Many times, authors will use people from their own lives as inspirations for characters in their books. Lucy, one of the secondary characters in Forever Music, is modeled after one of my dearest friends, Linda Knight.
Lucy is Josie Daniel’s work friend, a woman who is about ten years her senior. Not old enough to be Josie’s mother, but old enough, perhaps, to have been her babysitter. Old enough, also, to share wisdom from her life experience.
Linda greatly influenced me in my first real job out of graduate school teaching English at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina. I sought her help with teaching literature to apathetic people, with dealing with disrespectful students, and with navigating politics of a humanities department.
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Linda guided me professionally and also personally. She patiently listened to all the woes of my dating life way back then. Already married with a young child, she offered a bit more seasoned advice than my contemporaries did.
On too many afternoons, I droned on and on in her office about the latest guy who’d grabbed my attention or the minute details of a disastrous date, and she’d push aside her stack of ungraded essays, focusing on me. I appreciate her gentle patience during those afternoons. She never made me feel like she had more important things to do. She just listened.
We’ve been friends for about thirty-five years now. We keep in touch with phone calls, cards, and rare in-person visits, but we keep up with milestones—births, graduations, deaths. She blesses me still with her friendship, and I wanted to pay tribute to her with Lucy.
Another type of friendship appears in this novel…friendships within a family.
I modeled the Daniels siblings, Ben, Heath, Sam, and Josie, on my own four children, two daughters and twin sons. The Daniels clan love each other and enjoy being together. They have each other’s back but don’t mind calling each other out if someone needs a reality check.
My husband and I nurtured a loving environment for our children to grow up in and supported each other by attending all the games and programs and concerts together as a whole family. Now I see the results of the time and effort we spent to become a close-knit family. They’ve grown into young adults who seek each other’s company with video chats, phone calls, and texts to supplement infrequent visits home.
But don’t think it’s always hugs and pats on the back here. We enjoy much smack talk around the kitchen table during board games and euchre. Their competitive, but good-natured banter rang in my ears while I wrote the dialog in Forever Music.
One more similarity between those siblings and my children makes me smile every time I remember it. The Daniels brothers send daisies to Josie on Valentine’s Day. I wrote the scene a year before my sons began sending roses to their sisters every February. Before reading the novel, they thought of sending roses on their own. They’re good brothers and good friends, too.
Friendship is a true blessing from God, and I’m grateful for the friends He’s gifted me.
Tell me about a special friend in your life in the comments section for a chance to win a copy of Forever Music! (Note: Winner’s shipping address must be in the U.S. to be eligible in the drawing).
Congratulations to Rhonda Lawrence. You won a copy of Where Love Blooms for sharing that Lillies are your favorite flower. Send your shipping address to shelia@sheliastovall.com to receive your prize.
About Hope Toler Dougherty
Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Her novels include Irish Encounter, Mars…With Venus Rising, Rescued Hearts, and Forever Music. Her recent novella was included in Candy Cane Wishes and Saltwater Dreams. She and her husband delight in visits with their daughters and twin sons.
Hope is an introverted Christian Romance author who loves family, traveling, reading, live music, cooking, crocheting, public speaking, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jesus. Not in that order. Skills include changing the oil in a 1974 Mustang, playing the dulcimer, and soloing a Cessna 150.
Connect with Hope
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13941031.Hope_Dougherty
My best friend is someone who I can bounce ideas off of and we have lots of deep discussions about the Bible and how to live for Christ. She’s really great and I’m so grateful God brought her into my life.
Hi Megan,
How wonderful to have a friend to share ideas with, and even more wonderful to be able to discuss the Bible. I have a friend who sounds similar. We prayer walk together on Thursdays. I think we spend more time talking than praying but I feel so uplifted after spending time with her.
Thank you for stopping by today.
Warm regards,
Shelia
God has gifted me with so many special friends at different life seasons, but only a handful have been with me through multiple seasons of life. Those are among my dearest. One friend has walked with me through such joy and such suffering. Those shared experiences have drawn us closer. When I struggle with one of my children, she can gently remind me what a special gift each child is and remind me of my prayers as each of my children were growing in my womb and in my heart. This one friend could probably recall nearly as many times God was clearly working in my life in a situation as I can.
Proverbs 17:17 speaks with wisdom on those enduring friendships when it says, “A friend loves at all times.”
Melinda,
Your friend sounds like a wise woman. I love Proverbs 17:17. It’s one of my favorites.
Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting.
Warm regards,
Shelia
Thank you, Megan, for reading the blog and commenting! A friend is a gift from God and even better when you can share your faith together. I think of iron sharpening iron!
Shelia, what a great idea–weekly prayer walking with a friend. I’ve prayer walked before as a one-time event, not as an on-going practice. Exercising physically and spiritually–wonderful!
Megan, thanks so much for reading and commenting! Friends are gifts from God. I’m glad you can have spiritual discussions with her.
Shelia, what a great idea–prayer waling with a friend. You get spiritual exercise as well as physical exercise! Thank you for having me on your blog!
Friends truly are a gift from God. That was a devotional shared with me today. I’ve been blessed with several work friends that have truly become lifelong friends that help me thru life hills & valleys. I’ve also been blessed with a lifelong friend that I can call on at any time and she is there for me. Friends are truly a blessing!
Belinda, it sounds like we’re kindred spirits! Thank you for stopping by Shelia’s blog and commenting!
My best friend, my big sister, Bobbie, went to her eternal home last November. She was 7 years my senior and loved me in spite of myself. She was friend, advisor, alto to my soprano, chief encourager, brainstorming partner, and as I often called her, “my second mother.” No one could ever take her place. I know she’s in Heaven interceding on my behalf and for my children and grands. I made a promise to her to keep writing. I have a dear, dear friend who’s holding me to that. Can’t wait to read Forever Music. Sis taught me to sing, I earned two degrees in music, raised a family of musicians, and know I’ll be in heaven with Sis one day surrounded by forever music!!
Debra, I’m so sorry that your sister is no longer with you here on Earth, but I rejoice with you that she’s singing in Heaven! I think you’ll like Forever Music because at least five characters play the piano. (Also…I love your word play with the title in your last sentence!) God’s blessings on your writing!
Hi Debra,
Your sister sounds amazing and I know you were a loving and supportive sister in return. I didn’t know you had a music background. How wonderful. I’ve been on vacation at th beach with grandkids so I’ve not been following along as I usually do. but here is the great news! You just won the drawing. I have your shipping address so I’ll have Amazon ship Forever Music to you. Hugs and thanks for visiting my blog.
My friend is Pam. She and I met over 40 years ago at work. She no longer lives in N C, but when we connect it’s like we were never apart. She was at my wedding, my mom’s funeral, our daughters birth, all of life’s major events.
Hi Hilda,
What a wonderful friend to be with you at all your special life events. I had a friend like that but he passed away a few years ago. Don was at the hospital when mom died and at the hospital when my grandchildren were born. He served our church as a Minister of Music for almost 40 years.
Thanks for commenting.
Shelia