Girl Power by Cheryl Harper

Sunday night. 5:30. And I realize I need a blog post. Think, think, think. What to write about?
Well, I've got this book out. A Home Come True. It's the last in the series. What will I miss most about that series?

And the answer is so easy: I'm going to miss this group of friends I've built through four books.

When I begin any book, I start with a single scene, an image that I build on. For the Lucky Numbers series, it was a group of three women, friends since acne was the biggest threat one could defeat, who have won the lottery. Only with the badgering and love of her two best friends will that first heroine take a step of faith that leads her to the life she's dreaming of. In the last book, they end up taking some pretty big leaps, but it's not so scary when they do it together.

Badgering and love. That's like the summary of my most important female friendships from my first best friend, a girl a few years older and much wiser who taught me the value of playing kiss chase with the neighborhood boys, to the friends I have now who will still be my besties when I surrender to the growing onslaught of gray hair decades from now. L'Oréal and I have got this for a while, you ruthless jerks.

Even better, I love seeing bits of my friends on the page. One of them is so good and encouraging that she continues to go out to public restaurants with me even though I'm nearly guaranteed to end up crying into my nachos. Another always has the "get it together" practicality that annoys me so much that I have to get back up on my feet. One has the crazy plans that call to my real me, the brave, crazy one I try to keep a tight handle on. And I need them all. I'm thankful for them all. And you can meet parts of them in Winner Takes All, Heart's Refuge, Keeping Cole's Promise, and A Home Come True.

I hope you have friends like the heroines of these books. They are defenders and cheerleaders and teachers and so many things. I loved writing this friendship.

That leads me to...today. It's February 13. Galentine's Day. Never heard of it? I'm about to give you two gifts, you beautiful land mermaids. First, go and watch Parks and Recreation. Leslie Knope is totally fictional but that's okay. Her policy of pulling together her best friends, no boys allowed, for a breakfast celebration of what makes them awesome is definitely something we need. The reminder that you can take some time out to tell your friends how much they mean is the second gift of Galentine's Day. Send a text, make a call, or put up a blog post where you know some truly awesome writer friends and readers who make the hard work of writing matter will read it, but definitely send out your galentines.

And just because I can't stand it...how awesome is this cover? I mean really.



Comments

  1. I love Galentine's Day, and you're right about that cover--it's gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations and best wishes with your new release, Cheryl, and happy Galentine's Day. I trust that the little pup on your cover has his own HEA in your book! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. All the best for your new book, and congratulations on finishing the series. Happy Galentine's Day! Your cover makes me want to curl up on that swing to read!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your description of your lottery winning heroines has really piqued my interest! No wonder you feel some angst at saying goodbye to them - though I sense they'll always be with you. Also love the Galentines Day! Shall pass the idea onto my daughters. All the best on the new book and yes, would love to house-sit that home on the cover.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cheryl, looking forward to reading the last of your lottery winners.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, ending a series can be so sad!! While I'm sorry this one is coming to an end, I can't wait to see what you have planned next. :) And I agree--that cover is gorgeous! <3

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cheryl, I love Parks & Rec. My nephews often call me "Leslie." (I have no idea why...Lol.) Thank you for the Galentine's Day reminder. Congratulations on closing out your series. I've always thought this lottery-winning premise was so cute. I know this one will be just as awesome as the others.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I just started reading last night and managed to sneak in in a few pages this morning. Love Luke and his family, especially Mari. The designer couch is so funny. Love the cover. No wonder you'll miss this group.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love your cover! And the book sounds so good!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy Galentine's and Valentine's Day! Congratulations on closing out your series - it's bittersweet, I'm sure. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  11. LOL, love the visual with work is third.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment