the pandemic these past few years, the number of people wishing to attend a speed date has dwindled. When I attended the speed date in question I started at table three. Ellen started at table two and her friend, Sandra, started at table one. I made the rounds, as you will hear in the story. What you won’t hear is that even after all these years, Ellen’s friend at table one, Sandra, likes to tell folks that she dated me before Ellen did.
For years, even before I met Ellen I constantly wrote and recorded songs. When Ellen came into my life, the themes to my songs rapidly changed. After that moment in time, my music began to express my feelings for this exceptional woman. Ellen and I were married 17 months after the speed date and Ellen’s friend Sandra officiated the wedding. Ellen and I are still together and still happy. She is my soulmate. The love of my life. Ellen means the world to me.
This “6-Minute Story” is a love story. But I write a variety of genres. My current focus is a speculative thriller that deals with alternate reality horrors, yet, under the surface this too is a love story. I get delight from creating well-choreographed action with heart. While circumstances might spiral out of control for my protagonists, in the end they find what is important – their love for each other. These characters begged for a sequel, so I am about a third of the way through book two of this series.
Another piece of mine appeared in the previous PSPP, ‘Twists and Turns.’ This story showed a heartbreaking moment in my mother’s life when her world turned upside down. So many people who read this story or listened to the ‘6-Minute’ audio version, found her experiences relatable and touching.
Thank you to the good folks at Personal Story Publishing Project for giving us this forum. And thank you to all the great writers in these volumes for sharing your love of words.
