The Reason for the Lack of Blogging…
If it feels like I haven’t been blogging as much, you are correct. It makes me a little sad, but there’s a reason for it. While I don’t have a full-time job, I have many part-time endeavors that keep me extremely busy (and I love it this way). These part-time roles consist of the following:
—Teaching in Stevenson University’s graduate program part-time.
—Helping to revise the graduate school curriculum at Stevenson with Dr. Leeanne Bell McManus.
—Co-coordinating Walking with Purpose at St. John the Evangelist Church (152 women! It’s wow!).
—Writing books, promoting books, getting out in the community, and connecting with the community.
—Doing all the social media and promotional work for the novels (I kind of consider my Instagram as a little blog with more updates). Anthony and I have been able to travel a little, and I keep that site as my book and travel site. You can find it at @stephanieverniwrites.
But I am working on something new…let me tell you about it…
The New Novel
I’ve been thinking a lot about my next project. Sometimes things don’t magically pop into our heads. Sometimes, it takes time, discussions, a thought-provoking question, or a suggestions from someone you know to “see” the story you want to write.
After I wrote THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS, which is set in Annapolis, I moved on to my next project, THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU. That novel is historical fiction set in 1957 in New York City. I love that book, loved writing it, and loved the whole concept of it.
But it’s not set in Annapolis, as I typically like to set my novels here—in this place that my husband loves to say is my “favorite place on the planet.” (Haha…he’s not entirely wrong.)
Nevertheless, it’s taken me some time to finagle this new book the way I want it. I have rewritten parts of it tons of time, and I just didn’t feel I had the hook I needed.
In THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS, we had letters that particular story hinged upon.
In the new work, THE BAKERY OF FRESH BEGINNINGS, we have a bakery, yes. But we have something else, too. Something inspiring and magical, and a sense of characters forging ahead despite setbacks in life.
And so now that I have the hook and the “thing” that was missing, I’m working on revising what I have so far and continuing to write the story.
I’m hoping to get the new work out by early summer…that’s the goal.
Revisiting Phantom of the Opera
Last week, my husband and I watched the movie The Phantom of the Opera with our daughter when she was home visiting. I’ve seen the stage show so many times that I can hardly count them all.
But my daughter and I saw it several years ago at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore on stage. It was a wonderful production. Toward the end of Act II when the Phantom admits his love for Christine and lets her run off with Raoul, my daughter started to cry. She was inconsolable, the thought of the Phantom’s broken heart just too much for her to process. It reminded me of the time I went to see Out of Africa with my mom in the theater and cried the whole way home, or the time I watched The Thorn Birds and cried for a full hour afterward when the mini-series ended in a tragic way.
It’s funny to think how much stories can not just touch our hearts, but actually leave us gasping for air, the pain of the what the characters go through almost too much for our feeble mortal souls to handle.
When we watched the movie with her, this time she did not cry. But we were all struck by the utter sadness of the story: a man so disfigured, he was mocked and bullied, and most of all, unloved, even by his own mother. When Christine kisses him at the end of the film after he has bewitched her and then essentially kidnapped her, it’s out of a recognition of his humanity and what he’s been through; it’s an act of mercy; it’s a chance for the Phantom’s redemption; and it offer closure to the story. It’s when the Phantom is able to let her go that we understand his love for her is greater than his need to control her. And because he lets her go, he is redeemed.
Still gets me choked up every time.
Upcoming Events
Next Sunday, I’m attending a book club in Edgewater (Annapolis area).
On Thursday, December 11, Anthony and I will be hosting Holiday Trivia at Park Books in Sykesville. Get your tickets to the event via the link provided!
I’ll also be at a couple of other events as we head toward the holidays, so keep in touch or follow me on Instagram where I post often with updates! You can find me @stephanieverniwrites on Instagram.
Take care, and thanks to everyone who came out to Lures Bar & Grille for Bookstore Brunch and to see the Salty Girl book truck! It was fun to be there today!
xx,
Stephanie
About the author:
STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.
Connect with Stephanie on Instagram at stephanieverniwrites, (provided they allow it) and on TikTok at stephanieverniwrites.
