Lost In America, Now How Can That Possibly Be? by Margo Hoornstra

Don't know a thing about the movie. Heard about it. Never saw it. That being said, the first thought that comes to mind is, well, 'Lost In America, now how can that possibly be?' Go anywhere in our great country. From northern Maine to southern California, northern Alaska to the Florida Keys. We're all basically the same.

Especially if you're a student in high school. We've all been there and, I'd venture to say, have all had similar experiences. Those years are pretty universal, ones we consider the greatest times of our life and the very worst. Making impulsive, peer driven, possibly incorrect choices. Trying to have a good time and be yourself and feeling that the self you are is totally inadequate and wishing you were more like someone else. Being in the enviable position of having a shiny bright future in front of you, then as the years go by, some of those sterling promises may have become tarnished over time. The life we actually lived may not have unfolded exactly as we planned. I thought about that a lot a few years ago as I worked on three novellas originally published for the Class of 85 series.

When those books didn't seem to go anywhere, in collusion with Jannine I got my rights back, reworked them somewhat, and ultimately turned them into my latest release, Saturday In Serendipity. "Three stories of love rediscovered."

Saturday In Serendipity revolves around a twenty year high school reunion. Instead of being Lost in America, these characters are eventually found, in the fictional town of Serendipity, Vermont. A beautiful place on the shores of Lake Champlain.

Here's a sample of what's in store.

A twenty year high school reunion changes the lives of former classmates and leads them to unexpected futures. Three couples set out to revisit their pasts only to find their happily ever afters.

Three Strikes Thursday Barry Carlson, a pro baseball success, could have any woman he wanted. Except one. Twenty years before, Barry won Amanda Marsh’s love, only to crush her heart. He’s returned to Serendipity, determined to win her back. Recently divorced, Amanda is happy—until Barry slides back into her life. Can they put aside old wounds and new misunderstandings to find a forever love?

Two On Tuesday Blane Weston’s construction company needs the venture capital Matt Durand has. With his reputation for hostile takeovers, she wants no part of him. Mixing business with pleasure, she’s off to Serendipity  to hook up with a former flame. Not used to being denied, Matt follows. How can Blane enjoy a journey to her past when Matt is determined to dictate her future?

One Fateful Friday His high school reunion in Serendipity over, hospital CEO Jake Holbrook regrets his single state. When a special woman from his past tumbles back into his life—and his bed—he’s determined to keep her there. Family practitioner Bethany Thomas avoids an entanglement with her new boss, but unknowingly betrays him. As the holidays approach, can they overcome a lack of trust to find their Christmas miracle?

Jannine and I had great fun redoing these books, crossing characters and such, especially when we wrote dialogue between her heroine and mine with different Points of View.

 

Both books, my Saturday In Serendipity and Jannine's Road To Serendipity are available now. Check them out, you won't be disappointed.

 

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and my stories, please visit my WEBSITE

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: I Remember That Book by Margo Hoornstra

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I read the book while I was in high school. It was required for some class, I don't remember which one.

Though I do remember being in high school. Good thing. A few years ago, I wrote three books for a series about couples who attend a twenty fifth high school reunion. While doing a blog tour to promote those books, I was asked about the research I did for the series.

Here's part of my answer.

The high school years are, by and large, a universal experience. One we alternately consider the greatest time of our life and the very worst. Making impulsive, peer driven and possibly incorrect choices. Trying to have a good time and be yourself and feeling that the self you are is totally inadequate. Always wishing you looked different or were more like someone else. Wanting so badly to have people accept you, and hurting when they don't seem to. Being in the enviable position of having a shiny bright future in front of you. Then, twenty years later, some of those same sterling promises may have become tarnished over time. The life we actually lived, while fulfilling, didn't unfold exactly as we wanted. Yet because we were able to make adjustments to what was dished out to us, we've come away with a certain wisdom gained from having navigated through them. Oh yeah, I knew all about that. Suffice it to say, much of my research took place in my head and in my own life.



So how about you? Were your years in high school the best of times or the worst of times?

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and my stories, please visit my WEBSITE

One final note.  The day this comes out, I will be camping somewhere in the woods of northern Michigan. Even on a good day, internet service will be spotty. That's my excuse if I fail to respond to comments on time.

Happy Summer, Everyone!

My Favorite Year by Margo Hoornstra

My favorite year? That's easy. The one I happen to be in.

Not that other years in my life didn't qualify as favorites. The year I graduated from high school then college, got my first real job, got married, gave birth to four children - including two at one time. The year I retired from my day job to write full time. The year my first book was published. Each year as subsequent books of mine came out. The years each of my grandchildren was born. All those many years have had their moments, good and bad. If I really thought long and hard, all of them could probably have their own events to earn them favorite status.

That still doesn't make those in the past any better than those in my present, and my future.

Recently, I had a minor health scare. Something which turned out to be a non-issue, but had me concerned, no terrified, just having to think about it for a couple of weeks. Frittering some time away on line, trying not to think about it, I came upon a horoscope which seemed to be written just for me. Why does it seem so much easier for you to believe that something bad can happen, but so much more difficult to trust in your good fortune?

That's one of my failings I'm trying desperately to turn around. I tend toward the catastrophic, bad catastrophic in most of my what if thinking. The trait serves me well as an author seeking to put this character and that into situations it seems impossible they'll ever get out of. In real life, thinking the worst all the time isn't the best way to go.

You've heard the saying, You are what you eat. In the thought process, Your beliefs and ideas become your life. If you think positive thoughts, you'll enjoy positive results, right?

My favorite year, right now, is 2014. As the years unfold in my future, each one I'm sure, will have the potential to become my favorite of all as well.

The days I blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and my writing, please visit me at my WEBSITE