posted on January 10, 2018 by Patricia Yager Delagrange

Realistic Resolutions

It’s 2018, and I have a New Year’s resolution.

My next book, Mending Fences, centers around family and the relationships of four sisters and their father. I come from a big family. I have five sisters, no brothers, and the dynamics among us are beyond the scope of explaining in a blog. Suffice it to say, we’re all very different individuals—something that always boggled my parents’ minds. I don’t understand why, because no two people are the same, and none of us are twins!

The first three sisters, Susan, Kathy, and Patti (that’s me!), were followed ten years later by Carol, Heidi, and Gretchen. The first three of us were born in the post-World War II era with its frugality and discipline and respect for elders. The second three girls grew up in a world with an overabundance of toys, attention, and the “me” generation of values. This is not a criticism of my parents or my sisters; it’s just a fact that affected our outlooks and ultimately what we expected out of life.

We’re all grown up now, and although we’ve gone in different directions, it’s still possible to maintain a meaningful connection, but it takes work. As we’re getting older, I realize I don’t want to miss out on the closeness that is right around the corner, if I choose to act. I don’t want to carry around a bucket of regrets when I have the power to change the outcome of my relationships with my siblings. Hence, my New Year’s resolution—to stay in closer contact with my sisters.

The fascinating dynamics in my family inspired me to write my next book, Mending Fences, which will be out later this year from Ravenswood Publishing. As in my family, each of the sisters—Sharon, Kathy, Patti, and Helen—has a  distinct personality, yet Helen stands out as the black sheep. She has an attitude of entitlement and treats her sisters disrespectfully with her snarky put-downs and sarcastic behavior. Sharon’s interest in psychology helps her understand Helen, whereas Kathy isn’t assertive, and sticking up for herself doesn’t come easily, making her ill-equipped to deal with Helen’s negative remarks. Patti, on the other hand, is a fighter, and her run-ins with Helen escalate the more time they spend around each other. Is it possible to mend the rifts that separate the four sisters?

Do you have a New Year’s resolution? Maybe one that’s beyond the scope of “eating better and losing weight?” If so, I hope you’ll share it with me and the fun Writerspace gang!

patriciayagerdelagrange.com

Patricia Yager Delagrange

Patricia Yager Delagrange

Fascinated by broken-hearted couples and atypical families, Patricia weaves engaging tales of men and women who create cohesive families where love reigns supreme. She sprinkles her books with intriguing characters who struggle to find balance in life after tragedy. Whether an unwed teenager, desperate widow, abandoned father, or a couple who stray from their marital vows, her characters form relationships impacted by their desire to create a family. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Patricia attended St. Mary's College in Moraga, California, where she studied Psychology and Spanish. She spent her junior year abroad at the University of Madrid then transferred to UC Santa Barbara where she received her B.A. in Spanish. She went on to get a Master's degree in Education at Oregon State University. Patricia lives with her husband and two children in Alameda, across the bay from San Francisco, along with two very large chocolate labs named Annabella and Jack, and a rescue terrier mix, Shay Dog. Oh, and she also takes care of her daughter's guinea pig, Lucifer. When she's not writing or spending time with her family, Patricia enjoys riding her Friesian horse Maximus, who lives in the Oakland hills with a million dollar view. The link to her website is: http://www.patriciayagerdelagrange.com

https://www.patriciayagerdelagrange.com

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