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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Life's a Beach

I’m sort of known for writing comedy. With titles like I Waxed My Legs for This? and Not Precisely Pregnant...well, it’s sort of obvious where I’ve done most of my writing. But last year, I moved to a more serious sort of book with The House on Briar Hill Road, a book that dealt with breast cancer, loss and a failing marriage. It was a real departure for me. I had to switch my website’s tagline from, HollyJacobs.com...where love is a laughing matter, to HollyJacobs.com...where love is a laughing matter...except when it’s not. So, in the interest of fairness, I should let it be known that my first SuperRomance this month, SAME TIME NEXT SUMMER is not a laughing matter. Oh, there are moments of humor, moments when I hope you’ll smile, or even chuckle, but there are other moments when I made myself cry as I wrote.

I could feel for the heroine, Carolyn, as she sat at her daughter’s hospital bedside, listening to the heart machine, and praying that her daughter would wake up. As a mother, I could imagine her terror, and admire her tenacity as she held onto the belief her daughter was going to find her way back to her. When Carolyn’s family sends an old friend–someone she shared her childhood summers on the lake with–to her hospital to try to talk her into leaving, I felt her pain as she told him she couldn’t leave her child. That while Emma’s heart was beating, Carolyn knew there was a chance her daughter would come back, and that she’d need her mother close to find her way out of her coma. When Stephan pulled his chair next to Carolyn’s and simply said he’d wait with her, I fell in love with him and this story.

This book is special because it’s my second drama. And though I didn’t set it in Erie (where most of my books are set) I did set it on Lake Erie in Ohio. If you visit my website, not only will you find my new improved tagline, you’ll also see a beautiful lake shot. When I had to come up with a theme for the site, my first thought was families...most of my books are all about family. But I wanted something visual. Beaches. Most of my books are set here in Erie and my characters visit the lake, or mention the lake. Uh, I’m a fan of the lake. There’s nothing more beautiful then heading out in the evening, sitting on the beach and watching the sunset. And of course, the idea that life’s a beach (full of fun and family) and sometimes it’s a beach (a nicer word for b#$%^) well, that seems appropriate for my new comedy-drama writings.

So sunsets on the beach...one of my favorite summer activities. What’s your favorite summertime activity?
Holly


Same Time Next Summer's on the shelves now, and in Australia too, this month!!

13 comments:

HollyJacobs said...

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Donna Alward said...

Holly - it sounds WONDERFUL! And very dramatic. Very bleeding on the page sort of writing.

I notice the Aussie version has you paired up with CJ...yay! I haven't read Matthew's Children yet but I read the first in her Three Good Men series.

D

HollyJacobs said...

Donna,

Yes, I was thrilled that I was paired up with CJ! I'm looking forward to reading her book!!

Holly

Pat Cochran said...

I'm now looking forward to reading
your current release. The description
has definitely caught my attention.

Pat Cochran

HollyJacobs said...

Pat,

I'm so glad you like the description! I hope you like the book as much! LOL

Holly

Anonymous said...

Same TIme Next Summer will definitely be added to my TBR pile. It sounds great.

HollyJacobs said...

Lisa,

Thank you so much! I'm so excited to be writing for SuperRomance, I appreciate the support!

Holly

Estella said...

Same Time Next Summer has been added to my ToBuy list.

HollyJacobs said...

Estella,

Thank you so much! I hope you like it!!

Just found out my son's going to college a week earlier than we thought, so zooming around today, trying to get stuff done.

Holly

Michele L. said...

Oooo... Holly, what an interesting, fun description of your book! A great teaser if you ask me! I am a big fan of yours so naturally I will be buying this book! Can't wait!

Have an absolutely, fun weekend!
Hugs,
Michele

HollyJacobs said...

Michele,

Thanks so much for watching for it. I was in Target today (buying kitchen stuff for my son's new apartment) and found Same Time Next Summer on the Shelf. I'll confess, I still get goosebumps when I see a book I wrote sitting on a bookshelf in a store! It was in Wegman's last weekend. I feel like such a geek as I stand there grinning. I just want to grab the nearest passerby and point..."I wrote that." Although, I try to resist the temptation. People give you "looks" when you do! LOL

Anyway, thanks so very much!!

Holly

Michele L. said...

You are so precious Holly! Gosh, if you grabbed my arm and said that, I would jump up and down with you for joy at having your own very book out on the shelves for sale. That is just totally exciting! WOOT! WOOT! WOOHOO!

Funny you say at the top of your blog,"Life's a beach". I went to a flea market last Wednesday. I picked up a sign that said, "Life's a Beach" with a red crab on it. Then at the bottom it says, "Watch out for the crab's!" It is so cute!

You are such an awesome and classy writer Holly! I am so proud of you and all of your accomplishments!

Michele L.

HollyJacobs said...

Michele,

LOL Good to know! Sometime, if we're both in the same city when a book comes out, I'll certainly bubble my excitement all over you!

I have a friend who was buying multiple copies of my book once so she could give some to friends. When the cashier gave her one of those "looks" she just smiled and said she'd heard it was good and figured she might want to read it more than once! LOL

I find if you get a "look" it probably means you're doing something right!

And your new sign sounds perfect!! Where are you going to hang it??

Again, thanks so much!

Holly