No one ever accused me of not trying to look at the bright side when it comes to the rollercoaster world of publishing. Looking at the bright side has seen me through plenty of ups and downs…like selling a book to a publisher and then that publisher announcing that your book will be the last of their romance line.<\/p>\n
How can such news have a bright side?<\/p>\n
Because WHERE SHE BELONGS<\/a> could be said to have some value as a collector’s edition. Who wouldn’t want to own one of the last two romance novels ever to be published by Five Star Expressions? In hardy hardcover and with a beautiful dust jacket? I mean, even if you hate the book and throw it against the wall, it’s not likely to get hurt. Thereby ensuring its “collector’s edition” status.<\/p>\n Yes, folks, I believe in serving lemonade.<\/p>\n My third and final excerpt from the novel follows. My\u00a0laser eye surgery recovery is coming along, but I still need to restrict my computer time as the bright screen is very drying on my eyes. However, next week, please return for some exciting subsidiary rights news! (What are subsidiary rights, you ask? You’ll find out next week!)<\/p>\n Excerpt 3<\/strong><\/p>\n WHERE SHE BELONGS isn’t only Jess and Adam’s story. It’s also about Jess and her mother re-establishing their relationship. The book features three points of view\u2014scenes told from Jess’s viewpoint, scenes from Adam’s, and scenes from Jess’s mom’s viewpoint. The following scene is from Jess’s point of view but is between her and her mom, rather than her and Adam. Jess woke up early to find the door to the back porch open. Her mother is sitting in one of the porch chairs, watching the horses in the pasture and stroking her deceased husband’s sheepskin coat on her lap. While Jess and Pete did not have anything approaching a healthy relationship, Jess is about to learn that her mother has also had her own heartaches to bear.<\/em><\/p>\n Sitting in the second chair, she tucked her bare feet beneath her robe and clasped her mom\u2019s hand on the armrest. \u201cIs that Pete\u2019s coat?\u201d she asked quietly.<\/span><\/p>\n Her mom nodded. \u201cI only came out to pick the flowers. After I put them in water, something urged me to go outside again, almost like Peter was calling me. I went around the corner, and that\u2019s when I found this coat . . . hanging on the outside hook.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt looks like an outdoorsman\u2019s coat.\u201d Like her dad might have worn. Not Peter Olson, bespectacled supermarket manager.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPeter wore it on our walks. We walked several times a week, even in winter. He must have left it out here before he died.\u201d Her mom\u2019s gaze shifted to the pasture. The breeze ruffled her short, graying curls. \u201cPeter and I had our routines. Every morning before he went to work we\u2019d have coffee, watch the horses. It was his idea to lease out the fields and barn, you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jess squeezed her mom\u2019s hand. \u201cIt was a good idea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPeter was a good man. I know you haven\u2019t always believed that, Jessie, but it\u2019s true. Yet, he could be difficult at times. I realize he was often rude to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Her chest pinched. \u201cBecause I reminded him of Dad,\u201d she whispered.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes. That didn\u2019t excuse his behavior\u2014or mine. I should have stood up for you, honey. I knew you were hurting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMom, please don\u2019t do this to yourself. None of us were blameless.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Her mom shook her head. \u201cPeter and I were to blame. You were so young.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI was old enough to decide I wanted to marry Danny. Old enough to realize that suddenly leaving home would hurt you. I didn\u2019t have to act out around Pete, but I\u2014\u201d She swallowed. \u201cHe took you away from me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n A tear trickled down her mother\u2019s cheek. \u201cBecause I allowed him to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s water under the bridge now, isn\u2019t it? I want it to be. Because, despite how upset I was with you back then, despite all my old hurt and anger, I do know that Pete was a good man. I know that you loved him and he loved you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Torment drenched her mother\u2019s sigh. \u201cAnd I know my love for Peter has always bothered you, Jessie. There are many different kinds of love, though. My love for your father was strong, so strong sometimes that it wore me out. Frank gave a lot, but he demanded a lot, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think I can see that now. I remember Dad as larger than life, full of exuberance and vitality. I imagine it was difficult keeping up with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes. Peter was much more my equal. My love for Peter is . . . was<\/em> . . . softer than the love I felt for your father. Peter was my husband, but he was also my friend . . . what I needed most.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t that way with Dad?\u201d Jess asked through a tight throat.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t misunderstand me, Jessie.\u201d Her mother glanced at her, hazel eyes imploring. \u201cFrank was a powerhouse, and I loved him deeply. Even when it was to my detriment\u2014and yours\u2014I put him first. Just like I did with Peter. You know your father and I wanted more children. But not because we didn\u2019t love you. I hope you realize that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jess blinked back tears. \u201cDad wanted a big family. I heard him say so countless times.\u201d In the pasture, the horses nickered, and the morning sun polished the dry grass gold. Soon, new spring growth would replace winter\u2019s remnants.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d One tiny, quiet word. \u201cBut I couldn\u2019t give him more children. We were married ten years before I became pregnant with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jess shook her head. \u201cHow do you know it was you? Was your fertility tested?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo. Neither of us were tested, which makes my crime worse. Frank would have considered testing an insult, so I didn\u2019t push it. With my erratic cycle, it was easy to assume\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat it was your problem? Mom, it doesn\u2019t matter whose body was responsible. It was yours and Dad\u2019s inability to have more children, not yours alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn hindsight, I understand that. But when you were little, I let my guilt come between us, between me and my sweet daughter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou did?\u201d Jess asked hoarsely.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m ashamed to admit it, but yes. Your father loved you so much . . . \u201d Her mom\u2019s hand slipped out from hers, and the cedar armrest grazed Jess\u2019s palm. Then her mom\u2019s hand settled on<\/em> hers. Smooth, gentle, the touch of love. \u201cFrank didn\u2019t ask me to fade into the background. Because of my guilt, I pulled away from you. I thought he would be happier that way, so then you\u2019d be happier, too.\u201d A sob broke free from her. \u201cBut I messed up everything. I sacrificed your love. Can you forgive me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMom, there\u2019s nothing to forgive. I love you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Her mother smiled, but it quivered. \u201cYour father burst into my life and stole my breath away. I wanted to give him everything, and I did, including you. When he died, and then Danny . . . Jessie, you were so lost and alone, and I was such a failure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMom, you were never a failure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, I was, and I need to accept that. I wasn\u2019t there for you. My sweet daughter, I\u2019m so sorry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay.\u201d She couldn\u2019t deny the absolution her mother obviously needed. She lifted their joined hands and kissed her mom\u2019s. \u201cI mean it, Mom.<\/em> I love you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n ***<\/span><\/p>\n One last time – buy links!<\/span><\/p>\n Amazon<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Amazon Canada<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Barnes and Noble<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Five Star\/Cengage Winter 2011 Catalogue for Librarians<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" No one ever accused me of not trying to look at the bright side when it comes to the rollercoaster world of publishing. Looking at the bright side has seen me through plenty of ups and downs…like selling a book to a publisher and then that publisher announcing that your book will be the last… Continue reading This Has Collector’s Edition Written All Over It<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-my-books","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cindyprocter-king.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cindyprocter-king.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cindyprocter-king.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cindyprocter-king.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cindyprocter-king.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5388"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/cindyprocter-king.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5486,"href":"https:\/\/cindyprocter-king.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5388\/revisions\/5486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cindyprocter-king.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cindyprocter-king.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cindyprocter-king.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}