I’ve made the choice to write a book and I want to share the process with you.
Chapter 1: A Change Comes
Change happens slowly in the mountains, and sometimes it can go unnoticed unless the story is told. The old Adams’ Place had covered the mountain for as long as anyone could remember. It had been a land grant bestowed to great-great grandfather Edward in 1863 by a government torn apart by a war many in […]
Chapter 2: Lives Take Shape
Jane and Martin stoped by often for a visit. They liked seeing the young couple and keeping up with the changes. They approved of everything, except, maybe, the large jacuzzi Peter put in the main bath. Brooke wanted to explain, but decided it could wait. On nice days, Brooke took Peter’s car to town so there would be room to carry Jane, with a few of her friends, to the market; especially when the heirloom tomatoes …
Chapter 3: A Time for Colors and Stories
When the Adams’ children cleaned out the place, they didn’t leave much behind, just the long-forgotten shotgun Jane had hidden in the attic and four broken Adirondack chairs which were stacked in the corner of the barn.
Chapter 4: The Best Stories Live in the Best Neighborhoods
Brooke knew this day would come. She graduated in May and now needed to start making her own way. Brooke’s parents made it clear. School would be on them. After grad, it was her turn.
Chapter 5: Everyone Has A Story In Them
The Clover Café (or simply, “The Clover” as people who knew it called it) was inside a courtyard formed by some old buildings in a neighborhood near uptown. “If you don’t know, you don’t go,” could have been its tagline, if it had one – but it didn’t.
Chapter 6: Xennials are People Too
Brooke started showing up more at The Clover. Blair poured her coffee, making sure to push the ground ginger she always sprinkled on top within reach and said, “I’m glad you keep stopping in Brooke.” “Thanks,” said Brooke. “You guys make me feel like I fit in, as if I belong here somehow. I like that.”
Chapter 7: Tales of the Pacific Northwest – and Big Dogs
The Clover Café opened at six, or thereabouts. The faded red sign, where a black felt-tip wrote in the hours, had fallen behind a case near the door years ago. These days the hours seemed to be, “We’re open when we’re open – not when we’re not.”
Chapter 8: A Right-Brained Girl in a Left-Brained World
The Clover was usually empty in the very early morning. Business regulars would start coming in around eight (they didn’t need to be uptown until nine). Artists never arrived until at least ten, unless they were like Dorothy and there weren’t many of them. So it was a surprise on the morning Brooke arrived to […]
Chapter 9: And on the Seventh Day, They Nagged
“Prepare your hearts for worship,” came the call from the new minister. Brooke was seated in the family pew, near the front, across the aisle from the one she had crawled under during her great-grandmother’s funeral. Her mother let her stay under the pew that day. At least curled up in a ball their little […]
Chapter 10: The Man Behind the Computer Screen
Brooke wasn’t showing up at The Clover until after eight these days. None of her real estate clients wanted to see homes until at least ten, and the owners needed time to get ready. So if she got to the office around nine, she was still the first one in. Blair had suggested how eight […]
Chapter 11: Life on the Run
When the day came for her three-month review, Marion invited Brooke to lunch. The owner tried to be nice, because of Brooke’s mom and her nine-holers, but the review wasn’t good. For one thing, Brooke had often broken Marion’s rule of never driving on a street with a “For Sale By Owner” sign in a […]
Chapter 12: Salvation via Fried Chicken
Brooke slowed her pace to a walk for the last block, needing to cool off. The rain had picked up toward the end of her run, and even though the miles counted double, she was happy to turn left into the courtyard, a warm shower would feel good. As she started to climb the fire […]
Chapter 13: The Rise and Fall of the Dog Walker Lady
Everything changes. The tall, athletic young woman with long strides and a patch of silver hair used the early morning for her run (like a cheetah!). Then it was a quick stop at The Clover for breakfast and on to the new job. At nine, Brooke shouldered her red backpack, gathered her dogs, and headed […]
Chapter 14: Out of Depression Comes Inspiration
Dorothy was having coffee while Brunswick stretched out under the table when Brooke walked in. The painter pushed out a chair, “I’m sorry, Brooke,” said Dorothy as she reached for Brooke’s hand. “Maggie’s just has so much to offer my Brunswick, you know how it is. I’m sure there will be days the two of […]
Chapter 15: Brooke Gets a Head’s Up
There was Peter, in his usual spot. Brooke walked over before even getting coffee, pulled up a chair and sat down, one foot on the floor while the other, attached to its long leg, made a wide arc before coming to rest close to its mate. Now her legs were crossed as she tilted her […]
Chapter 16: And Justice Shall Triumph
Brooke and Peter still didn’t have a name for their new business. Mel’s idea of “Barking Out Loud” was good, but Brooke wanted to use only the initials. After all, BOL was in every story Peter wrote. Peter’s sense of humor was off a few degrees, so the things he wrote were funny, in the […]
Chapter 17: Word Begins to Spread
Brooke typed his name and number into her phone, being sure to spell out JUSTICE in all caps so she’d remember it wasn’t Justin. That was embarrassing. The two set a price for his help, and now Justice was on most of the shoots. Brooke wasn’t sure why it took her so long to realize […]
Chapter 18: A Plan Comes Into Focus
Brooke and Soña finally had coffee at The Clover. Geoff should have done what his wife asked, but instead, he had waited to tell Blair, who told Brooke, who then called Geoff, who told Soña how Brooke was interested and wanted to talk. Soña could have gone back through the process but instead merely called […]
Chapter 19: A Day of Rest, Reflection, and Relatives
It’s now official. Soña is part of the team. But anything she does for Barking Out Loud is temporary, only until she goes back to the ballet company. Each day, Soña joined Justice to meet the next Customer and their not always eager dog. Soña limping along. Justice helping with the equipment. They never talked […]
Chapter 20: BOL Hits the Road
One by one, Brooke added more people, every single one of them full time. Yes, there were a few bad hires, “near misses,” Peter called them. Whatever the reason, they didn’t last. Brooke vowed to never be like Marion, the real estate lady who, on the day of Brooke’s three-month review, said, “Your fired.” Brooke […]