Friends are family we get to choose

Let's Do Lunch!

The quality of relationships is the theme behind my novel LUNCH TALES. The protagonist, Suellen Atkins is a spirited and irresistible friend to the people who know her. Self-effacing and unconcerned with her privileged background, all she wants is to conform. But in matters of the heart, she is restless and reckless. When the right man comes along, the stakes couldn’t be higher, but first . . . she has to save herself.

Lunch Tales: Suellen can now be preordered from Amazon and Black Rose Writing. Publication date: February 13, 2025

https://www.amazon.com/Lunch-Tales-Suellen-Lucille-Guarino/dp/1685135595

https://www.blackrosewriting.com/romance/p/lunchtales

Let me tell you my author story in a few words. I love the resilience of strong women. The ones who overcome obstacles, who persevere in the face of adversity or hardship. My primary goal with my stories is to give readers a powerful, authentic experience with strong protagonist women with the recurring theme of hope. While the women in my stories all come from different backgrounds and face different struggles, there is one thing they will all have in common: they are champions in their own lives.

Perhaps you will see parts of yourself in one of them. Maybe they will remind you in some small way of someone you know, if not yourself. Realistic fiction should accomplish two main objectives: 1) real world scenarios based on real people, and 2) conveying external conflicts as a part of a bigger picture—the inner conflict.

I’ve always enjoyed people watching. Sit me on a bench in a park or on the boardwalk and I’m fully engaged in one of my favorite pastimes.

It’s affecting whenever I turn to the next month’s page in my calendar—looking back at what was, looking forward to what’s to come. Here are a few October highlights that include family get-togethers, Halloween, and cheer competitions that my granddaughter, Olivia was in.

My grandson, Nico’s, first Halloween.

A rare family photo.

Granddaughter, Sofia, in center.

Granddaugter, Olivia . . . Cheer flyer.

Looking forward to another exciting month of holiday get-togethers, cheer competitions, reading some more wonderful books, and writing, writing, writing!

"November is tied together with the heartstrings of gratitude."—Charmaine J. Forde