Towards the
end of writing “The Sweet Touch”, I had an amazing epiphany. I realized
parts of my own life coincided with events in the novel. For example, I met my
second husband during the month of February. Kate Bromley, the heroine, meets
Dan Brookhouse during February. In both cases the men were single dads with
hyperactive boys having their seventh birthdays at almost the same time.
Another similarity was the fact that the heroine is a nutritionist and a
vegetarian who believes a good majority of one’s diet should be based on raw
fruits and veggies. In my own life I became interested in healthy eating in my
thirties, attended national conferences, and chapter meetings to find out more
about a healthy lifestyle.
Kate is a
triathlon competitor and runs, bikes, or swims every day after finishing
teaching. I was always athletically inclined and studied modern dance from my
teens to late fifties. I still swim almost an hour every day to keep in shape.
Even the men have similar
tastes. For example, the hero, Dan, owns a chain of steak and rib restaurants.
He loves a thick juicy steak although he feels guilty about that when he sees
Kate eating her meals. In my case my husband was a meat and potatoes man. On
one of our first dates he brought a steak and two potatoes to my apartment and
suggested we eat at home. He wondered how good my cooking abilities were, he later
told me. He was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t burn the steak and the baked
potatoes came out just right. (This is when I was still eating red meat).
My
husband also worked in the food industry and knew almost every good restaurant
in the state of Connecticut, where we lived. In the book the hero and heroine
take trips together and enjoy being with each other. In my situation we tried
to plan getaways, even for a long weekend, to be alone and rejuvenate from our
busy lives.
I wonder how many writers find
similar autobiographical details emerging from their fictional narratives.
Perhaps my subconscious mind had been simmering with these ideas for years
before they came out in my novel. Of
course most of “The Sweet Touch” is fiction as are the characters, but I’m sure
I must have known people in my life with similar personalities. Maybe all
writers take in situations unconsciously and let them simmer until they are
ready to write about those people and situations. When I’m traveling I love to
people-watch, seeing how they move, how they talk and what they’re talking
about. It’s more interesting than reading a book at times.
Blurb for
“The Sweet Touch”
Raw Food and fitness enthusiast Kate Bromley is content with
her life teaching nutrition and gardening to children and competing in
triathlon races. Platonic friendship are fine but no serious relationships for
her. After marrying at seventeen and spending five difficult years
supporting her husband through medical school, she wanted a college education.
Her husband rebuffed that idea telling her she’d be so busy raising children
she’d have no time for anything else. After leaving that marriage she spent
years working and getting the education she desired. She is not about to give
up her hard-won independence.
Single dad Dan Brookhouse meets Kate when she’s demonstrating
how to create raw food desserts at a local mall. He owns a chain of restaurants
featuring steaks and ribs but would like to introduce new ideas to his chefs.
He feels an instant attraction to Kate and loves the chocolate pudding she
creates.
Kate is determined to keep her relationship to Dan strictly
business but she’s drawn to him on so many levels. Can she keep her freedom and
still have a relationship with Dan? For his part, Dan knows he has to play it
cool and be patient in order to win her love. Can these two strong-minded
people find happiness together?
Each chapter of “The Sweet Touch” ends with a healthy
vegetarian recipe which is usually mentioned during the narrative. Here’s one
of my family’s all-time favorites – Mock Tuna Salad.
Mock Tuna Salad
In food processor pulse together one 14 ounce can drained
chick peas, two ribs of sliced celery, two sliced scallions (or one quarter cup
chopped red onion) and one quarter cup toasted walnuts until consistency is
like chopped tuna fish. Empty into bowl and add four tablespoons veggie
mayonnaise (I use grapeseed mayonnaise), one teaspoon Dijon mustard, one
tablespoon fresh lemon juice and a dash of sea salt. Mix well and serve on
crackers or toasted bread.
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Carly Jordynn is an author of young adult, new adult, and middle-grade fiction.
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