Cut to November 2009. Some friends finally convinced me to try National Novel Writing Month, known the world over as NaNoWriMo. I had no idea what to write. Going back and forth between different story ideas got me nowhere. November 1st came and I still didn't know what I would write. So I sat down and started typing, figuring whatever came out of my brain would be my NaNo. Out came the first part of Bridging The Gaps (so named because I love bad puns and one of the main characters is a dentist). I fully intended to change the title to one that was more serious, but it ended up being like a schoolyard nickname one just cannot leave behind. No other title presented itself, and a story element that appeared later in the book became a reference for the title.
November 2010 saw my first NaNo Rebel year as I opted to finish Bridging The Gaps rather than starting a new story. Now I am in the midst of creating the second draft. Tightening plot issues, tweaking description and dialogue, cutting a bit her, adding a bit there. I'm very excited about this book. Read on for the synopsis.
Bridging The Gaps
Meet Ellen: Ellen is 48 years old, a little on the chubby side, and has just been left by her husband of 27 years for his younger (and blonder) girlfriend of six months; a girlfriend who Ellen didn't know about, and who doesn't know the new man in her life is still married.
Meet Ellen's kids: Stephanie, the oldest, is trying to find a balance between offering support to her mother and striking out on her own; Doug Jr. (aka DJ) is a college student whose grades are slipping due in part to his being too fond of alcohol, and who spends his spare time lusting after his dad's girlfriend; Matt and Melanie the 15 year old twins--Matt spends most of his time keeping his head down and going with the flow as best he can, while Melanie dreams of getting their parents back together and starts sneaking around with an older boy.
Meet Ellen's husband Doug: Doug is a jerk, but even jerks have feelings.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll probably want to beat the hell out of Doug. Set in the fictional small town of Troy Falls, Wisconsin, Bridging the Gaps features a cast of warm and humorous supporting characters and follows Ellen through the mire of divorce, the rekindling of old friendships, and the realization that that which does not kill us...is life.