The first inspiration for my latest story was a personal shopper for a grocery app and the grocery store manager—who didn’t get along. That’s all I had, but I knew I wanted to write it. There’s just something about playing with romance in real life settings. Who might find love in a grocery store? Anyone can.
But I needed more. I needed to know why Kaitlyn, my Grocerease app shopper, was for the app in the first place, besides making a little money. Why did she need the money? Why not work full-time?
So, I figured out she was a teacher who had moved during the school year and couldn’t get more than sub hours. Yep. That would do it. But why did she have to move during the school year instead of between?
Hm.
Her mom. She needed her.
Okay. But why?
See my problem? For every solution, I needed more answers. And when I reached this point, it was down to the nitty gritty. What would cause her mom to need her so much that she moved home?
I didn’t want to do cancer. Honestly, I’ve so many friends and loved ones fighting cancer lately, I can’t even stand the fictional kind right now. And I didn’t want to give her Parkinson’s or Dementia. She’s too young for that, though I know young people do sometimes develop those diseases. And then I remembered my aunt.
Let me rephrase that, because I hadn’t forgotten my aunt. Aunt Karan is one of my favorite people in the whole world. When I lived in Texas, she and would get together several times a year and just hang out. She’s like another mom to me. But she also worked as inspiration here. Because Aunt Karan has MS.
Do you know what MS is? It stands for Multiple Sclerosis, a disease of the nerves. It keeps them from firing correctly, which can lead to numbness, soreness, lack of muscle control, even eye issues. My aunt has hers under control, and has even been in remission. But it still affects her life. She has to keep her house colder than most people like it, because the heat makes her symptoms worse. She doesn’t always have the energy she wants. Or will sometimes have numbness or pain.
The good news about my aunt is that she’s still able to take care of herself. In my story, “Romance at Register Five,” Kaitlyn’s mom is having more flare ups, which makes her more likely to fall or not be able to do everything she wishes. Hence, Kaitlyn moving down to live with her and help.
Not only does she move down, but before that, she signed a petition to get the Grocerease app to move to the little town where her mom lives too. Because, with an app like that, even on days her mom doesn’t feel like getting out, she can still get groceries. In my story, I bring up several other families who benefit from such a service as well. Because while most of us can go get our own groceries, not everyone can.
I had never considered giving one of my characters MS before. But it made my story richer. Especially since I have someone I love who has it too. And she’s just as amazing as my character—if not more so.
Do you enjoy reading stories with characters who have diseases like MS? Have you ever read a story with something like that before? I haven’t seen it in fiction much. Do you know someone living with MS?
You can have anything delivered—even romance.
Romance at Register Five (by Amy R Anguish)—Mack McDonald isn’t happy about the Grocerease app coming to his grocery store. But he’s committed to the sixty-day trial period, and braces himself to lose money. Kaitlyn Daniels loves how the Grocerease app helps her make ends meet so she can assist her mom, the reason she moved to small Sassafras, AR. Mack and Kaitlyn struggle to overcome differing opinions on the perks of the app. But if they don’t, it could keep them from something even better.
Where Love is Planted (by Sarah Anne Crouch)—Ivy Aaronson is surrounded by family at their flower shop in West Texas—just the way she likes it. But she’s given up hope on ever finding a man who understands her choices. When attorney Grant Keller orders flowers for his mother, Ivy wonders if maybe there are indeed some considerate men left in the world…until she finds out Grant’s relationship with his parents is less than ideal. How can Ivy ever find love when every man she meets puts career over family?
Sweet Delivery (by Heather Greer)— After winning Cake That!, Will Forrester thinks his Pastry Perfect baking dreams have come true. The sweetness fades when a chain bakery moves to town, and Will must adjust his plans to keep his customers. Hiring Erica Gerard is one of those changes. As they work together, Erica challenges Will and offers new ideas to improve the bakery. Soon, Erica and Will start bringing out the best in each other. But Erica harbors a secret, and if it’s discovered, Will might never be the same.
The Mermaids, the Ex and USSS (by Rachel Herod)— Braig Sanborn is the most loyal employee the United States Shipping Service has ever seen, which is why he agreed to transfer across the country with only a few weeks’ notice. Ella Morrison is so busy planning a friend’s wedding, she didn’t expect to fall for the carrier who delivers packages to her house. When they both find themselves in too deep, will they agree the relationship was doomed from the start?
Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.
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