In a Book Club Far Away(97)
But today was for partying. After another round of applause, the wine flowed.
“Regina, Sophie! We need a selfie,” Adelaide said, tipsy, cheeks pink.
“Yes!” Sophie said. “I have my phone right here.”
“Soph, I’ve seen your selfies—might want Ad to do it,” Regina teased.
“Listen, don’t get all cocky just because it’s your day.”
“You don’t know how to angle!”
“Hush, y’all! Dang.” Adelaide extended her arm. On the phone screen, three women looked back, eleven years older, a little broken, a lot wiser, and inexplicably still surrounded by love.
“Say ‘book club’!” Regina shouted, a spontaneous request at realizing what they had all overcome.
Their voices rang through the crowded kitchen. “Book club!”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In a Book Club Far Away brewed inside me for so long that I wrote the first draft in about six weeks. But as with all first drafts (and even its consequent revisions), it didn’t become a final book without being read and treated with care by an entire village of fantastic book people.
First, the inspiration: the military spouses and book club ladies (sometimes the combo of both depending on duty station) I’ve met during the last two-plus decades who have given me the foundation of friendship in my adult life. My life is richer because of your insight, love, laughter, and acceptance. You taught me to make friends quickly, to speak up, to help without reservation, to start anew with each fresh chapter. From you I nurtured my love of adventure, storytelling, and a glass of wine.
Sending thanks to these special readers (milspouses and avid book people) who have given me their points of view and who were brave enough to traverse my horrible typing skills in an earlier draft: Kim Cousins, Robin O’Sullivan, and Stephanie Winkelhake.
As always, many thanks to the #girlswritenight ladies, Annie Rains, Rachel Lacey, Sidney Halston, and April Hunt; #batsignal Mia Sosa, Tracey Livesay, Priscilla Oliveras, Michele Arris, and Nina Crespo, who are truly beacons of positivity; the ever-vigilant and supportive Tall Poppy Writers, who I have the privilege of being a part of; #5amwritersclub, my everyday check-in, my early bird inspiration; and finally, innumerable and generous authors such as Julia Kelly, Amy Impellizzeri, Amy E. Reichert, and Camille Pagan.
Thank you to the team at Gallery Books! Erica Ferguson and Christine Masters for wrangling my words, Ella Laytham (once again!) for a gorgeous cover, and Jaime Putorti for the book’s interior design. Bianca Salvant, Molly Gregory, and Michelle Podberezniak—sending thankful hearts your way!
LEO PR, thank you for your incredible work, most especially Kristin Dwyer, who is a reed amid rushing water.
Kate Dresser—we did it again! How did we do this? Thank you for intuitively knowing there was a book in my ramblings. You have a magical touch, but most of all, you are so patient with my process. Your belief in each book, in me, keeps me going when it gets tough.
Agent Rachel Brooks, the buffer of all of my thoughts, author whisperer. You are hereby dubbed Best Listener of All of Booklandia. You are incredible.
My loving parents, brothers, and sisters who cheer me on from states away—I miss you all the time.
My children Greggy, Cooper, Ella, and Anna, resilient and loving Army brats—you all have experienced so much and you inspire every single one of my books.
To Greg, my husband and partner of over twenty years, all thus far entrenched in Army life, we’ve come so far from the lieutenants we once were, from the marriage we once had, from the tiny apartment we burned our first meals in. I love you.
Finally, to readers, bloggers, reviewers, booksellers, and librarians: thank you for taking In a Book Club Far Away into your hearts! I hope you saw the love I have for military spouses and dependents, the joy of the Army life despite its challenges, my belief in friendship, and the wonder and magic a book club can bring to a community. I’m grateful for your support.