A big thank you to my girl, Cheryl for inviting me here today to share a little about Autumn Renewal—a small-town second chance romance.
When I wrote this, it was around the time of my mother’s birthday. She had passed away several years prior, and I was missing her. So I had a some fun, crafting one of the characters using her personality traits—the heroine’s mother. Somehow, this made me feel closer to Mama in a way I can’t explain.
Mama went by the nickname, Poochie. Her father gave her the tag in the crib and it stuck. She was a strong woman with an unwavering faith in God. After becoming a single mother (not her choice), she raised my sister and myself without child support, nor much family help. She got it done. My sister and I lead productive lives and are fairly well-grounded, thanks to her.
While my mother is the inspiration for the heroine’s mother, Bella Thibodaux, I couldn’t resist naming the heroine after Mama. I’ve taken some heat on the name Poochie. Readers found it difficult to connect to a character with a name they associated with puppies. I knew this before publication. But I couldn’t make myself give it up.
Before you ask, I am
not the inspiration for the character Poochie 😊, though I share her fascination with horses.
I hope you enjoy Autumn Renewal a little more with the background here. I’ve
made it free on Amazon for the next few days, so grab a copy now for a quick
evening read.
THE STORY:
Devastated by her cheating fiancé, operating room nurse Poochie Thibodeaux returns to her not-so-well-loved hometown and runs headlong into her high-school flame. Guarding her soul against new wounds, she resists his seductive charm—with limited success.
Horse trainer Jack Holland, Jr. wagers all—his business and his heart—for a second chance with Poochie, the woman he never got over. Just when he hopes for their future, a friend’s treachery costs him his livelihood and, worse, makes him a prime suspect in a criminal investigation.
Only faith in each other will overcome loss and betrayal. Will it be enough?
I loved reading about your mom. What a nice tribute to her to use "Poochie."
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