Ten years doesn’t sound like much, but when you say “decade,” it suddenly sounds like a long time.
On October 17th, I will celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of the birth of Flowers and Stone, the book that started my entire writing journey.
Leading up to the bookiversary date, I will have a series of Ten Days of Flowers posts, sharing things you may not know about the story, character interviews, music, or a look behind the scenes. Plus, there will be a few surprises and opportunities to win prizes!
Let’s have some Fun!
Flowers and Stone is the book that launched a new career in a life-changing direction for me. I had a true story that begged to be told. I’ll never forget the day I woke up realizing I had to tell it. Not that I hadn’t believed for many years that the story would be told; I just didn’t know I’d have to do it. Looking back, I can see the Universe at work to steer me in a different direction, and I have to say it has been more than satisfying.
At heart, this True Story Series is a love story that spans forty years.
In different interviews through the years, I’ve shared the struggle I had in the beginning. I tried to write in first person, only to find the story too deeply personal to continue. I all but gave up. Thanks to Kelly, a long-time friend, I had a lightbulb moment when she suggested I create characters and let them tell the story. Thus, Luke Stone and Darlina Flowers were born. While this method may not work for everyone, it allowed me to back out and let the characters take over.
The story opens in the summer of 1970 in the West Texas town of Abilene.
Darlina Flowers adjusted her silver midriff top and black satin shorts while she stood at the counter waiting for the next food order. Her gaze wandered around the dimly lit nightclub. Plumes of smoke swirled around the large mirrored ball hanging from the ceiling as electric yellow, red, blue, and green reflected on the walls. The sights and sounds of the club had become familiar and comfortable. A vision of her strict, religious mother frowning at her flashed through her mind. Her mother never hesitated to express her disappointment with Darlina’s chosen lifestyle.
My goal was to immediately set the scene and provide a hint of backstory.
Then Luke Stone shows up.
Just as Darlina’s dance performance ended, a commotion drew her attention. Turning, she spotted Marketa personally escorting a group of customers to the best table in the club. It was totally out of character for this spitfire of a woman to make a fuss over anyone. Marketa flitted around with her long, elegant ivory cigarette holder in her hand.
Amidst enthusiastic applause, the bright spotlight now off her, Darlina hurried to talk to Sherry. “Who is that?”
Sherry rolled her eyes. “That’s Luke Stone and the Rebel Rousers. I can’t believe you don’t know that.”
“How would I know? You forget I don’t get out much other than here.”
“They are only the hottest band in the whole State of Texas.”
With overwhelming curiosity, Darlina proposed, “Let me wait their table.”
Yes. That’s how it all started. Darlina was drawn like a moth to a flame and into a lifestyle she knew nothing about. She was in for an exhilarating ride like she’d never imagined.
As I celebrate the anniversary of this book with different blog posts and giveaways, I hope you’ll come along for the journey.
A PERSONAL NOTE: I deeply apologize to everyone in the blogging community. I made a choice to revise this book and started on it last Thursday. I have been offline, barely functioning in any capacity at all since then, as I worked. I thought I’d finished it yesterday, then discovered I’d been working in two different documents, so It’s still not done. 🙁 But it’s close. So, if you’re considering purchasing this book, hold off, please. 🙂 Ever hear an author say that? You have now.
Why did I do it? As I pulled excerpts out to create the blogs for this campaign, I found mistakes I could not ignore. It’s been an emotional journey as well as a difficult one, but the end product will be much better. I’ve grown tremendously as a writer in ten years. I can’t promise I can catch up, but I will rejoin the land of the living soon!
