By Lori Leger
It's finally fall here
in the south. More importantly, it's October, my favorite month. I have so many
wonderful memories associated with this month . . . football games, homecoming
parades, festivals attended with family and friends. We get our first break
from the oppressive heat and humidity down here. It's a chance to open my
windows, let the cool, dry breezes replace the filtered air-conditioning. A
chance to enjoy the changing colors in the beautiful fall landscape.
October is also my
birthday month. In December of last year, just after I'd cut one more notch in
the "creeping ever closer to sixty" belt, I realized that the
characters in my previous series are closer to my children's ages than my own.
For the most part, they were about thirty-something-year-old men and women
looking for love or advancement in careers. They are wonderful characters--they
really are. Unfortunately, as I flipped the calendar on my fifty-seventh year
of living, I was reminded that I have little in common with them.
As I age, I change, as do my priorities, tastes, opinions, etc. Yes, I realize it's socially unacceptable to openly admit one's age, but isn't that an unrealistic attitude? I accept that my author shot, taken several years ago, is the best I'm ever going to look. I've chosen to embrace my age. I'm a mother, and a grandmother . . . I've earned these lines around my eyes, dammit!
As I age, I change, as do my priorities, tastes, opinions, etc. Yes, I realize it's socially unacceptable to openly admit one's age, but isn't that an unrealistic attitude? I accept that my author shot, taken several years ago, is the best I'm ever going to look. I've chosen to embrace my age. I'm a mother, and a grandmother . . . I've earned these lines around my eyes, dammit!
So what's an aging
author to do? She changes her writing style.
It all started while
writing the last installment of the Cathryn and Zachary stories I created for
the Seasons of Love anthology series.
Cathryn's mom, Ellen, widowed but still a very vibrant woman, begins dating again, and eventually remarries. At the end of Full Circle Christmas, Zachary's father, John Michael, makes an appearance and sees an old classmate of his, one he'd had a crush on back in junior high. I had so much fun writing the subplot stories of these characters, because I could relate to them easier. I decided to run with it.
Cathryn's mom, Ellen, widowed but still a very vibrant woman, begins dating again, and eventually remarries. At the end of Full Circle Christmas, Zachary's father, John Michael, makes an appearance and sees an old classmate of his, one he'd had a crush on back in junior high. I had so much fun writing the subplot stories of these characters, because I could relate to them easier. I decided to run with it.
Thus, the birth of a
brand new series in a baby boomer style genre, Prime of Love. Book
one, "Running Out Of Rain", continues with John Michael Ferguson's
story, as well as his old classmate, Cynthia Ellender.
The story deals with the loss of spouses, of parents, of siblings, and the reemergence of old friendships and new loves.
While I don't have erotically described sex scenes, the heat is still present. The older characters, namely John Michael's dad, J.D. Ferguson, add a great deal of humor to the stories in this series, something I'm getting better at writing.
The story deals with the loss of spouses, of parents, of siblings, and the reemergence of old friendships and new loves.
While I don't have erotically described sex scenes, the heat is still present. The older characters, namely John Michael's dad, J.D. Ferguson, add a great deal of humor to the stories in this series, something I'm getting better at writing.
So, if you're looking for something just a little different, check out my Prime of Love series.
Eventually, all storms
break for a little sunshine . . .
Which led to Book Two,
"Hanging On To Hope", the story of John Michael's first cousin, Clay
Andrews, who meets Cynthia's younger sister, Allie Sarver.
Sometimes you need to
lose all hope in order to find true strength . . .
So, embrace your
"maturity", and accept that books about mature relationships don't
necessarily have to rule out romance, or passion, or love.
As a matter of fact,
loving after fifty has never been so damn good.
I love being mature. Finally!!!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Kim!
DeleteMature is the new young. Lol. Love your characters and stories.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Taylor!
Delete