Golden Keyes Parsons's Blog, page 5
February 27, 2015
A Watch in Time – Part 2
A Full Length Story by Golden Keyes Parsons
CHAPTER ONE
Part 2 (Click Here to read Part 1)
“No, I’m not ill. This is my house, and I don’t know who you are. Where is David?”
The young servant stared at her. “Why, it’s Tildy. Don’t you know me? I been with you since we been chil’ren.” She wrung her hands on her apron. “Oh, dear.” Tildy turned and ran through the dining room door. “Mama!”
Lily picked up the album and followed her, stopping to glance at the glowing candlelit chandelier above the table and the candelabra scattered throughout the room into the parlor. She reached for the electrical switch beside the door finding only blank wall space. She shook her head. “David!”
An older black woman with a colorful scarf wrapped around her head bustled into the dining room followed by Tildy. “Your face is white as a sheet, Miss Lillian. You look like you done seen a ghost.”
“And who might you be?”
“See, Mama? She don’t know us. She not well.”
“Mama” felt of Lily’s forehead. “No fever. Did you bump your head?”
Lily brushed “Mama’s” hand away. “No, I didn’t bump my head. I’ve been in mother’s room looking at this family album. I’m perfectly fine. Where’s David?”
“He packin’. You know the Lone Star Guard marching out in the morning.”
“The Lone Star Guard?” Lily sifted through the labyrinth of her memory and her studies in Texas history at Baylor University. That was the unit from Waco that fought in the Civil War. She looked around the dining room again—definitely her house, but different. No electricity. Black servants. She sat at the table before her trembling knees buckled beneath her.
“What’s today? What’s the date?”
“Why it’s July 21st.”
Lily waited for what she desperately wanted to know, but didn’t want to hear. “Yes?”
Tildy cleared her throat. “Uh … 1861.”
Lily folded her hands together to halt the quivering that threatened to take over her entire body.
“They leave tomorrow?”
“Yes’m.”
“I must stop him. He can’t go to war. This is a horrible mistake.”
Tildy took her by the elbow. “Let me help you to your room, Miss Lillian. You’ll feel better after you rests for a bit.”
Lily shook her arm free. “After I see David. I don’t need any assistance. I’m fine.”
“Yes’m.” The servant clasped her hands in front of her chest, and stepped back.
Lily grabbed the book, ran out of the kitchen and up the staircase. A light shone from under David’s door. Without knocking she stepped inside.
David, bent over his bed closing a duffle bag, turned to grin at her. His hair was pulled back in the familiar pony tail, but his arms were void of tattoos. No earring.
“Almost finished packing.”
Lily’s mouth hung open. “Where are you going?”
“What do you mean? You know perfectly well where I’m going—off to whip some Blue Belly Yankees.”
This had to be a horrible dream. I simply need to wake up. She bit the inside of her lip. What if it’s not a dream though? What if by some bizarre time warp I’ve really been catapulted back to 1861? She tasted blood.
“Listen to me, David. You cannot go. The cause is doomed. The South will be ravaged and hundreds of thousands of men are going to lose their lives. You will fight valiantly, but by the end of the war at Appomattox only 17 of the Lone Star Guard will remain.”
“What are you jabbering about? What’s Appomattox? We’re going to make short order of the Union troops. They don’t stand a chance.”
“Please believe me. I know what I’m talking about. I … ”
David patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about this. I’ll be back before you know it.”
She stepped into her remaining family member’s arms, and began to sob. “You mustn’t go. I cannot lose you.”
David kissed her hand. “Nothing’s gonna happen to me.” He chucked her underneath her chin. “You’re beginning to sound like you agree with Sam Houston. And we showed him what we thought about his sympathies with the Union—ran him out of town, we did, after his speech on New Year’s Day.” He snickered.
Lily Kate held his hand to her cheek and wet it with her tears. “I cannot bear to lose you.” She pulled back and looked at his hand, gasping at what she saw—across the back of his hand—a fresh slash. “How did you do this?”
“You know how I did that. Opening a box for you before supper.”
Lily swooned and descended into the welcome oblivion of unconsciousness.
Join us next week for part three…
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog and newsletter below. You will receive my modern short story version of ‘Trapped: The Adulterous Woman’ in your thank you email.
The post A Watch in Time – Part 2 appeared first on Golden Keyes Parsons.
February 24, 2015
AUTHOR INTERVIEW – DINA SLEIMAN
Today I am thrilled to be interviewing another one of my editors at WhiteFire Publishing, Dina Sleiman, who is also a prolific author whose lyrical style I fell in love with immediately. Welcome, Dina!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
I love dancing, the beach, and being out in nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of teaching in the various arts, including dance, drama, music, and creative writing. In addition to being a novelist, I am an acquisitions and content editor for WhiteFire Publishing. My husband is an international television producer originally from Lebanon. Christi, my oldest, is an engineering student at Oral Roberts University and active in short-term foreign missions. My son Jonny is a senior in high school, who is on the track team and loves all adrenaline junky type sports. And my youngest, Adam, is in middle school and active in music and gymnastics.
Tell us about your latest book, and how it came about.
Dauntlesss, which will release in March, is book one in the Valiant Hearts Series. Years ago an editor at a conference suggested I try writing YA medieval romance. But it wasn’t until I watched the new BBC version of Robin Hood that a solid idea came to mind. This new twist on the Robin Hood story featured many strong females including villains, a female D’Jaq, and a Marion who was a thief and defender of the poor in her own right. And so my series featuring strong medieval young women in male roles was born. Dauntless has a Robin Hood feel, but future books will highlight other legends and traditions.
Ooh, this sounds intriguing to me. Love the cover! AND our readers need to know that the e-release occurred today, 2/24/15! They can also pre-order the paperbacks here.
Share about your genre and why you write in this style.
Bethany House is calling this series YA adventure/romance. This fits me perfectly. I’ve always written with a younger woman in mind. My target audience is 15-25, although I’m sure women of all ages will enjoy the books. Originally I wrote Dauntless in a traditional romance style, but when Bethany asked me to expand and bring in more of the surrounding history and the adventure element, I was thrilled. Although all of my books include some romance, I don’t like being boxed into the description of a “romance” author. I actually have some concerns about the romance genre creating unrealistic expectations, and I go to great lengths to avoid that in my writing. I want my couples to have healthy, realistic, non-codependent relationships with God at the center.
You and I are on the same track. Although I like to include a romance thread in my books, I prefer the story not be driven by the romance. And I don’t like being categorized as a “romance” author either.
What inspires you?
Nature and art inspire me, as well as my quiet time with God. When worship and art combine, I find my bliss.
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process is pretty bare bones. Just me and my laptop, curled up on my bed. I don’t use any special programs, charts, gimmicks, or listen to music. The characters in my head tell me what to write, and I oblige 
I think as an author/editor I have a great advantage because I really understand story and scene structure.
Dina, I am curled up on my bed at the moment posting your interview. Actually I do much of my writing in my bed as well!
What are your writing goals?
I feel like with the release of Valiant Hearts, I will have actually achieved most of my writing goals. I would love to extend this series to around eight books. Of course every writer dreams of awards and best-seller lists, but I wouldn’t want to say those were goals, because they are really in God’s hands, not mine. At the end of the day, I just want to make enough money to help my kids through college and be obedient to God’s leading. If that takes me in a different direction in the future, I’m open to that.
What do you wish someone had told you about writing?
I wish I had known sooner that it usually takes five to ten years to get published. Around year three of serious writing, I began to feel like a failure, but that wasn’t the case at all. I was actually right on track and moving at a good pace.
Tell us something about yourself that nobody knows.
Hmm…I’m pretty much an open book, but I can give you a random fact from my childhood that few people know. In grade school my friends and I had a “Dinkle” club in my attic based on an imaginary creature I devised. It was purple and fluffy with checkerboard eyes. I don’t think it really did much, though, except hold up little signs with messages.
What hobbies do you enjoy?
I’ve mentioned dance, drama, music, and art. I like hiking and biking. Of course I do a lot of reading and writing, but that is not as recreational anymore. And I watch way too much Netflix.
Where can your readers contact you?
I have a main website at http://dinasleiman.com, which is linked to a new blog for my Valiant Hearts series, http://valiantheartsseries.blogspot.com/. They can also find me easily on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Not many Dina Sleiman’s out there! I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you so much, Dina, for being with us!
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog and newsletter below. You will receive my modern short story version of ‘Trapped: The Adulterous Woman’ in your thank you email.
The post AUTHOR INTERVIEW – DINA SLEIMAN appeared first on Golden Keyes Parsons.
February 20, 2015
A Watch In Time – Chapter 1, Part 1
A Full Length Story by Golden Keyes Parsons
Chapter 1, Part 1
Stifling. Muggy. Lily Kate turned on the old, black oscillating fan. It hummed its back-and-forth rhythm, but did little more than waft waves of hot air and dust motes throughout her mother’s bedroom. The room had been vacant ever since her mother died last year. The muted wallpaper with roses trailing from top to bottom had faded until one could hardly tell where one bud ended and another began. It was one mauve and taupe pallet. The damask bedspread and matching draperies with matching rose dust ruffle and pillow shams were almost as bad. The shabby chic look was simply looking shabby these days.
Her mother’s deathbed utterance had puzzled Lily. She could barely hear her raspy voice as her mother gave instructions where to find the album. “You will find the answers to our family secrets in the pages of the book in the trunk hidden in my closet.” Her mother pulled her close, and whispered “Watch.” Then her mother slipped into eternity enfolded in Lily Kate’s arms.
The album was forgotten in the months following the funeral, as Lily returned to work on her Master’s in history at Baylor University. The weeks flew by, but one day as she passed her mother’s room at the foot of the stairs she remembered. She’d pushed open the door which scraped across the wooden floor. The late afternoon sun slanted through a crack in the wooden blinds. Lily opened the slats. They were the only new addition to the room. The old parchment shades had grown brittle with age, and Lily and her brother, David, had persuaded their mother to replace them.
She went to the small closet and opened the door. Her mother’s Este Lauder perfume still lingered on the clothing hanging neatly by category on the wooden dowels. Visions of her mother wearing the various pieces of clothing plucked at her memories.
The trunk was nowhere in sight. She pushed aside her mother’s dresses, skirts and jackets. Need to do something with those. She just hadn’t been able to call the Salvation Army to come pick them up or take them to the Goodwill drop-off point yet. She found the hump back trunk in the back right-hand corner. She tried to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. And there was not enough room to lift the lid. She grabbed the leather handle on the end of the trunk and pulled and tugged until she got it out into the center of the room. She jiggled the latch. Locked. Her mother had said nothing about a key. Watch. What was she supposed to watch for?
She pulled open her mother’s dresser drawers, then looked in a porcelain jar on her vanity. No key. Her mother’s necklaces hung on a peg board in her bathroom. She searched through them. Still no key. A wooden jewelry box sat on top of her chest of drawers. Lily Kate took it down and looked through it. The last drawer held several keys. It has to be one of these. She sat on the floor in front of the trunk trying one key after another. Finally, the lock clicked open. “Eu
reka!”
She stood and rummaged through the garments, locating a heavy album on the bottom, in a flimsy cardboard box.
Setting the box aside, she carried the album to a white wicker desk in the corner of the room. Turning on the Tiffany lamp and sitting in the matching wicker chair, she stared at a woman’s photo–an elegantly clad woman of regal stature. Lily Kate leaned closer and stared at the portrait. Her own eyes stared back at her. The caption, in beautiful calligraphy, read “Lillian Katherine Walker.” Perhaps an ancestor—her namesake? She leaned closer, and touched the faded picture with her finger tips. Her breath caught. If the hair were different, she would look
just like … me.”
The woman in the picture had to be an ancestor. The resemblance was undeniable. Nobody in the family had ever been willing to discuss their ancestral history, despite the fact they lived in one of the oldest homes in Waco. The young woman twisted her long dark hair, still damp from her shower, into a large plastic clip, and tightened the sash of her robe. Where was David? Surely her brother had found a bandage by now for the gash he’d dug into his hand trying to open a storage box for her. Her eyes grew heavy. She folded her arms on the top of the trunk and lay her head on it. The drone of the fan lulled her into the drowsy dimension between waking and sleeping.
Bam! Lily startled awake, her heart thudding against her chest. Bam! The shutters slammed against the window as rain pelted against the side of house. She jumped from her impromptu nap and closed the window. She had no idea how long she’d been asleep, but it was dark outside. Reaching to turn off the fan, she moved her hand back and forth in the darkness. Couldn’t find it. A chill had settled in her mother’s room. Tucking the volume under her arm, she felt her way in the dark to the hallway and into the kitchen. “David?”
A soft glow surrounded a lantern on the kitchen table. The electricity must have gone out. Lily set the book beside the lantern.
A young black woman, who appeared to be a servant in period costume, came through the door from the dining room carrying a candle in a pewter holder. “Miss Lillian?”
“Who are … “ Lily stared at the woman. “Yes. Who are you?”
“Miss Lillian? Are you ill?”
“No, I’m not ill. This is my house, and I don’t know who you are. Where is David?”
Join us again next week to read part two of chapter one…
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog and newsletter below. You will receive my modern short story version of ‘Trapped: The Adulterous Woman’ in your thank you email.
The post A Watch In Time – Chapter 1, Part 1 appeared first on Golden Keyes Parsons.
A Watch In Time – Part 1
A Full Length Story by Golden Keyes Parsons
CHAPTER ONE
Stifling. Muggy. Lily Kate turned on the old, black oscillating fan. It hummed its back-and-forth rhythm, but did little more than waft waves of hot air and dust motes throughout her mother’s bedroom. The room had been vacant ever since her mother died last year. The muted wallpaper with roses trailing from top to bottom had faded until one could hardly tell where one bud ended and another began. It was one mauve and taupe pallet. The damask bedspread and matching draperies with matching rose dust ruffle and pillow shams were almost as bad. The shabby chic look was simply looking shabby these days.
Her mother’s deathbed utterance had puzzled Lily. She could barely hear her raspy voice as her mother gave instructions where to find the album. “You will find the answers to our family secrets in the pages of the book in the trunk hidden in my closet.” Her mother pulled her close, and whispered “Watch.” Then her mother slipped into eternity enfolded in Lily Kate’s arms.
The album was forgotten in the months following the funeral, as Lily returned to work on her Master’s in history at Baylor University. The weeks flew by, but one day as she passed her mother’s room at the foot of the stairs she remembered. She’d pushed open the door which scraped across the wooden floor. The late afternoon sun slanted through a crack in the wooden blinds. Lily opened the slats. They were the only new addition to the room. The old parchment shades had grown brittle with age, and Lily and her brother, David, had persuaded their mother to replace them.
She went to the small closet and opened the door. Her mother’s Este Lauder perfume still lingered on the clothing hanging neatly by category on the wooden dowels. Visions of her mother wearing the various pieces of clothing plucked at her memories.
The trunk was nowhere in sight. She pushed aside her mother’s dresses, skirts and jackets. Need to do something with those. She just hadn’t been able to call the Salvation Army to come pick them up or take them to the Goodwill drop-off point yet. She found the hump back trunk in the back right-hand corner. She tried to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. And there was not enough room to lift the lid. She grabbed the leather handle on the end of the trunk and pulled and tugged until she got it out into the center of the room. She jiggled the latch. Locked. Her mother had said nothing about a key. Watch. What was she supposed to watch for?
She pulled open her mother’s dresser drawers, then looked in a porcelain jar on her vanity. No key. Her mother’s necklaces hung on a peg board in her bathroom. She searched through them. Still no key. A wooden jewelry box sat on top of her chest of drawers. Lily Kate took it down and looked through it. The last drawer held several keys. It has to be one of these. She sat on the floor in front of the trunk trying one key after another. Finally, the lock clicked open. “Eureka!”
She stood and rummaged through the garments, locating a heavy album on the bottom, in a flimsy cardboard box.
Setting the box aside, she carried the album to a white wicker desk in the corner of the room. Turning on the Tiffany lamp and sitting in the matching wicker chair, she stared at a woman’s photo–an elegantly clad woman of regal stature. Lily Kate leaned closer and stared at the portrait. Her own eyes stared back at her. The caption, in beautiful calligraphy, read “Lillian Katherine Walker.” Perhaps an ancestor—her namesake? She leaned closer, and touched the faded picture with her finger tips. Her breath caught. If the hair were different, she would look just like … me.”
The woman in the picture had to be an ancestor. The resemblance was undeniable. Nobody in the family had ever been willing to discuss their ancestral history, despite the fact they lived in one of the oldest homes in Waco. The young woman twisted her long dark hair, still damp from her shower, into a large plastic clip, and tightened the sash of her robe. Where was David? Surely her brother had found a bandage by now for the gash he’d dug into his hand trying to open a storage box for her. Her eyes grew heavy. She folded her arms on the top of the trunk and lay her head on it. The drone of the fan lulled her into the drowsy dimension between waking and sleeping.
Bam! Lily startled awake, her heart thudding against her chest. Bam! The shutters slammed against the window as rain pelted against the side of house. She jumped from her impromptu nap and closed the window. She had no idea how long she’d been asleep, but it was dark outside. Reaching to turn off the fan, she moved her hand back and forth in the darkness. Couldn’t find it. A chill had settled in her mother’s room. Tucking the volume under her arm, she felt her way in the dark to the hallway and into the kitchen. “David?”
A soft glow surrounded a lantern on the kitchen table. The electricity must have gone out. Lily set the book beside the lantern.
A young black woman, who appeared to be a servant in period costume, came through the door from the dining room carrying a candle in a pewter holder. “Miss Lillian?”
“Who are … “ Lily stared at the woman. “Yes. Who are you?”
“Miss Lillian? Are you ill?”
“No, I’m not ill. This is my house, and I don’t know who you are. Where is David?”
Join us again next week to read part two of chapter one…
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog and newsletter below. You will receive my modern short story version of ‘Trapped: The Adulterous Woman’ in your thank you email.
The post A Watch In Time – Part 1 appeared first on Golden Keyes Parsons.
A Watch In Time
A Full Length Story by Golden Keyes Parsons
CHAPTER ONE
Stifling. Muggy. Lily Kate turned on the old, black oscillating fan. It hummed its back-and-forth rhythm, but did little more than waft waves of hot air and dust motes throughout her mother’s bedroom. The room had been vacant ever since her mother died last year. The muted wallpaper with roses trailing from top to bottom had faded until one could hardly tell where one bud ended and another began. It was one mauve and taupe pallet. The damask bedspread and matching draperies with matching rose dust ruffle and pillow shams were almost as bad. The shabby chic look was simply looking shabby these days.
Her mother’s deathbed utterance had puzzled Lily. She could barely hear her raspy voice as her mother gave instructions where to find the album. “You will find the answers to our family secrets in the pages of the book in the trunk hidden in my closet.” Her mother pulled her close, and whispered “Watch.” Then her mother slipped into eternity enfolded in Lily Kate’s arms.
The album was forgotten in the months following the funeral, as Lily returned to work on her Master’s in history at Baylor University. The weeks flew by, but one day as she passed her mother’s room at the foot of the stairs she remembered. She’d pushed open the door which scraped across the wooden floor. The late afternoon sun slanted through a crack in the wooden blinds. Lily opened the slats. They were the only new addition to the room. The old parchment shades had grown brittle with age, and Lily and her brother, David, had persuaded their mother to replace them.
She went to the small closet and opened the door. Her mother’s Este Lauder perfume still lingered on the clothing hanging neatly by category on the wooden dowels. Visions of her mother wearing the various pieces of clothing plucked at her memories.
The trunk was nowhere in sight. She pushed aside her mother’s dresses, skirts and jackets. Need to do something with those. She just hadn’t been able to call the Salvation Army to come pick them up or take them to the Goodwill drop-off point yet. She found the hump back trunk in the back right-hand corner. She tried to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. And there was not enough room to lift the lid. She grabbed the leather handle on the end of the trunk and pulled and tugged until she got it out into the center of the room. She jiggled the latch. Locked. Her mother had said nothing about a key. Watch. What was she supposed to watch for?
She pulled open her mother’s dresser drawers, then looked in a porcelain jar on her vanity. No key. Her mother’s necklaces hung on a peg board in her bathroom. She searched through them. Still no key. A wooden jewelry box sat on top of her chest of drawers. Lily Kate took it down and looked through it. The last drawer held several keys. It has to be one of these. She sat on the floor in front of the trunk trying one key after another. Finally, the lock clicked open. “Eureka!”
She stood and rummaged through the garments, locating a heavy album on the bottom, in a flimsy cardboard box.
Setting the box aside, she carried the album to a white wicker desk in the corner of the room. Turning on the Tiffany lamp and sitting in the matching wicker chair, she stared at a woman’s photo–an elegantly clad woman of regal stature. Lily Kate leaned closer and stared at the portrait. Her own eyes stared back at her. The caption, in beautiful calligraphy, read “Lillian Katherine Walker.” Perhaps an ancestor—her namesake? She leaned closer, and touched the faded picture with her finger tips. Her breath caught. If the hair were different, she would look just like … me.”
The woman in the picture had to be an ancestor. The resemblance was undeniable. Nobody in the family had ever been willing to discuss their ancestral history, despite the fact they lived in one of the oldest homes in Waco. The young woman twisted her long dark hair, still damp from her shower, into a large plastic clip, and tightened the sash of her robe. Where was David? Surely her brother had found a bandage by now for the gash he’d dug into his hand trying to open a storage box for her. Her eyes grew heavy. She folded her arms on the top of the trunk and lay her head on it. The drone of the fan lulled her into the drowsy dimension between waking and sleeping.
Bam! Lily startled awake, her heart thudding against her chest. Bam! The shutters slammed against the window as rain pelted against the side of house. She jumped from her impromptu nap and closed the window. She had no idea how long she’d been asleep, but it was dark outside. Reaching to turn off the fan, she moved her hand back and forth in the darkness. Couldn’t find it. A chill had settled in her mother’s room. Tucking the volume under her arm, she felt her way in the dark to the hallway and into the kitchen. “David?”
A soft glow surrounded a lantern on the kitchen table. The electricity must have gone out. Lily set the book beside the lantern.
A young black woman, who appeared to be a servant in period costume, came through the door from the dining room carrying a candle in a pewter holder. “Miss Lillian?”
“Who are … “ Lily stared at the woman. “Yes. Who are you?”
“Miss Lillian? Are you ill?”
“No, I’m not ill. This is my house, and I don’t know who you are. Where is David?”
Join us again next week to read part two of chapter one…
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog and newsletter below. You will receive my modern short story version of ‘Trapped: The Adulterous Woman’ in your thank you email.
The post A Watch In Time appeared first on Golden Keyes Parsons.
February 17, 2015
CHRISTIAN ROMANCE AUTHOR – JULIE LESSMAN
JULIE LESSMAN
I am so honored this week to have my friend and colleague, Christian romance author, Julie Lessman with us. Award-winning author of “The Daughters of Boston” and “Winds of Change” series, Julie Lessman was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards. She has also garnered 17 RWA and other awards and made Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction. Her indie book A Light in the Window is an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers’ Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner.
I must tell you that when Julie won Debut Author of the Year, my book, In The Shadow of the Sun King, was also nominated … but Julie took away the trophy! Kudos, my friend!
Don’t forget to leave a comment with your email address below on the blog, between February 17 and February 24, and be entered to win a free, signed copy of any of Julie’s books — your choice! We will announce the winner next week.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
Well, I am a baby boomer married to a man who makes me feel like I’m living my own personal romance novel, and we have two wonderful kids, both married, and two adorable grandbabies. Out of a family of thirteen kids, I am the CDQ (caffeinated drama queen) enamored with books and movies. In fact, I started writing my debut novel A Passion Most Pure when I was twelve years old after reading Gone With the Wind. But … it wasn’t until almost forty years later that God breathed new life into that early attempt and inspired me to finish my childhood novel of passion—only this time the “passion” would be for Him!
Tell us about your latest book, and how it came about.
Surprised by Love is the third and final book in my Heart of San Francisco series, which is about the Nob Hill McClares, a wealthy political family in 1902 San Francisco. I chose San Francisco because after completing the 7th and final book in my prior family saga (The Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change series, which take place in 1916 Boston), I was looking to switch coasts and time periods, which was really fascinating and fun!
From the glitter and glamour of San Francisco’s Nob Hill and Napa wine country, to the seedy dance halls and gambling dens of the Barbary Coast, The Heart of San Francisco series is a study in contrasts between the haves and have-nots and barriers between rich and poor that only faith can transcend.
This is the story of the McClares, an unconventional but close-knit family, which not only highlights the struggles of faith and heart of three cousins, but of the matriarch of the family as well. A widow of strong faith and beauty, matriarch Caitlyn McClare butts heads and hearts with her handsome brother-in-law Logan McClare, the fiancé who betrayed her before she broke it off and married his brother. Their love story is the glue that girds all three books together.
In book 1, Love at Any Cost, Cassidy McClare is a spunky heiress without a fortune who falls in love with a handsome pauper looking to marry well. In book 2, Dare to Love Again, Allison McClare is a sassy socialite burned by love who goes head to head (and heart to heart) with a jaded cop burned by the upper class. And finally in book 3, Surprised by Love, we have the age-old tale of the ugly duckling who blossoms into a swan when Megan McClare returns home after a year in Paris, only to capture the heart of a boy who once spurned her, with the help of the best friend who steals her heart.
Here’s the jacket blurb for Surprised by Love:
From ugly duckling to swimming with the swans …
But is she over her head when it comes to love?
Brilliant, shy and unattractive as a child, Megan McClare has always been teased by her classmates. But when she returns home from her senior year in Paris, the wallflower has suddenly blossomed into a beauty. With ambitions to become a lawyer or doctor, Megan accepts an internship at the District Attorney’s office only to discover that she will be working with Devin Caldwell, a boy who mercilessly mocked her at school—and with whom she was hopelessly enamored. She turns to her dear friend Bram Hughes for support and advice. But Bram’s vision is clouded by his sudden unwelcome attraction to a girl he had always thought of as a little sister. He advises forgiveness, but can he forgive himself for pushing the woman he loves into the arms of another man?
Share about your genre and why you write in this style.
I write historical romance and my tagline is “Passion with a Purpose,” which means my books are a tad more passionate than the majority of Inspirational fiction in the Christian market today. According to the American Religious Identification Survey conducted by the Barna Group, “nine out of ten women nationwide consider themselves to be Christian.” The majority of these women fall into a category I would define as “Mainstream Christianity” —women who believe in God but may not always apply His precepts in their lives, especially in their sexuality. Many of these women want compelling novels with strong romantic tension and often turn to the secular market to satisfy this need. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if they were drawn to a novel of passion and encountered God’s ideas on sexuality along the way? I think so, too, and that is my mission as a writer. To get an idea of the level of passion in my books, readers can check out the EXCERPTS tab of my website, where they’ll find my favorite romantic and spiritual scenes for most of my books.
What inspires you as an author?
Well, let’s put it this way, without God, there would be no books—period. God is not only my reason to write, He is my inspiration, my motivation, my confidence and my talent. Like Michael W. Smith sings in his incredible song, “Breathe,” God is “the air I breathe.” I love romance, make no mistake, but without God in the middle, it is flat, empty, pointless. So I guess you could say that although I write books heavily laced with romantic passion, they are also intensely spiritually passionate as well, with God always firmly anchored in the middle and always in line with His precepts.
What do you wish someone had told you about writing?
Oh goodness, how I wish someone had told me what an emotional roller-coaster it was going to be AFTER I got published! Like a lot of unpublished writers, I thought all the anxiety and self-doubt would dissipate after I signed on the dotted line. I mean that would validate me, right? Give me confidence as a writer? But I discovered (AGAIN!) that true confidence is not in accolades from your editor or a really good review, but instead in where your heart is with God. HE is my confidence when my sales rankings on Amazon.com are high or low, which is why I CLING to the following Scripture from 2 Corinthians ll:3: Do not let my mind “be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”
Isn’t it the truth? And that passage from 2 Corinthians is one of my favorites.
What hobbies do you enjoy?
Hobbies? That’s easy: watching old movies (Gone With the Wind, That Touch of Mink, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Hitch, Pride & Prejudice, Phantom of the Opera, Mama Mia and Susan Slept Here are some of my favorites), bike riding with my hubby (and, yes, he actually made me buy those silly biking shorts with the padded seat!!). I read whenever I can, of course, (in the powder room, doctor’s office, car, at train stops, in store lines, anywhere I have a free moment), and I also used to garden a lot and host elaborate dinner parties. But that got to be too much because, you see, I have MSD (Martha Stewart Disease). Yes, I’ve been known to pipe guest’s initials in twice-baked potatoes and cut napkin rings out of real lemons to hold lemon green beans. Oh, and a toasted almond-encrusted, dark/milk/white-chocolate streuseled bowl that took me two days to make just to HOLD the homemade white-chocolate mousse I whipped up, all of which would sit in a pool of raspberry sauce!
I’ll be right over! When is dinner being served?
Thank you, Golden, for hosting me on your blog—it’s been a pleasure!
It has been my pleasure, Julie! Thank you so much for taking time to be with us.
I love to hear from reader friends, so if they like, they can contact me and read excerpts from my books at www.julielessman.com, or through Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, or Pinterest or by signing up for my newsletter. I also have a blog called “Journal Jots,” which is a very laid-back journal to my reader friends, or readers can check out my favorite romantic and spiritual scenes from each of my books on the “Excerpts” tab of my website. In addition, I can be found daily at The Seekers, a group blog of 13 published authors that inspires, encourages, teaches, and informs aspiring writers on the road to publication and beyond. Although Seekerville has been listed on Writers Digest 2013 and 2014 “Best 101 Websites for Writers,” it is also a blog devoted to readers as well.
Finally, I have the following freebie/sales currently going on:
FREE DOWNLOAD on my debut novel A Passion Most Pure, American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Book of the Year with over 622 five-star reviews on Amazon.
My Irish love story, A Light in the Window—178 five-star reviews on Amazon and winner of three awards. I invite you to take a peek at the excellent video my artist hubby produced, which stars my daughter. ALITW Video.
Calling All Writers!! My writer’s workbook entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets is on sale for $2.99.
Don’t forget to leave a comment with your email address below on the blog, between February 17 and February 24, and be entered to win a free, signed copy of one of Julie’s books, your choice! We will announce the winner next week.
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog and newsletter below. You will receive my modern short story version of ‘Trapped: The Adulterous Woman’ in your thank you email.
The post CHRISTIAN ROMANCE AUTHOR – JULIE LESSMAN appeared first on Golden Keyes Parsons.
February 13, 2015
The Ring (A Short Story) – Part 2
A Short Story By Golden Keyes Parsons
Part 2 (Click HERE to read Part 1)
They met one last time… “Come away with me. I can get a job anywhere coaching. You’re not happy. We were meant to be together.”
Allison shook her head. “I can’t. My kids—I love them too much. As unhappy as I am, Sam is a good father and provider.”
Perry’s countenance darkened.
Allison continued. “With you I feel whole. I can be who I was meant to be. I know I’m safe and secure with you.” She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand and pushed his blond hair out of his eyes. “You were my first love. You are my only true love.” Tears streamed down her face. “But my commitment to the Lord … and my children.” She hesitated, her voice interrupted by a swallowed sob. “Divorce … divorce is not an option. I … I just can’t.”
Perry grasped her shoulders. “If there is ever any possibility, tell me now. I will wait for you.” He pulled her tight to his chest. “No matter how long it takes, I will wait. If you need me, I will come to you. Just send the ring, and I’ll know.”
Numb with emotion Allison nodded. She broke away from his desperate clutch and left him standing with the arms that had just held her, hanging limp at his side.
She never heard directly from him again. She followed his football career in the paper. He moved up to college football, then accepted an assistant coaching position in the NFL. She watched his team’s games on television, hungry for any glimpse of his face.
Sam’s heart attack was sudden and fatal. He fell dead at his desk in the law office. The funeral was over quickly. The children all had lives of their own. Allison was alone.
She kept up with Perry’s career by reading the sports section of the paper, but lacked the courage to contact him. One Sunday she noticed an announcement of his impending retirement on the back page. The reporter asked, “Why retire now when a head coaching position for a top NFL team most probably is right around the corner?”
“I’ve had a successful career and there are some things that I’d like to pursue at this point.” There was no picture or mention of a family.
Now here she was on a plane, like a lovesick teenager, thinking they could simply rekindle their love, as if they had never been apart. Allison fidgeted in her narrow seat. What was she thinking? Why didn’t she just send the ring to him? If he were still in love with her, he would come for her—like he said.
The seat belt sign came on signaling an imminent landing. She felt like she was going to be sick. She put her head down in her hands.
Allison checked into her room at the hotel. She tried to nap, but no luck. She dressed and stepped back to examine herself in the mirror. Not bad for a middle-aged woman with grown kids. She looked glamorous in the simple, black dress and chandelier, diamond earrings. She slipped the ring on her finger.
Easing into the back of the banquet hall, she searched the room for him. Of course, at the head table, flanked on one side by another coach, whom she recognized from the televised games, and an attractive redhead, whom she did not. He looked wonderful. He had maintained his athletic physique, his hair graying some, but still falling over his forehead, making him appear much younger than his actual age. Allison stared at the party seated at the head table and watched as Perry chatted with the companion by his side. The glamorous woman threw back her head and laughed. He put his arm around the back of the chair and leaned toward her. Allison excused herself after the salad course. What did she expect after all these years? She packed and went downstairs.
“Checking out so soon? Was everything satisfactory in your room?”
“Oh, yes. I, uh, I simply am not able to stay.”
“May I call you a taxi?”
“Thank you.” Allison put her hand in her coat pocket and felt the ring box. “Oh, there is one more thing.”
“Yes?”
Allison took the ring off her finger and put it in the worn velvet box. “Would you put this in with Coach Larreau’s messages?”
“Will there be a note to accompany it?”
“No, just put the ring box in with his other messages.”
It had begun to rain, cold pelting droplets of moisture. Allison’s hair dissolved into a stringy mess as she walked to the waiting, yellow taxi not bothering to take her umbrella out of her bag, not caring whether she became drenched in the downpour. It didn’t matter now.
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog and newsletter below. You will receive my modern short story version of ‘Trapped: The Adulterous Woman’ in your thank you email.
The post The Ring (A Short Story) – Part 2 appeared first on Golden Keyes Parsons.
February 10, 2015
INTERVIEW – AUTHOR ROSEANNA WHITE
We are so honored today to welcome historical fiction author, editor and publisher, Roseanna White, of WhiteFire Publishing. But most importantly (to me!), Roseanna is my publisher and editor. WhiteFire Publishing helped me realize the dream of publishing my biblical fiction series, Hidden Faces: Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels. Not only is Roseanna an incredibly easy and gracious editor to work with, she is very knowledgeable in her field.
Don’t forget to leave a comment with your email address below on the blog, between February 10 and February 17, and be entered to win a free, signed copy of Roseanna’s newest release, A Soft Breath of Wind! We will announce the winner next week.
And today is special for another reason — Roseanna is announcing the launch of her new book cover for The Lost Heiress! Let’s hear first from her about this exciting event.
From Roseanna: Today is an exciting day! I get to reveal the cover of my next book!! The Lost Heiress will release from Bethany House on September 8, 2015. This story is a rewrite of the first novel I ever wrote, finishing that first version at the ripe old age of 13. Nearly twenty years later, after 9 other novels published and 25 manuscripts finished, it’s finally coming to life! And best of all, it found its home with the first publisher I queried about it at age 14…and who was also the first publisher I pitched (a revised version of it) to at a conference in 2007. Third time was a charm!
Allow me to present The Lost Heiress!!
Add The Lost Heiress to your shelf on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22383696-the-lost-heiress
Pre-order at ChristianBook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/the-lost-heiress-roseanna-white/9780764213502/pd/642135?event=ESRCN
This is so exciting, and thank you for allowing us to be one of the first sites for you to announce. Now let’s find out about you …
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
Well, let’s see. I’ve been married for going-on 14 years. We have two adorable children, aged 9 and this-close-to-7, and I homeschool them. That’s a wonderful blessing, quite an adventure—and takes up a lot of time! My hubby works from home too, so we have much together. When I’m not educating the munchkins, I’m writing, editing, and designing.
I am astounded at my author friends who still have young children at home, or work full time, or home school … or do all of the above and still manage to crank out novel after novel. You all are amazing women!
Tell us about your latest book, and how it came about.
You already know about the next one to come out, so now I’ll tell a bit about the one just released in November. =) A Soft Bre
ath of Wind is the sequel to my debut novel, A Stray Drop of Blood. That first book pivots around the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, but focuses on it from the point of view of a Hebrew slave in a Roman house in Jerusalem. In the sequel, the family is now in Rome and have built the church associated with the city. My heroine is a young slave woman, Zipporah, who has been given a great gift of discernment—she’s able to see into the spiritual realm.
I got the idea for this story seven years ago, but it took me a looooooong time to find the time and energy and conviction to write it. After a Skype call with a book club near Boston who read A Stray Drop of Blood, though, I knew the time had come to continue the Visibullis saga.
Yes, I can relate. I never know how to answer the question, “How long did it take you to write your book?”
“Uh, 20 years?” Trapped! The Adulterous Woman, simmered in my heart for years, before I actually got a publisher. And that would be WhiteFire Publishing!
Share about your genre and why you write in this style.
I write in a variety of historical genres, from my biblical settings to early American to the Edwardian England series I have coming out from Bethany House later this year. Really, I just love history. I love digging into an era and discovering what made it unique…and what hasn’t changed so much too. With the biblical settings especially, I can explore humanity when stripped of some of the distracting elements like technology, and also get back to the roots of my faith.
It always hurts my heart when people say history is boring. To me, history is so exciting. I can get lost in the research.
What inspires you?
Oh, good question! Hmm… people, I guess. Seeing their aches and their joys, their triumphs and their failures. I’m often an introvert, but I like to be a sponge and just soak it all in and let it percolate. =)
Tell us about your writing process.
I don’t think it’s ever the same for more than one project, LOL. Generally speaking, I get the germ of an idea, and I jot it down in my IDEAS folder on my computer. As it develops, it’ll turn into a couple-paragraph description…which is often emailed to one of my critique partners as I develop it to see if they see potential there too. When it’s time to write, I tend to combine a seat-of-the-pants approach with an outline approach. I write a synopsis before I begin and use that as a guide, then wing it…until about halfway through, at which point I’ll sit down and write out a scene-by-scene description of how to finish it up.
I’m a morning person, so I’m usually up at 5:30 to get some work in before the kiddos join me. On a good day, I can keep plugging away through the day during breaks from school.
I didn’t realize how similar we are in our writing processes. Except … now that we are retired from the pastorate, I don’t have to get up so early anymore. 
What are your writing goals?
My over-arching goals are to write books that touch people’s hearts and really make them think, question, and examine themselves and their faiths. One of my editors told me that I’m what she calls as “intelligent writer.” Suited me fine, LOL. I definitely put a lot of thought into my stories and hope people get a lot of thought out of them, but I also want people to enjoy the time they spend with my characters. While I would (obviously) love to make best-seller lists and win awards, when it comes down to it, this isn’t a job for me, it’s my ministry. So what matters most is the people.
On a more particular scale, I do also have specific goals for each day, week, month, etc. When I’m actively writing a novel, I set myself a goal of 2,000 words a day. Sometimes this is like pulling teeth, other times I’ve got that done by 7 a.m. and can steam on by. At this point I’m always under deadline, so I have goals of when each book needs to be finished by, when I need time for editing, etc.
What do you wish someone had told you about writing?
Hmm…another hard one. =) I’ve been writing almost all my life, and often more by gut and instinct than any lessons I’ve taken. But I guess what I wish I knew much earlier was that the most important thing a writer can learn is how to follow the rules…so you know when you can break them.
Tell us something about yourself that nobody knows.
Er…uh…hmm. Well, I’ve confessed this a few times before, but—prepare yourself—this farmer’s granddaughter hates vegetables. I try to like them. Really I do. I just don’t, LOL.
That hurts my heart almost as much as hearing someone say that history is boring or “I hate to read.” LOL!!
What hobbies do you enjoy?
Hob…bies? Those are those pastimes with which you fill that mysterious thing called free time, right? When such a thing I stumble across, I usually fill it with reading, baking, and projects with my kids. Our latest endeavor was finger knitting. We now have a lot of infinity scarfs lying around, LOL!
10. Where can your readers contact you?
I’m pretty easy to find! There are contact pages on my website (www.RoseannaMWhite.com) and blog (www.RoseannaMWhite.blogspot.com).
I have both an author page (www.Facebook.com/RoseannaMWhite) and profile (www.Facebook.com/RoseannaWhite) on Facebook. I also just launched a Facebook page dedicated to my book cover, logo, and promo material designs (www.Facebook.com/RoseannaWhiteDesigns)
I’m on Twitter (@RoseannaMWhite), and you can always email me at Roseanna@RoseannaWhite.com.
I love hearing from my readers!
And we loved being a part of the launch of your new book cover, and having you on our blog today. Thank you so much.
Don’t forget to leave a comment with your email address below on the blog, between February 10 and February 17, and be entered to win a free, signed copy of Roseanna’s latest release, A Soft Breath of Wind. We will announce the winner next week.
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog and newsletter below. You will receive my modern short story version of ‘Trapped: The Adulterous Woman’ in your thank you email.
The post INTERVIEW – AUTHOR ROSEANNA WHITE appeared first on Golden Keyes Parsons.
February 6, 2015
The Ring (A Short Story) – Part 1
A Short Story By Golden Keyes Parsons
Part 1
The top of the ring box sprang open revealing a silver band nestled in deep burgundy velvet. The woman seated next to Allison on the red-eye flight glanced over her reading glasses. “Nice.”
“Yes, thank you. I’ve had it a long time.”
The lights dimmed and the overhead reading lights flickered on. Allison closed the lid, leaned back and shut her eyes. What was she doing? She must be having a mid-life crisis.
Flashes of Perry and herself played like a video in her mind—the prom, on the beach, kissing on her darkened porch, football games, graduation. Allison Bailey and Perry Larreau were the perfect couple. In her flashbacks she was brunette once again. A swirled silver ring engraved with a single word, “Forever,” encircled her ring finger. The decision to break up while they attended college was mutual, and she gave the ring back to Perry. She soon regretted that decision.
Allison dated several guys in college, but Perry’s quick smile and silly laugh, his blond hair that wouldn’t stay out of his eyes, and his declaration of “Forever” lingered in the back of her mind.
They saw each other when they were home for holidays, but it was awkward. Perry asked, “I miss you. Do you think we might ever … ?” Allison wanted to finish college and didn’t trust her emotions, so she always changed the subject.
She met Sam on a blind date in the spring of her senior year. He was nothing like Perry.
He was dark and debonair, a law student. His family was wealthy and belonged to the country club set. He swept her off her feet. They were engaged in six weeks and married in three months. Life was good. Three babies came quickly. They led hectic lives filled with social obligations, athletics, church and school activities.
Sam’s law practice consumed him, and, little by little, they drifted apart. The children got older, and Sam and Allison settled into living life as married singles—tolerant, polite, safe.
Allison’s heart thudded wildly that day at the mall when she spotted the familiar broad shoulders and unruly blond hair.
“Perry!”
He recognized her immediately and suffocated her with his signature bear hug. “Allison, have I ever missed you. Let me look at you.” His eyes traveled from her tousled hair pushed back with her fashionable sunglasses, to her tanned, pedicured, sandaled feet.
“You look incredible. Are—are you alone?”
“Yes—the kids are in school.” She blushed. “How about you?”
“What luck—me, too. Lunch?”
“Sure, two old friends, right?”
“Still like Chinese food?”
“Still like it.” No wedding band on his left hand. “What are you doing now?”
“Coaching high school. Starting here this year.”
“Are you—married?” The question flew out of her mouth before she thought to edit her thoughts.
“I was.” He cleared his throat. “Annulled.”
“Oh.”
Perry didn’t offer an explanation. They stayed two hours in the restaurant, tiptoeing around the edges of emotions too delicate to explore during this serendipity encounter. More stolen rendezvous took place that summer.
One weekend when Sam was out of town and the children were at camp, Perry showed up at her front door—wine and a bouquet of daisies in hand.
“Y-you mentioned that the kids would be at camp.” He shuffled from side to side. Allison opened the screen door. “Come in.”
She put on an “oldies but goodies” CD and pointed to wineglasses on the buffet. “Pour us some wine and make yourself comfortable while I put these in water.” She chuckled softly. “You remembered I like daisies.”
Songs reminiscent of high school days flooded the house. They giggled at each other’s attempts to recall forgotten dance steps. As the evening wore on, the music slowed, and they found themselves relaxing in each other’s embrace. Allison breathed in the familiar scent of his cologne and looked into the face that she still adored. Her resolve melted.
“Sit here on the couch with me.” Perry pulled a ring box out of his jeans pocket and handed it to her.
She opened the lid revealing the silver ring. “You kept it.”
“I meant ‘Forever’ when I had it engraved. I want you to have it forever. Even if we never—if nothing ever—”
“Shhh. It still fits.”
Perry gathered his first love into his arms and kissed her gently. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No.” Allison twirled the ring on her finger. “But I can’t betray … Would you just stay with me for awhile?” They stayed up all night like teen-age lovers—embracing, retreating, and talking about what might have been. Darkness was escaping into the dawn before Perry left.
They met one last time…
(Come back next week for part two)
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog and newsletter below. You will receive my modern short story version of ‘Trapped: The Adulterous Woman’ in your thank you email.
The post The Ring (A Short Story) – Part 1 appeared first on Golden Keyes Parsons.
The Ring – Part 1
A Short Story By Golden Keyes Parsons
Part 1
The top of the ring box sprang open revealing a silver band nestled in deep burgundy velvet. The woman seated next to Allison on the red-eye flight glanced over her reading glasses. “Nice.”
“Yes, thank you. I’ve had it a long time.”
The lights dimmed and the overhead reading lights flickered on. Allison closed the lid, leaned back and shut her eyes. What was she doing? She must be having a mid-life crisis.
Flashes of Perry and herself played like a video in her mind—the prom, on the beach, kissing on her darkened porch, football games, graduation. Allison Bailey and Perry Larreau were the perfect couple. In her flashbacks she was brunette once again. A swirled silver ring engraved with a single word, “Forever,” encircled her ring finger. The decision to break up while they attended college was mutual, and she gave the ring back to Perry. She soon regretted that decision.
Allison dated several guys in college, but Perry’s quick smile and silly laugh, his blond hair that wouldn’t stay out of his eyes, and his declaration of “Forever” lingered in the back of her mind.
They saw each other when they were home for holidays, but it was awkward. Perry asked, “I miss you. Do you think we might ever … ?” Allison wanted to finish college and didn’t trust her emotions, so she always changed the subject.
She met Sam on a blind date in the spring of her senior year. He was nothing like Perry.
He was dark and debonair, a law student. His family was wealthy and belonged to the country club set. He swept her off her feet. They were engaged in six weeks and married in three months. Life was good. Three babies came quickly. They led hectic lives filled with social obligations, athletics, church and school activities.
Sam’s law practice consumed him, and, little by little, they drifted apart. The children got older, and Sam and Allison settled into living life as married singles—tolerant, polite, safe.
Allison’s heart thudded wildly that day at the mall when she spotted the familiar broad shoulders and unruly blond hair.
“Perry!”
He recognized her immediately and suffocated her with his signature bear hug. “Allison, have I ever missed you. Let me look at you.” His eyes traveled from her tousled hair pushed back with her fashionable sunglasses, to her tanned, pedicured, sandaled feet.
“You look incredible. Are—are you alone?”
“Yes—the kids are in school.” She blushed. “How about you?”
“What luck—me, too. Lunch?”
“Sure, two old friends, right?”
“Still like Chinese food?”
“Still like it.” No wedding band on his left hand. “What are you doing now?”
“Coaching high school. Starting here this year.”
“Are you—married?” The question flew out of her mouth before she thought to edit her thoughts.
“I was.” He cleared his throat. “Annulled.”
“Oh.”
Perry didn’t offer an explanation. They stayed two hours in the restaurant, tiptoeing around the edges of emotions too delicate to explore during this serendipity encounter. More stolen rendezvous took place that summer.
One weekend when Sam was out of town and the children were at camp, Perry showed up at her front door—wine and a bouquet of daisies in hand.
“Y-you mentioned that the kids would be at camp.” He shuffled from side to side. Allison opened the screen door. “Come in.”
She put on an “oldies but goodies” CD and pointed to wineglasses on the buffet. “Pour us some wine and make yourself comfortable while I put these in water.” She chuckled softly. “You remembered I like daisies.”
Songs reminiscent of high school days flooded the house. They giggled at each other’s attempts to recall forgotten dance steps. As the evening wore on, the music slowed, and they found themselves relaxing in each other’s embrace. Allison breathed in the familiar scent of his cologne and looked into the face that she still adored. Her resolve melted.
“Sit here on the couch with me.” Perry pulled a ring box out of his jeans pocket and handed it to her.
She opened the lid revealing the silver ring. “You kept it.”
“I meant ‘Forever’ when I had it engraved. I want you to have it forever. Even if we never—if nothing ever—”
“Shhh. It still fits.”
Perry gathered his first love into his arms and kissed her gently. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No.” Allison twirled the ring on her finger. “But I can’t betray … Would you just stay with me for awhile?” They stayed up all night like teen-age lovers—embracing, retreating, and talking about what might have been. Darkness was escaping into the dawn before Perry left.
They met one last time…
(Come back next week for part two)
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog and newsletter below. You will receive my modern short story version of ‘Trapped: The Adulterous Woman’ in your thank you email.
The post The Ring – Part 1 appeared first on Golden Keyes Parsons.
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