The Long Road Home: A Novel

 

A first-day letdown

I came home from my very first day of school disappointed because I could not read. I spent the whole day there and came home and couldn't read. That felt like a complete waste of time to my six-year-old mind. (This was before kindergarten was a big deal. We jumped right into first grade.)

Falling in love with books

I have always loved books. Spoiler: I was reading before the end of the year. In fact, I am pretty sure that before Christmas break I was deep in the adventures of Sally, Dick, and Jane. My two sisters and I were living with my grandparents, and we were gifted the Dr. Seuss books at Christmas. I believe I wore my poor grandmother out with Green Eggs and Ham.

The library and mysteries

From then on I read constantly. By third grade I was reading so much that I sped through the reading groups, and my teacher gave me a pass to the library during reading. What a glorious place that turned out to be. The librarian showed me around, and I discovered the world of mysteries. I started with Nancy Drew, then graduated to Hercule Poirot, and eventually to Sherlock Holmes. Odd little nine-year-old girl.

Finding my voice in school

By junior high, I began to write. High school opened up new worlds as elective classes gave me classical literature and creative writing to stretch my wings. Two years of journalism presented me with an outlet that lit a passion within me.

Work and responsibility

Sadly, the last year of high school brought about changes in my family's situation that caused me to refocus and set aside any silly little dreams. After graduation I went to work full-time as a receptionist/bookkeeper in a law firm. Great job and wonderful experience.

Marriage, motherhood, and ministry

Fast forward a couple of years to when I married, started having babies, and became a stay-at-home mom. Another decision I have never once regretted. Homeschooling and working with my husband in lay youth ministry were the highlight of the next twenty-four years of my life. I wouldn't change a thing. Well, that's a lie. Of course I would change a thing or two, but nothing of consequence. Just things that would affect my current jean size and possibly save a few things I recklessly threw away.

Where did the writing go?

Where did the writing go? (Scroll back to one of my first posts on 2/5/24 called Why She Writes for more in-depth on that.) Life. And years of it.

Looking toward October 2025

But here I am. Looking at October 2025 and the release of my very first full-length novel. That thing that I thought might never happen has come to be. I am giving birth, if you will, to my first book. And I feel like an elephant, which has the longest gestation of any mammal, an average of twenty-two months. That is about how long it has taken me to do this.

Two years of learning

There are stories of others who took much longer, I know. And in some sense, this has taken me even longer. But from the time I sat and began to pour the story out until now has been just a little over two years. I have learned so very much in that time. About writing, about publishing, about the industry, and about myself.

Ready to share

But it is done. Finished. Ready to present to the world. Well, okay, not the world, but to the reading world. And even then, just a select few. But you get my point. It will be available on October 22, on Amazon.

Be kind to my book

And I want you to know you have my baby. So be kind. I am reminded of the day I put my firstborn on the bus to kindergarten, for that is what we did in the 80s, and sent him off into the cold world. Of course I followed the bus and waited for him to walk into the building. I'm not an idiot. I cried a little and prayed for the world, other kindergartners, to be gentle with him.

I feel the same now as I release this lifelong dream into the public, hoping she is received with the eyes and heart that I wrote her with. Will people understand? Will they stay to the end? Will they get it? Will they love her like I do?

Trusting God

Then I remember, just as I did with my son, it's not mine to decide. God called me to do this. God gave me the desire, the passion, and whatever level of gifts and talents I have. He asked me to write, so I did. I release it to Him to do as He sees fit. And He will.

It was the same with our children. We did the best we could with what we had, then released them for God to do the rest. And He did. They are doing great. He is trustworthy. I will trust Him on this little thing called a book as well.

Hope you all like it, available October 22, 2025. E-book preorders available now,

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQWBKJF5