Alison is a 28 year old living in Boston who is more-or-less happy in her somewhat boring life. She is challenged by the terms of her eccentric aunt’s will to fix a big mistake she made as a college senior – turning down law school for love. While having everything from her job to her apartment disrupted, she has to decide if she’s willing to re-do things the right way around this time, or if she’s courageous enough to find her own path. Having been burned by love before, she is hesitant in allowing another guy – even one as hot as Ryan – shape her future.
Targeted Age Group:: 18-50
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I think we all have made decisions that we wonder about. The road not taken can look appealing when we experience bumps in the path we’re on or when we sit back to evaluate our lives. With this in mind, I crafted a story about a young woman who has the opportunity to go back and make a different choice. I wanted to explore the idea of whether we can ever really go back and how we can be at peace with the decisions we’ve made.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
Most of my characters have similar traits to important people in my own life. The main character, while purely fictional, shares my own sense of wondering about decisions I’ve made and struggles, like I do, with finding my own voice among all those calling out. Sassy Aunt Elinor is loosely based on my Nana who always told the truth, straight-up. My best friend, like the best friend in the novel, is a strong support for me and inspires me with her faith.
Book Sample
Uncle Sam considered me, giving me a wary smile. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what came next. Aunt El was never hesitant to tell me all the ways I was messing up my life, and I knew she didn’t much care for the life I’d created for myself. Thinking back to the conversation I had last night with my parents, I wondered how much I cared about the life I’d created or rather fell into.
Uncle Sam cleared his throat. “‘Alison, you are my favorite of this whole lot. Now don’t everyone get their panties in a bunch. I love you all, but I like Alison the most. She reminds me of my own best qualities and is humble enough to admit I’m right when I am, which is most of the time. I say that, Ali, because what I’m asking of you is going to be hard but, I think, worth it. I always regretted that you gave up law school. I think you would’ve been a terrific lawyer, and as a lawyer you could’ve done far more for those abused women you work with than you do now as a secretary. I know why you didn’t go to law school and think that was the most foolish decision you’ve ever made. I hope you regret it because I certainly do. And I’ll say it: I was right. That Nick wasn’t going to tolerate you stealing his sunshine. You might think it’s too bad you ended up without him, but I say good riddance. So, sweetheart, this is your second chance to get it right. Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, which you darn well better do, is to go back to law school. I don’t care where, and I don’t care what you do with your law degree. I just want you to have the chance few of us ever do—to go back and correct a mistake. Here are the terms. Within the next year, you must apply to, be accepted into, and matriculate into an accredited law school. You must graduate. Beyond that, you can do what you like. I’m certainly not going to dictate your whole life for you. You have to make some decisions on your own, after all. Here’s my part of the deal. I will pay for your tuition, books, and a living stipend while you are in law school. On the day you graduate, you will receive a two-million-dollar inheritance. Oh, and one more thing. I know you’ll be overcome with guilt about leaving your job at the shelter. So, to sweeten the pot, in case my wise counsel hasn’t been enough, I will make a one-hundred-thousand-dollar donation to the shelter each year for the three years you are in law school. Good luck, my dear. I believe in you.’”
I thought Aunt El couldn’t surprise me anymore, yet she did. I knew she didn’t like that I didn’t attend law school, but I had no idea she felt so strongly about it. I rolled her proposition around in my mind, trying it on, seeing how it felt. Truth was I didn’t know what to think. Before I could consider it further, Uncle Sam moved on.
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