NANOWRIMO 2022: Hit The Target 8 Days Early!!! 50,000 words: The Heart is a River(novel about BC floods) Beautiful British Columbia Fraser Valley

 Dear Readers:

I am so incredibly psyched to share with you tonight that at 8:28 P.M. EST, I completed my beautiful and inspiring Nanowrimo Project for 2022. The targeted timeline was for Nov 30th but I made it with eight days to spare! So happy and proud!!!

This one was a labor of love, inspired by the tragedy of the November 2021 B.C. floods in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, specifically near Abbotsford. 

My heroine, Ria Brooke, lost her home when it was swept away down the river. She has spent the last six years rebuilding her home after the untimely death of her husband, John.

Now, devastated, and waiting on her insurance claim and browsing the rental homes, she is offered a place to stay by dear friends Bill and Laura Everly, who own a ranch and run the youth shelter, a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothes, and lodging for at risk youth. Ria was hired as an admin person at the shelter shortly before the floods came and washed her home away. She considers herself hugely blessed to have such a loving and supportive couple in her life, Bill and Laura, who brighten her days with their compassion, wit and laughter, not to mention, Laura's home cooking and hospitality.

Laura's other talent is matchmaking, and who better to set Ria up with an eligible bachelor type than Laura herself! She has her eyes on the ruggedly handsome older gentleman, a retiree, who volunteers twice a week at the shelter, using his truck to bring furniture to the youth. 

Keir Weston is tall, lanky and impossibly handsome, with his silvery mane and beard, his sultry voice and aloof demeanor. One look from Ria and sparks fly! The only problem is, Keir got badly burned by a bitter divorce two decades ago, and he's kept to himself and doesn't want to be tied down. He finds a kinship with the lovely, evolved woman, though, and feels a stirring in his heart that he thought he would never feel again, and decides to test the waters.

But Ria is vulnerable and scared. She's lost the one man she thought she had forever with, and now she lost her beloved home. Falling for Keir was not her mission, but she can't help but open her heart to the sexy silver fox who seems vulnerable and sad too, under his well-drawn facade.

When New Year's Eve comes, the big bash of the year is held at the Everly ranch, and Keir decides to show up out of the blue. Ria wants to spill her feelings and tell Keir that he is the only man for her, but will he accept her offer of love, or run for the hills and deny them both the love they both desperately need from one another?

The Heart Is a River is a story of hope, heart and healing. It's a passionate story of deep wounds and old hurts coming to the surface. But it is also the story of finding the courage to light the lamp for love just one more time.

I just know you are going to love this heart-tugging story.

Coming soon!!

Much love,

RR xo

THESE ARMS OF MINE: a poem by Rochelle Renee

 

These arms of mine

are empty, so empty

since the day you left

This heart of mine

it echoes a pain so deep

The angels even weep

So please come back soon

and fill this space

I need your loving embrace

to warm

These arms of mine

--Rochelle Renee --

Oct 5, 2022

6:17 p.m.

PEOPLE WHO NEED PEOPLE

Who doesn't like to feel needed?

Isn't it a wonderful feeling, to have someone need you?

Not in a NEEDY or clingy sort of way, but rather...in the sense that we bring something to the table that enriches someone's life for the BETTER.

You see, I've experienced shaming around the concept of NEEDING someone.

"You don't need him," they judged. Or..."You can do it all and have it all...on your own. You don't need a man."

That feminist, independent woman badge that people chose to flaunt...I cannot understand it for the life of me. Sure, you want to proclaim to the world that "sisters are doing it for themselves." Oh, but alas, this is where feminism got it all wrong. You see, the problem with this is the fact that women have pushed men away. GOOD men, for that matter.

All too often, I hear girlfriends say to me "I can't find a good man. All they want is sex. The good ones are all taken, The good looking men are either gay or married. The worthwhile men are taken. The only ones left are the players, duds or deadbeats.

Here is where yours truly steps in to raise the debate. The problem with these women who wear the MISS INDEPENDENT badge are the same ones crying poor over the lack of good men in society. No, it's not a lack of good men...but rather, a lack of GRATEFUL WOMEN. Sister, you're doing it all wrong. You want to scream to the masses that you can fix your own broken toilet, you can carry the heavy bags of groceries up those steep steps, you don't need help with the broken light bulb or help paying your electricity bill, etc.You want to appear all strong and macho. See your problem? You got all the "hustle" to make things happen, and to pay all your bills and get bragging rights to "have it all" and do it all...but you've forgotten one simple concept: MEN WANT TO PLAY THE HERO.

Don't you ever wonder why romance novels still make 1 billion in sales annually? Because men still want to play the hero, even in modern day. We've forgotten how to RECEIVE, so we've worn ourselves out GIVING too much...we over work ourselves, wear our bodies to the bone til we're on the verge of collapse. We think we're playing it smart by overextending ourselves and doing it all.

Needing someone's help is a good trait to have. This works both ways. Sometimes, a man does not want to ask for a woman's help, either. Perhaps it makes him feel less of a man, But we need one another, and it is a beautiful thing indeed. That's why it doesn't hurt to ask for help. You won't be seen as "weak" or incompetent. You'll bond closer with those who care about you. Go ahead, try it and see. You might just be amazed.

People who need people...are the luckiest people in the world (as the song goes).

Cheering for you always,

RR xo