“My friends are my estate.”
Emily Dickinson

Well, I am just back from a party and I have to admit it, I’m a bit plastered. How many glasses of red wine did I have? I can’t really remember. It was a party hosted by a neighbor for my good friend Lynne and her family. Sadly, they are moving away to California. I’ll miss Lynne a lot.

I can still see the two of us sitting on my porch a few years ago. It was Halloween. We sat on the steps of my house sipping wine and I told Lynne about this Idea I had for a YA novel about a young girl who masquerades as a boy and apprentices to a knight and has all sorts of adventures. As soon as I describe it, Lynne (who’s a teacher and has home schooled her four kids), said, “That’s a great idea, Karin! You should definitely keep going with it. Girls really need that kind of story.”

I took Lynne’s advice. I pulled out my handwritten notes and inputted them on my computer. And when I looked at what I’d written, I felt that Lynne was right — there was definitely something worth pursuing. Later, when the story was further along, I passed on the first five or six chapters to Lynne and she gave me a great idea about how to make the whole story bigger and more meaningful.

Just having Lynne down the block has been an inspiration to me. Every once in a while, she would be on her porch and we would have tea and chat about books and I would give her an update on my project. She was always so encouraging and enthusiastic! She always made me feel great about what I was trying to do — and that I could do it. Her belief in me has meant so much.

Well, Lynne is moving out to California, but we’re definitely going to stay in touch. I’m going to keep her posted on my progress. When my book gets an agent and a publisher, I’m going to call her and tell her. And if it ever makes it to print and maybe even to a movie, I’m going to send a limo to pick her up and we’re going to ride to the premiere in style. Thanks, Lynne, for being such a wonderful friend and booster!