This weekend on Weekend Writing Warriors (WeWriWa), I shared
the beginning of my work-in-progress, a romantic suspense. Tentatively titled Unpredictable Nature (previous tentative titles: Maggie's Story and The Camping Trip), I wrote this story
several years ago. Then, “life” intruded, and I set it aside. Until now. Being
written so long ago, the story needs updating. Technology has changed so much.
No more Palm Pilots or flip phones, for example. Still, I’m having fun
revisiting an old manuscript. If all goes well, this story should be released
in the spring. After this weekend's snowfall, spring can't come soon enough.
Along with sharing snippets each weekend, I thought I’d
share the main characters here on Mondays.
First up is Maggie May Sinclair. Named after the Rod Stewart song, she’s in her mid-thirties and divorced. She
teaches high school English and coaches the girls’ baseball team. She also volunteers
as a Little League coach and PeeWee hockey referee. To say she’s athletic is an
understatement. With all those activities, she doesn’t have time to date. Not
that she’s interested. As she says, been there, done that, got the scars to
prove it.
After their parents’ died, she and her brother inherited the
family home. Since Jack had a condo and didn’t want the trouble of home ownership,
Maggie lives in the home where she grew up in a Grand Rapids (Michigan) suburb.
An activity Maggie didn’t volunteer for but was dragged into
by her best friend is co-leading a camping group of girls, now in their early teens. After four years
together, their goal has been a week-long trip to Isle Royale, an island and National Park in Lake
Superior. But when her friend’s family is transferred to Colorado, the group’s
enthusiasm wanes. They still meet at Maggie’s to talk. Lately, “talk” has been
about resuming the trip. They figured if they prepare enough, their former
leader will return to make the trip with them.
Maggie and Jack grew up camping with their parents and then
with Scouts. Jack earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and Maggie earned Girl Scouts’
highest honor, the Gold Award. While camping is in her blood, taking eight
girls on an overnight camping trip is a big responsibility. One she won’t take
alone. The only parent who volunteered was Drew Campbell, Jack’s best friend.
The guy who, according to Jack, wimped out of Cub Scouts. The same guy who told
fifteen-year-old Maggie she kissed like a goldfish.
Next Monday, I’ll share a little about Drew.
Have a great week.
Today, I’m over at Diana
Rubino’s blog, sharing a little something about Mothers. Stop by if you get
a chance.
