I’m the youngest of four children and the only girl. I grew up in a
rowdy house filled with teasing, roughhousing (wrestling in any room on any
surface at any time) and a lot of laughter (usually potty humor). My sense of
humor took a while to hone – I wasn’t aware that teasing me to the point of
tears was, in fact, fun for my brothers.
I have quite the list of stories about the pranks that my brothers
played on me – my daughters love to hear the stories. However, when you are
five and your brother puts your favorite stuffed animal- a rabbit – into the
oven, turns on the oven so you can see the red light and then chants: “We’re
having Rabbie for dinner.” Well, it is hard to laugh through your fear.
On the flip side, when I was also five, my middle brother let me
crawl into bed with him on the nights that I was convinced the wicked witch was
clawing her way into my bedroom. He never told me to go away, just lifted the
covers and let me sleep there until it was safe to go back to my room. (We did
discover the wicked witch was actually a large tree branch that scraped across
the metal siding on the house during windy nights. So, I wasn’t completely
wrong about something coming to get me 😊) My other
brother let me stuff my vinyl red purse with his Match Box cars for church. I’d
drive the cars all over the pew during mass. And I know, even now, that if I
ever needed any of my brothers, they’d be by my side.
But I have to admit that I did ask my mom on more than one
occasion if I had a sister somewhere. Anywhere.
I had friends with sisters-they’d braid hair, paint nails and do each other’s
make-up. My brothers pulled on my pony tail and reminded me often not to be one
of those drama girls. (I have two teenage daughters in my house right now and
I’m well-versed in drama. I appreciate my brothers and their lack of drama
now.)
While I never did find that sister growing up, I have found sisters
in Amy Vastine, Anna J. Stewart, Carol Ross and Melinda Curtis. They’re my
writing tribe and dear friends. (Anna even helps me do my hair at conference.) There’s
been laughter, whining, encouragement and tears with these women – sometimes in
the very same conversation. Even better, there’s no judgment. They accept me for
who I am (craziness and all) and I love each of them just as they are. They are
family to me and I’m so blessed to be on this writing-and life-journey with
them beside me.
When the idea for the continuity series, Return of the Blackwell Brothers came about, I was more than
excited. Here was a chance to write a series with my writing sisters about
brothers-something I know a little bit about. Family is so important to me and
watching the Blackwell brothers rediscover the strength of family and find love
was a heartwarming adventure.
So, who is in your tribe – who helps you get through the good days
and the bad ones?
Here’s the cover and blurb for The Rancher’s Rescue – Book 2 in
the Return of The Blackwell Brothers Series – coming September 1, 2018.
He isn’t home to stay.
Until a mother-to-be changes his
mind.
Ethan Blackwell is back in Falcon
Creek to save his family ranch after his grandfather disappears. When Grace
Gardner reveals she’s pregnant with his child, she becomes Ethan’s top
priority. But can he be the man he wants to be—preserving the Blackwell legacy
and making a life with Grace—in a place he never planned to settle down?
Don’t forget to check out The Rancher’s Twins - Book 1 (Return of
The Blackwell Brothers) by Carol Ross. Order here: http://a.co/d/27hMohy
The Rancher’s Redemption – Book 3 (Return of The Blackwell
Brothers) by Melinda Curtis can be pre-ordered here: http://a.co/d/auciTvv
The Rancher’s Fake Fiancée – Book 4 (Return of The Blackwell
Brothers) by Amy Vastine can be pre-ordered here: http://a.co/d/aiRQwuw
The Rancher’s Homecoming – Book 5 (Return of The Blackwell
Brothers) by Anna J. Stewart can be pre-ordered here: http://a.co/d/5YrPDJY
Happy Reading!
Cari Lynn Webb
THE RANCHER’S RESCUE ~ Out September 2018 http://a.co/d/dG9eKzh
AVA’S PRIZE (City by the Bay Stories) ~ Out November 2018 http://a.co/d/99SnpCB
THE DOCTOR’S RECOVERY (City by the Bay Stories) ~ Available Now! http://a.co/2fF22k0
THE CHARM OFFENSIVE (City by the Bay Stories)
You can find Cari on Facebook and Twitter.
Well, nothing like getting choked up over your morning coffee. Love this post. Love you. Love my tribe. And I love that you're the youngest of four because I'm the youngest of five and I feel your "baby" of the family pain. With all the teasing we endure, I think youngest children should be called the "toughies" of the family.
ReplyDeleteWe are the toughies for sure :) I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
DeleteI'm the youngest of four, too! I could sooo relate to teasing brothers. As an adult, I absolutely refuse to have the game of 'Sorry' in the house. Let's just say that I learned from an early age about insincere apologies. You're right, Carol. Youngies are the new toughies.
ReplyDeleteM.K. - that is so funny about Sorry. We play in our house and it is always insincere :)
DeleteWow. I loved your stories about your brothers. I have an older half brother and a younger brother. My older brother moved in with his dad when my parents got divorced, so we didn't really grow up together past the age of 6, but I remember missing him desperately as a child. He was the one who got me up and got me ready for school. I never had a sister either, which is why I treasure the friendships I've made in the writing community. I can't wait to read all about the Blackwell brothers! The series sounds fantastic!!!
ReplyDeleteLeAnne - it is nice to find sisters in the writing community :)
DeleteTurns out, like that tree on your siding, there are really are things that can turn into wicked witches. Love your writing tribe. I don't know where I'd be without mine!
ReplyDeleteVirginia - I think every writer needs a writing tribe.
DeleteYoungest of five with the three ahead of me being brothers. I'm so happy for all of your tribe and excited about the Blackwells, too.
ReplyDeleteNo brothers and the older of two. :-) Sounds like you have a great family!
ReplyDeletePatricia - I do love my family. Even now, when we are all together we have to stay in the same house just to be together. No one wants to miss anything.
DeleteAw, your brother stories are so sweet! And you have such an awesome sister tribe. You're an amazing group of ladies (and writers) and, you know, you got to choose your sisters which makes for an extra special relationship ;). Congrats to all of you on what sounds like an amazing series!! Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rula! Sending love right back to you :)
DeleteI have two older brothers, so I can relate. I remember one of them tickling me until I almost fell out of a tree, but fortunately the older one stopped him. Can't wait for the next installment of the Blackwell brothers!
ReplyDeleteBeth - brothers are an interesting and fun bunch :)
DeleteI have an older sister and no brothers. But my sister was 7 years older so we didn't become friends until we were both much older and out of the family house. I used to envy my friends who had brothers---maybe I shouldn't have envied them so much. Glad you found your sister tribe.
ReplyDeleteLots of brothers, but too spread out to be close as kids. Better now, except now we're spread out in geography.
ReplyDelete