Skip to main content

2014 Nationa Noval Writing Month Begins!


I decided it was time to take my outline and short scene I did for a writing workshop and finally make it into the novel I've talked about for many years. What makes this novel so special to me isn't the fact I'm doing it for NaNo, but the fact it is based on true events from my junior year of high school. The main character is a mirror of myself in that year. The emotions I felt when I lost my best friend have never wholly been shared. I have rarely (and very lightly) talked about this event to anyone. I have never faced down this time in my life and I hope during this process I finally heal completely.


A few words to my dear friend:

Dear Jennifer,

This is the first time in 20 odd years I have opened myself up since your passing. I think of you often and I have never forgot all the times we spent together. You truly were my best friend even though you left us all at such a young age. You were just stepping onto the path of life when it was suddenly and tragically brought to an end. You never attended Homecoming or Prom, Graduated from high school, went to college or raised a family with the man of your dreams. The hardest part I think was we all knew and called the person who stole your life...a friend too. None of us were ever the same in the end and to this day it still hunts me how someone so alive as you never had the chance to experience life to its fullest. It still seems so surreal.

I want you to know the book I begin this November is for you and you alone. Those who get the opportunity to read it are lucky as this is our story and how I know you would want me to tell it.

It's funny so many years ago you said I should become a writer and I laughed at you. You always loved my stories and poems. You really knew who I was even with I doubted and never realized it myself.

Your friendship has and always will be with me in my heart. You are always with me when I write. R.I.P and know your memory will live on not only in the hearts of those you touched, but in my work as well.



Labels:

Comments

  1. Karin LarsonNovember 4, 2013 at 12:49 PM

    Virginia, I am so sorry you had to experience such a tragedy in your life and at such a young life. Good luck in NaNo. Out of tragic events, a gut-wrenching story which will draw many readers will be born giving a fitting tribute to your friend lost so long ago. I look forward to reading your story once published.

    Karin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VS GrenierNovember 7, 2013 at 4:20 PM

      Thanks Karin. I'm hoping this becomes a published novel, but if it doesn't, that is okay too. I'm doing this more for me and Jen's memory.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thank you for visiting my blog and for leaving a comment.

Popular posts from this blog

VBT-Guest Author Spotlight Donna McDine

      Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78 th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions. Her stories have been published in many print and online publications and her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Donna has two more books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, The Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey . She writes, moms and is the Editor-in-Chief for Guardian Angel Kids and Publicist for the National Writing for Children Center from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI and Musing Our Children.                What excites you most about your book’s topic? Why did you choose it?       The Underground Railroad was a pivotal time in American history, one that should never be repeated. It is my hope by keeping history alive for each generation that these huge mistakes will never reoccur. Q.     How lon
36 comments
Read more

Websites, Blogs and Newsletters

Marketing and promoting is a subject that confuses many writers. Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, for adult or children readers, are self-published or traditionally published, all writers need to promote themselves. And one of the best ways to do that is through the internet. I put these three together because in reality everyone has their own idea on how to market themselves on the internet. I personally use all three ways to market my work and myself. I know others who use only one form to promote themselves. Whichever you choose, make sure you keep it updated with the most current information about you. Another thing to think about is what you are going to post on your websites, blogs, or in your newsletters. Jan Fields, an instructor at the Institute of Children’s Literature, Editor of Children’s Writers enews said in the February 14, 2008 issue, “We live in the information age and little things can become big things really fast. For example, although it is true that ed
3 comments
Read more

Interview Friday with Karen Cioffi, author of "Walking Through Walls"

Karen Cioffi is an advocate of education, reading, and the environment.  She loves how reading can spark a child’s imagination and bring him or her to new worlds and on amazing adventures. Along with writing children’s books, Karen is a ghostwriter and freelance writer, and has several nonfiction books on writing and book marketing. She has lived in New York City all her life, and two of her favorite sayings are: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” American proverb “Be the change you want to see in the world.” M. Ghandi VS: I want to thank you for being my guest here on The Writing Mama today, Karen. To start things off, what do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life? Karen: My family life keeps interrupting my writing life. J Obviously, family obligations and responsibilities must come first. And, with MS, it’s not always easy keeping up with everything. When I get overwhelmed, I tell myself the only writing obligation that I have to meet on a tim
3 comments
Read more