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!!