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Teresa Slack spent most of her writing career focused on novels.
Her first, Streams of Mercy, won
the 2005 Bay Area Independent Publishers Award for Best First Fiction. Her
latest novel, Runaway Heart, was
published in February and is available for purchase as an e-book by Helping
Hands Press. (book link: http://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Heart-ebook/dp/B00BCA1WO0/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367790471&sr=1-2&keywords=teresa+slack)
But she’s recently discovered writing short stories is a whole lot of fun.
Carla Comes Around
Happiness for Carla
Fischer was Cartersburg, Tennessee in her rearview mirror. She couldn’t wait to
ditch the tiny town where she spent a rotten childhood as soon as the ink was
dry on her diploma. When she receives an invitation to her thirtieth year class
reunion, she doesn’t waste a moment thinking about going. There’s not a soul in
town she wants to see. Well, okay, maybe one soul, but Tim Shelton barely knew
she was alive thirty years ago. She doesn’t expect him to remember her now.
When Carla’s sister Patty announces she’s sinking her life’s savings into a local gift shop, Carla leaves her hectic life in Atlanta and heads to the one place she said she’d never go. Cartersburg hasn’t changed in thirty years, but Carla has. Hiding behind a hard veneer to protect her fragile heart, she has no interest in reconnecting with old friends. But everyone wants to see Carla, the small town daughter who never came around after fleeing to the big city.
As time for her thirtieth-year reunion draws nearer, Carla is reluctantly drawn into her sister’s excitement over her plans for the gift shop. Carla wants to be part of her sister’s life, but she loves her life in Atlanta. Can she forsake her career for something that has alluded her most of her life? Peace, contentment, family. When Tim awakens a long dormant love in her heart, Carla begins to wonder if Cartersburg is the only place for her that’s truly home.
Like Carla, have you discovered blessings later in life overlooked in your youth? Be sure to leave a comment to win!
Ada, thanks so much for featuring me here at Ink from an Earthen Vessel. Love the name, btw. Anyone who comments will have a chance to win one of 5 e-book downloads from the 3rd installment of my True Stories Celebrating Love & Family series. Thanks again and I appreciate the chance to meet your readers.
ReplyDeleteSome of my blessings included my four older sisters who were great examples to me. Marge blessed everyone with her love. Clara showed me if something needed to be done, do it! Erma taught me to look at the humorous side of life--but to remember some things need to be taken seriously. I started the habit of reading my Bible and praying every day because of Erma. Joan taught me I should be classy, not sexy. And as the youngest--I discovered I learned many more important things just by observing, listening, and paying attention. Thanks Teresa for reminded us of blessings!
ReplyDeleteTeresa, Thank you for sharing and Ada Thank you also. I was drawn to your story. I to grew up in a small town in Missouri and really never wanted to go back. Had a good life growing up but yet I never really felt accepted, even by family. But over the forty five years since I graduated, I have enjoyed going back for reunions. The amazing thing the girls I thought were some of the best looking, looks ten or fifteen years older than me. I felt pretty good after that. I think it has a lot to do with the life styles we have lived. I'll take my life style with God leading any time.
ReplyDeleteBrenda, the thing that surprised me most about my class reunion was how cliques seemed to have disappeared in the ensuing 30 years. We were no longer band geeks or cheerleaders or jocks or bookworms. Just a group who spent four tumultuous years together, growing and changing and developing--somewhat--into the people we would become. I wouldn't want to do a reunion every year but every 20 or 30 years is okay. Please send me your email address to teresa at teresa slack dot com and I will get you a copy of CARLA COMES AROUND. Happy reading.
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