I usually write about historical things for this blog, with the occasional snippet of the writer’s life thrown in for fun. Well, this is one of the latter.
I have a new release today, A Match for the Banker. It’s book 4 of my Pettigrew Matchmakers series. The story is about a young woman who works in her parents’ flower shop and tries to help her them by doing what she can. They live in the poorest neighborhood in their city and it’s been overtaken by a nasty man who’s forcing people to pay for his protection. Of course, the only thing they need to be protected from is him!
Enter our hero, a banker who’s willing to lend a helping hand (in more ways than one) to see the villain brought to justice. Helping, however, is not without its snafus.
I’m a pantser, meaning I sit and I write, and the story unfolds onto the page, pretty much plot twists and all. I can’t write an outline to save my life (or my character’s) and this can be a challenge on occasion. Things slip into the story that I sometimes don’t realize until it has already been released into the big wide world. A Match for the Banker is one such book, and this little tidbit didn’t pop out until the very last chapter. I typed it, stared at it, then went, “Wowzers.”
My heroine is trying to help her parents make ends meet. She’s tough, yet the hero immediately sees her vulnerability. She can’t do it all. Problem is, she hasn’t figure this out yet.
I hadn’t figure it out either. Some of you know I’ve been playing caregiver to a few folks for months now. My character was the one to tell me, “take some time for yourself. You can’t do it all.” So, I told my editor about it, listened to him laugh, then wholeheartedly agree with my character. What did I do? I went to Dillard’s, a department store here in the town where my son lives, and bought myself a cute cellphone case. I know it might not sound like much, but it was the first break I’d had in months. I never realized I’d put so much of myself into taking care of others.
Characters in books can teach us a lot, both writers and readers. Things slip into stories writers don’t realize and then a reader comes along who needed to hear what that character was saying or connect with what the character is going through. Books touch us in so many ways. They are healing, they bring joy, sometimes a little angst, and are always entertaining. Let’s face it, if they weren’t, none of us would be reading. Are writers touched by what they’re writing? Yeah, you betcha! But a scold? At least it was just a little one …
I’m giving away one free e-copy of my new release, A Match for the Banker to one lucky commenter. For a chance to win, just tell me how a book has touched you recently. What did the character say or do that gave you an “ah ha” moment?
USA Today bestselling author Kit Morgan is the author of over 180 books of historical and contemporary western romance! Her stories are fun, sweet stories full of love, laughter, and just a little bit of mayhem! Kit creates her stories in her little log cabin in the woods in the Pacific Northwest. An avid reader and knitter, when not writing, she can be found with either a book or a pair of knitting needles in her hands! Oh, and the occasional smidge of chocolate!
I read Autumn MacArthur’s book, A Lesson In Love, and it resonated with me as I was full-time caregiver for the last nine years of Mom’s life. After a year and five months, I’m still adjusting to her not being here. The best part of being this far out is that all of the firsts are done; all of those firsts were really hard. It does get easier, though!
I’m glad Autumn’s book helped, Trudy. It’s amazing how that happens. We read something we need to hear at just the right time. And you’re right, it does get easier with time.
In the last book I read, Misty Beller’s Peace on the Mountain Haven, Huge didn’t realize that his past made him a better man instead of tainting him. I think we are all too hard on ourselves sometimes, and I certainly got that message as I read this five-star novel.
I think I have that book in my TBR pile! Now I’ll have to read it!
can’t think of any
I haven’t had a book resonate in a long time, but when it happened in my own book, that was a first!
I have been reading Dawn Day’s latest offering “Hiding in Plain Sight” about a very famous friend from Ivy’s younger years who had become very well know with his own band until his drummer was found murdered while they were on tour. This broke up the group and sent Leo into hiding. The crux of the story is he feels like a failure now and it resonates with me in that even one little thing can make us feel like a failure if we do not share our angst with another, especially a friend, who can help us see the light of day and reverse our negative feeling regarding our usefulness. Many times this has been a problem of mine, not that I have been famous but I have lost some things dear to me and needed a friend to go to I trusted to help me reverse my thinking. A close friend is a treasure to hang on to.
They certainly are, Judy! Stories of other people’s experiences can be eye-openers for us. Thank Heaven there are a lot of good books out there to learn from!
welcome today. what a wonderful post. I read Much Ado About Josie by Lacy Williams. This was such a fun book. Josie is a special and fun character. Her willingness and out going spirit was fantastic. I loved reading about Josie because I could see so much of my beautiful sister in her and that endeared her to me.
That’s so cool, Lori. And I love Lacy’s books!
I have had a few that brought me to tears since I so closely related to what the characters in the book were going through!
I’ve had that happen before! Been a while, but it’s happened.
I recently listened to the audiobook The Diary of Mattie Spenser and there’s a lot of personal heartache in the plot. I cried through a third of the book which I’d never had happen before. After I finished the audiobook, I read the online version to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I’m still mad about what the main character went through.
One point of the book was that she didn’t feel like she had any options at all but it turned out she did and it made me appreciate that as women in our era we have more personal opportunity and are able to somewhat control what happens to us.
Oh, gosh, yes! Women didn’t have much say back in the day.
One book that stuck with me was Husband Audtions by Angela Ruth Strong. There’s a part in the book where the heroine realizes that finding a husband won’t magically make her life start or set things perfect, only knowing God can bring true fulfillment. It really helped me recognize that I tend towards the same thinking at times.
Oh, Megan, I think we all have at different points in our lives. Women seek security and some seek it in the wrong places. Sounds like a great book to check out!
I haven’t had one resonate like that, but I did read a domestic thriller which made me laugh over the dysfunctional family. And a historical biography which made me think about the time period I was born into in a different light.
I hear you on the last one, Denise. It’s fun to read about the old west and other time periods. But it was rough living back then. I have a book titled, “The Good Old Days, They were awful!” It tells about all the hardships of living in the 19th century.
I read a three book stories by Lisa Harris-The Escape, The Chase and The Catch. The were fabulous stories that showed all that US Marshals go through to keep us safe. There are so much that happens without the public’s knowledge. We are so blessed to live in the USA. God bless you.
Oh, don’t I know it! Coming from a cop/fireman family.
I have been rereading Melanie Dickerson’s Hagenheim series. A message I’ve been hearing that applies to my life currently, is that everyone has a place in the story. We sometimes play heroine and sometimes a little-remembered helper along the way. Sometimes we perform great deeds and sometimes we chose not to. We change our stories little by little, and sometimes in big ways, as we make decisions. Right now I feel a bit like the pack mule in the story, but that’s partially my perception and partially my choice and a lot of other things. Every story is different, but every story has lessons to be learned, ups and downs, etc. I enjoy a book I can relate to, which is most to some degree.
I think that’s a lot of us, Kristen. I like the way you put that!