The Story Behind the Story
It all started with a visit to the bank. During a longish meeting with one of the officers I got an idea because I was so impressed with him. I had just completed Candy’s Wild Ride, the third book in my Candy Cane Girls Series, and needed a hero for the next story.
With his permission Jaeda Wayman became the hero in Connie’s Silver Shoes.
Connie’s Silver Shoes became my first diversity book, and it’s one of my favorite stories. What was especially fun was every time I went to the bank I got a Jaeda hug.
Connie is a budding fashion designer and meets Jaeda the same as I did during a trip to her bank. But Jaeda makes a mistake in the calculations he did for her. Even though he corrects it, he’s devastated. She has a proposition of how he can redeem himself. So before Jaeda knows what he’s agreeing to he becomes one of her models! But he doesn’t go anywhere except the bank without his little dog, Jake. Now Connie has two models and develops a fabulous new line!
Unexpectedly, the chemistry of romance bubbles between them and scares them both. What will both of their families think? What about the conservative community of Newport Beach where they each live? Would prejudice creep into their relationship to destroy it? Little Jake loves Connie, but will Jaeda’s family, especially Sissy his opinionated sister, even tolerate the pale-skinned girl? What will Connie’s Bible quoting mother say?
Will faith and bravery overcome bias? Can they really have a future together?
Bonnie Engstrom and her psychologist husband Dave live in Arizona near four of their six grandchildren. The other two live in Costa Rica where they surf and only wear shoes to school.
Bonnie has published seventeen romances and women’s fiction books with Winged Publications. Her stories always include a social dilemma which she presents with sensitivity and compassion.
Visit her website to see Dave and all the grandchildren at www.bonnieengstrom.com. Can you tell which two are the surfers?
Connect with Bonnie on her Facebook author page where she gives weekly stash and books. https://www.facebook.com/bonnieengstromauthor/
Chat with her in email at bengstrom@hotmail.com. Be sure to put BOOKS in the subject line.
Follow Jaeda and Connie in all succeeding Candy Cane Series books and see all of Bonnie’s books at https://www.amazon.com/Bonnie-Engstrom/e/B073T2W73M?
To randomly win a signed copy of Connie’s Silver Shoes please comment on the following question.
What social dilemma would you like to see addressed in a story?
Thank you so much, Jennifer, for having me on your Truth in Fiction blog. It’s been fun!
Hi Bonnie! I would say that I wish there could be some dilemmas addressed regarding children and prejudice, especially in light of what’s going on with our world right now. It seems that babies to very young children don’t even notice differences in color of skin or socio-economic backgrounds. Yet, as they get a little older, prejudice seems to s-l-o-w-l-y seep in over time. What kinds of conversations can parents, relatives, and teachers have with children of older ages to level the playing field for all differences with a message of love of mankind. I can only imagine Jaeda’s excitement when he became a character in your book!
Yes, Becky, Jaeda was very excited and supportive. I agree prejudice in children as they grow should be addressed in fiction. Right now I only write fiction about adults. Most of my primary Candy Cane characters are millennials. There are children, but they are all babies so far. Jaeda and Connie’s children are very unique, not just a Mulatto babes, but even more unique than that. Maybe when they become of preschool age it will be time to write their story. Thanks so much for commenting.
I would like to see the dilemma of how everyone seems to take offense to just about everything now and there seem to be marches and rallies for everything except common sense and truth. No one can express an opinion without offending someone. Parts of our history are being removed because people were offended. When a nation erases it’s history, it is doomed to make the same mistakes.
I agree, Rita. We as a society are easily offended and jump in too fast to protest, instead of appreciating other views and learning from them. I am especially worried about removing so much of our nation’s history. It’s so important for our children and grands to learn about the bad and the good. Thanks, Rita, for your well-thought comment.
I would like to see the issue addressed of who we can trust in the news media to deliver facts and not opinionated garbage. It seems there is so much bias in the news these days, one way or another. I have deep concerns that people are believing a lot of falsehoods, making evil appear good and good appear evil. I pray every day for honesty and integrity among our political leaders, truth from our news reporters, and insight and discernment for our citizens.
Wow, Patricia, that’s a big issue to address in the kind of novels I write. Of course trust in itself is a huge issue. I do address trust in the Candy Cane Series, but more personal trust. Book eight in the series, Natalie’s Red Dress, addresses a big trust issue among neighbors. I’m writing it now. It will address political trust on a community level. I hope it will generate some conversation. Thanks for you insight and thoughtful comments, Patricia.