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March 22, 2006
The Inspiration for LONELY HEARTS
...which I won't soon forget
When my publicist sent out ARCs for THE LONE STAR LONELY HEARTS CLUB, she’d made up this great press release, all about how I was named a “top single” by St. Louis Magazine and how my own dating life (until last November) had been pretty disastrous. The thing was, none of that had anything to do with the book or what inspired it.
The true seed behind this tale of love, dating and murder (and the backdrop of LONELY HEARTS being a posh retirement village and many of the characters being well over sixty) is my grandmother.
She’s been gone ten years this month, but I think of her all the time and clearly remember something she said to me after my grandfather had died and she’d started dating again.
Can you even imagine that? Dating after you’d been married to the same man for fifty years? Not only married, but madly and deeply in love?
It’s bad enough to have to deal with being single when you’re in your twenties or thirties…or even your forties. But how does it feel when you’re in your seventies and widowed and had hoped never to have to do the mating dance ever again?
Anyway, my grandma started going out with a dude from her church that no one in the family much liked. My Paw Paw had been the greatest guy, full of life and laughter, generous to a fault, always quick with a joke (or a bad pun).
Bernie was none of these things.
I recall a cozy moment when the extended family was gathered in grandma’s family room, watching “A Christmas Story,” chuckling like mad, and Bernie turned to Grandma and said, “Is this supposed to be funny?”
Well, that sealed it for me. He wasn’t suitable for my grandmother, as he clearly had no sense of humor (something that’s overabundant in my family).
So I asked her one day when we were alone: “Why Bernie?” Because I didn’t get it.
She looked me straight in the eye—rather sadly—and said, “Sometimes you just want a hand to hold.”
That hit me hard, right in the gut.
I will never forget it either.
And it made me realize how complicated our emotions can be, how persistent our drive to find another to share our days—and nights--because sometimes a heart beating in tandem is much more desirable than one heart beating alone.
So I wrote THE LONE STAR LONELY HEARTS CLUB with my grandmother's words in mind, all the feelings she was going through, her desire for affection...and I wove some of that into my third Debutante Dropout book. Which I dedicated to her, of course.
Often the best storylines are dictated to us through our real-lives, if we'd just pay attention, listen, and feel.
Speaking of emotions, I want to thank the incredible Literary Chicks for allowing me to guest blog this month. I’ve enjoyed my time here so much, and I wish much happiness and success to everyone. Hugs!
Now for the winners of the five signed copies of THE LONE STAR LONELY HEARTS CLUB (drum roll, please!):
Crystal Broyles, Christy Hawkes, Sharon Herbert, Kathy Nitsch, and Gennie Bailey. Congratulations, ladies…I’ll be in touch!
See you at Lipstick,
Susan
This blog was brought to you by The Lone Star Lonely Hearts Club, Susan McBride’s latest Deputante Dropout Mystery!
Posted by at 8:02 AM | Comments (8)
Comments
Susan, that's such a touching story about your grandmother - what a great inspiration for the book!
And I can't believe we have to say goodbye already! It was so great having you here. And congratulations, winners! You're in for a great read!
Posted by: Lani ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at March 22, 2006 10:09 AM
I interviewed my Gram for a paper I was writing for a class. I decided that I wanted to hear the love story behind "Ray and Edie", to know them as something other than my grandparents, but as the young people they'd been. It was an amazing experience and one I'm so glad she shared with me...
Posted by: laurenjharwood at March 22, 2006 10:18 AM
Susan, what a poignant story!
My maternal grandparents met on a double date during WWII, when my granddad was stationed in her home city. Nan actually fancied his friend - not him! But Nan's girlfriend was tall, and granddad's friend was tall, so Nan got to double date with granddad. And then they fell in love...
Susan, we'll miss you here at the L. C. (See, Whitney, we're all copying you, now). Thanks so much for spending time with us!
Posted by: Michelle C at March 22, 2006 10:32 AM
I'm gonna miss y'all at the L.C. Hope I see at least some of you Chicks at RT, so we can make fun of the male cover models (particularly that long-haired blond dude who sorely needs some deep conditioning treatment).
Lauren, I know just what you mean. I was always the kid who wanted to talk to my grandparents and hear their stories...and who like to hang around their bridge parties and listen to their friends, too. I think people miss out on a lot, sometimes, when they don't ask questions...then they wait too long, and it's too late.
Posted by: Susan McB at March 22, 2006 11:28 AM
Wow. The time just flew by. I can't believe you're leaving the L.C. already (there's my contribution, Whitney).
I love the inspiration for LONELY HEARTS. You're right, there are so many fantastic story lines out there and so much courage and drama in the real world. It takes a special person to stop and listen to it, though.
Posted by: Eileen at March 22, 2006 11:31 AM
Awww!! We're going to miss you, Susan!! Everybody, you MUST read the Debutante Dropout books, not just LONELY HEARTS, but all of them!! Susan is as terrific a writer as she is a friend!
Posted by: Alesia Holliday at March 22, 2006 11:38 AM
Wow Susan, what a great blog. I think your Grandmother summed up human interaction in that one little, but telling, statement. She was a very wise woman.
I'm going to miss the you on the LC too, since I always love your blogs! Dual blogs this month was a bonus for all of us, but at least you introduced me to another fantastic blog to read. Lovin’ the LC Blogs!
Posted by: Nancie aka Gun Tart at March 23, 2006 12:09 AM
*sniff, sniff*
Oh, Susan, what a bittersweet story!
It's been wonderful having you here at the L.C.! Thanks so much for hanging out with us this month.
(((hugs)))
Posted by: Whitney at March 23, 2006 7:17 AM
