“Truth is stranger than fiction.” – Mark Twain
It certainly can be, which is why there are several aspects of my life in my debut novel, Summer Plans and Other Disasters. If you’re not familiar with the story, here’s the short version:
Callie has plans. She thinks they’re God’s will for her life, but nothing works out. While she’s trying to figure out what’s wrong, things around her seem to fall apart (usually leaving her in awkward or frustrating situations).
To create those awkward and frustrating situations, I simply tapped into my own experiences. I’m a relatively accomplished adult, but sometimes things happen that you just can’t prepare for. Those situations usually make the best stories. I wanted to share some of them, and I decide the best way to do that would be in a novel. That way I could exaggerate things and change names to protect the innocent.
If you haven’t read the book, these revelations shouldn’t ruin the story for you (maybe they’ll even inspire you to pick it up!). So, what’s “true” in Summer Plans and Other Disasters?
- I’ve been stuck on a beach in the dark with no idea how to get back to civilization. Yes, I live far enough north and near remote enough areas that one night a group of us got stuck on a beach with a new moon. To get back to our cars we had to walk through some woods. When we got into the trees, however, it was so dark we couldn’t see our hands in front of our faces! This was back before cell phones with flashlights, and we honestly thought we’d have to spend the night on the beach. Thankfully, Motorola had just released the v120c, and a friend had bought it. The screen/backlighting was intense. By repeatedly hitting a key and keeping the phone close to the ground, we were able to see well enough for 15-30 second intervals that we eventually made it to the parking lot.
- I’ve spent the night in the Old Mission Lighthouse before it was turned into a museum. Many years ago, the township did, in fact, employ a park superintendent who lived in the lighthouse. When he was out of town, he had to find someone to fill in for him. He and my husband were friends, so we volunteered to fill in (by “we,” I mean my husband did the work while I enjoyed the lighthouse). The floorplan I describe in the story is accurate, as are some of the late-night noises and visitors.
- I play the piano (not as well as Callie, but well enough).
There are a few other “inspired by real events” moments in the book, but I don’t want to ruin all of the fun. It’s certainly not an autobiographical story, but I always find a way to include some real-life elements in my books.
Were her plans a bust? Was she wrong?
Elementary school music teacher Callie Stevens thinks she’s finally figured out God’s plan for her life—she even made a list to keep her on track.
Moving in with her brother and reconnecting with her ex-boyfriend are at the top of the list. What’s not on the list is running into her childhood crush, Ryan. God wanted her to connect with Kyle, right?
Trying to figure out God’s plan is hard enough. But a dating-averse older brother, the young blonde who adores him, a pregnant best friend, and Callie’s continual mishaps make her wonder whether her best laid plans were truly God-inspired.
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Karin Beery grew up in a rural Michigan town, where she wrote her first novel in high school. Today, she writes contemporary stories with a healthy dose of romance. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s reading, editing, or teaching it. In her free time, she enjoys watching University of Michigan football and action-adventure movies with her husband and fur babies.
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