Rhonda Frankhouser: The Birth of a Mainstream Love Story
I never planned on becoming a writer. As a
matter of fact, when Beyond Forever
was first written, I had nothing more in mind than to expel the demons that
haunted my own life. When a friend read what I’d written, she encouraged me to
submit to agents. I was initially embarrassed, but eventually, I sent out a few
queries, to which I got three requests for the full manuscript. So, I can
safely say, this story brought out the writer in me. And I’m so glad it did.
The truth is, the uncontrolled emotions needed
some closure. I was not yet thirty when my world was forever changed by a
single word. I won’t reveal that word here, for fear of spoiling the storyline,
but I will tell you, this book, this story, is a work of fiction that came from
a vulnerable place in my heart and soul. A place that needed to work through
the experience.
The original manuscript for Beyond Forever was written in longhand,
over a period of three weeks. It poured out of me, along with tears and
frustration, leaving me with a sense of understanding and calm. The story
between David and Lily is an honest, tortured, blessed love story that,
hopefully, will help others heal their own hearts and find hope for a new
tomorrow.
Blurb for Beyond Forever:
Wise
beyond her thirty-three years, advice columnist, Lily Anne Fincher, relishes
being the consummate wall on which
everyone leans. It gives her life purpose and makes her feel needed and loved
even when people ignore her advice. She never considers the possibility of her
own happily ever after, until she catches the shy, handsome guy
in a three-piece suit, watching her from behind a newspaper in the
downstairs coffee shop.
Stoic investment banker, David
Morris, never plans on falling for a younger woman, especially a stubborn,
rough-around-the-edges, journalist. They come from such
different backgrounds. It seems unfathomable, but her easy confidence and
flirtatious smiles makes his blood pressure rise. When she finally works up the
nerve to approach him, he can’t avoid her.
Determined not to allow
anything to ruin their chance at forever, Lily ignores the signs of looming
disaster. Is this the end of their fairy tale? Or just the beginning?
Excerpt from Beyond Forever:
I
waited for a long time before I worked up the nerve to talk to him, thinking I
must be some kind of nut to hope such a sophisticated guy would be interested
in me. But what the hell, right. When I finally took the risk and asked him, he
seemed a little shocked, but curious
at the same time.
I still
remember his exact response and how his brows pinched together in question.
“You, ummm, wanna have a drink with me?
Do you have any idea how old I am?”
He
turned bright red when I laughed.
It was
sweet and incredibly sexy the way he acted so nervous and shy. I think he was
more surprised than I when he agreed.
When he
spied my collection of vintage typewriters sitting around my nearly barren
apartment, he immediately loosened his tie and slipped off his Italian loafers.
That he was so comfortable made me feel amazing. We drank ice cold Coors Light
from the can as Stevie Ray Vaughan
shredded Pride and Joy through my
cheap Kmart speakers.
After
an hour of our who, what, where and whens, he got on the floor and thumbed
through the stacks of books I’d piled against the wall. I’d read everyone from
Descartes to Henry Miller to Anne Rice’s naughty Sleeping Beauty trilogy. When
he read the back cover, his sweet, shy smile turned a little–let’s call
it–hopeful.
I went
with the old standard. A risky choice, looking back. I made him bologna and
cheddar cheese sandwiches on white bread with a Kosher dill pickle on the side.
It was a huge risk thinking someone like him would even eat my good old country
favorite, but he loved it.
A
cosmic match was made. I remember how the mayonnaise clung to the corners of
his mouth and how, instead of embarrassing me by asking for a napkin, he wiped
it off on the sleeve of his white dress shirt.
I was
too poor to furnish napkins and too embarrassed to give him a paper towel. How
tacky! So I sat there and watched as this beautiful man wiped greasy mayo all
over his fifty dollar shirt.
I was such a kid, but something clicked between us when he leaned in and laid a gentle, non-threatening, non-expecting, kiss on my lips.
Buy Link for Beyond Forever:
PAPERBACK - https://amzn.to/2RwxqtM
EBOOK - https://amzn.to/2DfBAxg
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Email her at rhondafrankhouserbooks@gmail.com
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