Graduation season is keeping me busy, so forgive my lack of blog attentiveness. 

Tonight I was on Facebook and couldn't even think of clever comments, much less whole coherent posts. Fortunately for everyone, the fabulous Melissa Maygrove is here! 

Melissa has a new book, Come Back, that is making Melissa one happy gal with its awesome sales and its hitting the #1 Western Historical Romance spot on Amazon!

Awesome, right? Now let's let Melissa tell us one of the magical ingredients in this awesome story....

Come Back: Themes & Symbolism

Several themes emerged in Come Back as the story developed.

One thing the story highlights is: sometimes things are not as they seem. Another closely related theme is: we should be careful not to make life-changing decisions based on wrong information.

We see evidence of this with many characters, but especially with Rebecca and Seth. Becca assumes things about her abandonment, based on the evidence she has; but, as she discovers later, her perception’s not accurate.

Same with Seth. He assumes things without proof, and it affects his feelings about himself as well as his choices.

A third truth that comes through is: it's the person you spend time with whom you tend to fall in love with.

A myriad of things play a role in the complicated process of human sexual attraction, and many of those things rely on physical proximity—things such as neurotransmitters, hormones and pheromones, and just plain ol’ senses (e.g. tactile, olfactory and visual stimuli). You can’t get the full effect of that by mail or over the phone. It’s why so many long-distance relationships fail.

In the past, betrothal (similar to our modern-day engagement) was a serious and binding thing. Even so, Becca fell deeply in love with the man who rescued her, not the one she’d promised herself to. Much of that had to do with proximity and shared experiences.

On symbolism...

Like many writers, I often use weather and other setting components to foreshadow events and set the mood for scenes.

One symbol I used was Becca's hair. Wearing a braid at such an advanced age showed her to be a late bloomer. The change of the style into a bun symbolized her transition to marriage and adulthood. With that, she also lost her comfort object—the tail of her braid she often worried with her fingers when she was anxious.

Another was the weather combined with a wood-burning stove... and a few little prairie creatures (spoiler :P).

Becca and Seth find a brand new cookstove sitting by the side of the trail. They enjoy the modern convenience while they camp, but the next morning, a winter storm moves in as they leave. I purposely show Becca looking back, longingly, at the stove and then turning and facing ‘what was ahead.’ That moment marks a turning point in the plot—the shift from her false sense of security to harsher travel conditions and the heartbreak she’ll deal with when she finds her parents and her betrothed.

Book & author information

Buy it Here!

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But she's 77 and he's 82...well past the age of consent, so I wish them well. 

And you have to admit, no matter what way it goes...there is a story in this. 

A friend of mine told me a story about an elderly fellow who ran away from the nursing home with his girlfriend. Staff called the family to report the gentleman missing, though they were pretty sure he'd be back. He'd left in such a hurry, he'd forgotten his teeth.

On the bright side- no matter how old you get, as long as you're alive, the heart still works and wants to be loved.

I'm also getting my second son (Cole) ready for graduation. It's so wrong that he's so excited and the whole thing just bums me out. Let's all say it together...where DOES the time go? I swear, he was in a car seat forever, then I let him out, and I turn around and he's shaving. 

Sigh.

I'll quit whining now and move onto to my Write Path post.

Carrie Butler and Pk Hrezo are allowing me to add my two cents on how I stumbled onto my Write Path and share it in a letter to newbie writer me.


Dear Younger Me,

Put this on a post it note and pin it to your forehead, or your desk...you pick. But write this down word for word and duct tape that puppy where you can see it every day.

"Cry me a freakin' river."

Here's the deal....

You get to publish a book. Then another and another and another, which totally means you're on the Write Path.

But it's a tricky path, with plot holes, twists, turns, and the whole hike is up hill...both ways. I suggest you put your hiking boots on. Don't want to get blisters and quit. Pack your compass, so you know what guides you...love of writing goof...not cash. Geesh. Quit obsessing over money. Just keep going. I know, I know...you feel lost at times and think you should turn back, fortunately you have great friends who won't let you.

Friends? You ask...yes, you have friends! You know that blog you didn't want to start? Turns out it was your life line. Maybe you should ask them to remind you to Cry me a freakin' river.

What's the river of tears all about? Golly, you're so impatient! Don't you remember? You think it every day right now...every time you read a blog post whining about sales, marketing, and contracts...you think to yourself, Cry me a freakin'  river. My day started with rejections, want to trade me places, ya freakin' whiner?

Remember these days...there are writers who would love to have your problems.

Oh, and seriously, can you just pause every now and then and appreciate the scenery while you go? The trip is half the fun. I swear.

Love,

Future You

P.S. Swap the chocolate with carrot sticks as writing snacks right now! And buy better sunblock. You get pastier every year from the lack of sun exposure, so when you go out, wear a brand with an armor factor.

They can be hot-headed, dominant, reckless, or damaged—oh, and let’s not forget SEXY. They know all your deepest desires and fantasies. Vampires, shifters, rock stars, ultimate fighters, young billionaires, military men, or business tycoons—they even have the best occupations! You never have to worry about them leaving dirty clothes on the floor or skipping out on date-night to hang out with the guys. A perfect match!

Now if only they were real...

Was there ever a better man created?

Frankly my dear, I give a damn. 

Rhett Butler...he is so freaking hot.

Okay, so I'll quit drooling...

and get to my hop give away! 

I have swag left from Atlanta...cups and pens up for grabs.

Leave your email in the comments and a random winner will be chosen. 

Also!
Melissa Maygrove is sharing her give away for her "Come Back" release also!

I'm sure Seth would make a great book boyfriend too!

Melissa is offering a sweet give away...a must check out!

Enter HERE!!

Check out other giveaways from hoppers HERE!!