Strong Single Mothers

I’ve heard men say over the last few years how difficult it is to be a single mother.

A strong single mother’s reply, “well actually it’s easier.”

But remember everyone’s background and situation’s different. Women are a strong lot and the majority of women who are single mothers do more than most husband and wives put together. And they do it without complaining.

Single mothers are judged harshly by society. In fact many labels spoken by people in positions of power about single mothers have left me speechless. From they’re incapable of doing anything meaningful, they’re all welfare recipients, can’t hold a respectable job, lazy, their children are out of control or every time you turn around they’re shacked up with some guy. Personally, I don’t know of a single mom who’s falls into one of these categories. So where does this come from?

Society has way of classifying genders, groups, races and class of people. And some will judge still. Communities feed off gossip and create sensationalism especially where there’s no truth. The Truth is hardworking, dedicated honest single mothers, keep their heads down and many go unnoticed. A high number of single mothers are the sole support for their children--the hardest working in society. Their primary focus is the welfare of their children, looking after house and home and helping out in the community—all in the best interest of their children.

Single mothers work all day. Hurry home to care for their children, feed them, clothe them, shelter them, and protect them. Are always there to listen, or read to them even though she’s so tired she’d rather soak in a hot bath or curl up in bed. She loves her children. Teach them to be honest--to make the right choices. She’ll stay up late helping with a class project that’s suddenly due the next day. Juggles after school activities, monitor’s friends her children play (which includes their parents), helps out those less fortunate because she recognizes a need--maybe at one time she had been there.

Single mothers are strong women, and they’ll not seek out a man to help them. Because they know they can do it themselves. They’re the ones up on the twelve foot ladder cleaning out the gutters, chopping wood, fixing what needs fixing. And not once will she complain. But she’ll also learn to stand up to authority and to those predators who try to take advantage of her and her children. Predators can be a boss, a co-worker, a landlord, a neighbor; even someone of authority in schools—and unfortunately, some are other women. Being a strong independent single mother comes with a price and sometimes a label, at times not a very pretty one.

I’m sure everyone knows one of these hard working caring single moms who are trying to make a difference. These women are not out dating every guy and looking for a meal ticket—the stereotype society likes to portray. Those who believe that way of thinking need a reality check. These women are too busy to play games. Many have learned the hard way predators who fill society seek them out looking for a way to break them. And it’s because they’re so strong. And these predators can stalk them, will attempt to manipulate them, steal from them and they’re masters at what they do. Knowing they can get away with it because very few resources of support are available to single mothers—and surprisingly in some areas that includes local law enforcement. There have been a few stories in smaller communities, male dominated communities—rural communities of these travesties. Which is maybe why some women refuse to report a crime against them--or stand up to a predator in their area, as support may not be on their side.

The power of knowledge is something I believe in and teach my children. Sometimes having insight into what some single mothers face helps us not only to be empathetic. But be better people.

A strong single mother does not need a man to step in and rescue them. Most have been there done that and it wasn’t a fairy tale. And he wasn’t the prince he claimed to be, which may be why they’re so strong and confident today. How many of you can pick out one of these strong confident single mothers?

Three Ingredients for Writing a Successful Sequel

Guy Harrison is a Phoenix area-based author raised in Philadelphia. Once an aspiring sportscaster, Harrison has worked in public relations in higher education for the past six years. Agents of Change is his debut novel. He currently lives in Chandler, Arizona with his wife Lindsay and their two cats.

Thanks again to Lorhainne for having me.

As I embark down the road of plotting a sequel to Agents of Change, I must say that I am officially stumped. There are so many directions in which I could take the story; how do I plot and, therefore, write a sequel as good as the first installment?

In doing research, and in thinking of what my sequel must have, I have compiled a brief listing of three main ingredients I think all sequels should possess if they are to be just as good, if not better, than their predecessors.

#1. Up the Ante - In a sequel, the conflict that arises in the first installment needs to escalate. Simply put, there needs to be more at stake in the sequel than there was in the original, especially if your plot is a continuation of the first book.

Some sequels can get away with not doing this because they’re simply a standalone story involving characters brought over from the first book. Most of us, though, like ongoing sagas or trilogies (think Twilight, Harry Potter, and Star Wars).

In the original Star Wars trilogy, for example, the conflict escalated in The Empire Strikes Back from a band of rebels battling an evil empire to a son trying to reconcile his own fate with that of his father’s. The central conflict goes from your basic good against evil to a conflict with many more layers.

You have to raise the stakes in a sequel. Otherwise, the story feels stale as a rehash of the first book. I would venture to say that this is perhaps the most challenging element of writing a sequel.

#2. The Sequel Should End on a Sour Note - This one is especially true for those of you writing trilogies. Obviously, if you’re just writing a sequel with no plans to write more than two books, you can kindly disregard this element if you so choose.

If you think back to some of our favorite trilogies, both in film and print, usually the second installments are the darkest of the three, ending in a more dour tone that carries the story into the third book.

At the end of The Empire Strikes Back, Luke loses a hand and finds out the bad guy is his father. Also, Han Solo is captured and taken back to Jabba the Hutt. The simplest way to put it is that the bad guys won in Empire. In Back to the Future II, Marty McFly and Doc Brown succeed in their mission to retrieve the sports almanac from Biff in 1955. Unfortunately, before they can celebrate, the time machine (with Doc inside) is struck by lightning sending Doc back to the Old West. Although Doc isn’t dead, it feels as though he is. Both of those saddening turn of events carry these sagas into their respective third installments.

If you’re not at least strongly considering killing off one of your characters in the sequel, then you’re not doing your job as a writer.

#3. Don’t Be Afraid to Introduce New Characters, Settings, etc.

It has been suggested that when you get stuck while writing a standalone novel, you should never be afraid to introduce a new character or a new item. We call these plot devices; they help the author move the story along.

When writing a sequel, it’s almost inconceivable that you can write a good story while simply carrying over all of your plot devices from the first book. As your characters continue their journeys, they’re bound to meet new people or encounter new roadblocks and solutions. Adding new plot points helps keep the story fresh as well. This, as I stated in the first ingredient, is vital.

One caveat about introducing new plot devices: they must be consistent with everything you wrote in your first book. It sounds obvious and should go without saying but it’s easy, I think, to add something without considering its consistency with a previous work. So, if you wrote in your first installment that one of your female characters has never had a boyfriend, don’t try and build tension in the second book by bringing in her long-estranged high school sweetheart…unless she lied in the first book, in which case it would still feel quite cheap.

Those are the three key ingredients to a successful sequel. Writing such a story can be daunting, but the successful writer isn’t one to back down from a challenge.

What do you think? Are there any other key ingredients that should be added to this list?

Guy Harrison is the author of Agents of Change. Available on Amazon.

 

An amiable corporate manager by day and a fledgling matchmaker whenever he can get around to it, Calvin Newsome’s new dream job falls into his lap when he’s recruited by a secret worldwide organization whose agents use uncanny abilities to empower and influence everyday downtrodden individuals. Disaster strikes, however, when an elaborate scheme leaves Calvin as a prime murder suspect…and his new employer is presumably to blame.

With the authorities on his heels and his life left in ruin, Calvin uses his new powers to blend in until a journey for freedom becomes a quest for peace. As the agency’s rival organization threatens the security of all of earth’s inhabitants, Calvin teams up with unlikely allies and battles startling enemies hellbent on unleashing their power in a twisted version of justice, innocent lives be damned.

A Valentine's Story - I Matter to Him

A Valentines Day short story about Marcie and Sam, two characters from my new release, The Choice, Walk the Right Road Series, Book 1

I Matter to Him

“Candles, wine, and what’s this?” Marcie lifted a silver plate warmer.

A light breeze drifted in the open patio doors fluttering the thin gauze of her white swimsuit cover. She peered up at Sam when he didn’t answer. He never failed to take her breath away. The way he looked in his white cotton shirt, his khaki shorts as he lit the candles on the small table in their beachfront suite in Mazatlan.

“What’s the occasion?”  Marcie touched the pink roses with sprigs of baby’s breath in the center glass vase. She leaned over and breathed in the perfume and glanced shyly up at Sam. His wavy hair had lightened from the two weeks they’d spent in the bright Mexican sun. His tanned face appeared relaxed as if he’d left all his worries behind. But then she still couldn’t believe he resigned from the DEA. And after the investigation collapsed, he whisked her away protecting her as if he could shelter her from everything. 

“Valentine’s Day, did you forget?” 

Maybe it was the way she stood so still and watched him that had him striding around the table and lifting her long windswept hair over her tanned shoulder. She leaned into his touch and needed to breathe. He was so damn good-looking, and still turned every woman’s head. But Sam was faithful to her. So it shouldn’t surprise her he’d plan something like this, but old wounds were hard to shake. With Dan, the one who fooled her, she’d told herself a hundred times it didn’t matter each time he ignored her on those special days. And she’d let him. 

“Hey babe are you crying?” She reached for his wrist after he wiped away her tears.

“Will I ever get used to what an amazing man you are, I matter to you. And I can’t help this. Because I can’t believe I found you. That you love me. And you never turned your back on me—not once. Even after you found out what I’d done.”  

He didn’t smile but the heat from his mesmerizing blue eyes left no doubt he’d move heaven and earth to be with her. Marcie kissed his palm when he cupped her cheek. And she allowed him to pull her into his solid arms as he rested his chin on top of her head.  

“So what’s for dinner?” She linked her fingers with his. He slid out her chair— helped her sit, and rested his hand possessively—protectively on her bare shoulder, when the wide neckline of the soft cotton slipped down, exposing the thin purple bikini strap.

“Maybe I should change.” Marcie started to get up, but Sam leaned down and touched his lips with hers. 

“No. You look fabulous, all sexy under that sheer dress you got going on there over that band aid you call a bathing suit. It’ll be less to peel off that sexy body of yours.” His smile was intoxicating as he lifted the metal plate warmer. “Rack of lamb, asparagus with hollandaise.”

“Mm” Marcie scooped back her hair and breathed in the fragrant aroma. “I’m starving. Thank you for doing this. I should have thought of it.” The truth was she had but a lingering fear of rejection poked its ugly head, like an unwelcome guest. Take a chance and believe was something she worked on with Sam—every day. Not once had he used her. He was the genuine knight she’d always asked for. And she loved every moment they spent together, whether sleeping, talking, sitting or just holding hands.

The candles flickered in the dim room as the sun lingered at the edge of the ocean—the perfect horizon—the perfect romantic setting with her Mr. Right. 

Sam uncorked the light blush wine and filled her glass. The fruity aroma she’d loved the first few times in Mexico, but lately turned her stomach. Sam held up his glass. “To the most beautiful honest woman who turned my life upside down and made me believe once again that truelove’s possible.” 

Her throat thickened and she tried to swallow past the lump wedged in her throat. She’d barely shed a tear her entire life, but since meeting Sam it felt as if she constantly blinked back that endless sting of tears burning her eyes. She wasn’t one of those weepy women, so why? Maybe, for the first time in her life she had a man who truly loved her—who truly believed in her.

“I love you. Damn you—look what you do to me.” Her hand trembled as she raised her glass and touched his. When he took a drink she didn’t. She set down her glass, and dropped her gaze to her plate. Picking up her fork and knife she cut into the lamb, took a bite and nearly groaned as the savory tender lamb melted in her mouth. All the while she could feel his eyes burning into her. 

She swallowed as she looked up. Sam tilted his head and swirled the light peachy colored wine in his glass. “Something up?”

Marcie blinked and wiped her mouth with the blue cloth napkin. 

“You’ve not had a sip of wine in a week. And don’t think I haven’t noticed you turned two shades of gray each time you get a whiff of that Mexican food wafting in from those outdoor stands. And you’ve been tired, unusually so. But then again, after what you’ve been through I just thought…” He shoved an index finger at her glass. “And you’re not drinking again. You feeling okay?”

She bit her lip. Set down her fork and rested her napkin in her lap. Marcie warmed as she met the gaze of the man she loved, who didn’t have a dishonest bone his gorgeous body. “Sam how do you feel about kids?”