The Road to You (49 page)
Authors: Marilyn Brant
Truly, I could barely stand the anticipation. Of wanting this future. Of wanting to begin this new journey with Donovan. No matter where the road led us.
“You have all your stuff with you?” I asked him, squeezing his hand and tugging him toward a trail that led away from the shore—a different one than I’d taken on the way down here. I wanted every step we took together, from this point forward, to signal the forging of a new path. For both of us.
Donovan nodded and hugged me as we walked toward the hotel. “Everything I need.”
Jane Austen once wrote, “What strange creatures brothers are!” That may be true, but they are also amazing and generous creatures, and I’ve been blessed with a fabulous brother and brother-in-law, both of whom were instrumental in the drafting of this story. I’m indebted to each of them for the different ways they contributed to my manuscript.
Although all mistakes in writing are mine alone, I was extremely fortunate to be able to ask my brother-in-law Brad, a 30-year-veteran of the police force and a retired deputy chief, hours upon hours of questions about the guns and ammunition cops used in the late 1970s, what their communication tools were like back then and the methods they employed to conduct their investigations. Truly, if cluelessness had a face when it came to correct police procedures and topics like “ways bad guys can explode things,” it would have been mine. But I loved learning so many fascinating details from you, Brad, and I’m very appreciative of your expertise and wisdom.
As for my brother Joe, let me just say that no sister on the planet has been luckier than I’ve been in having a sibling who is so consistently thoughtful, classy and smart. I’ve admired you for as long as I’ve known you, Bro. You’re one of my heroes.
Some books take a village to write and publish; this one took a metropolis...
Thank you to my wonderful Chicago-North RWA friends and critique partners—especially Karen, Lisa and Laura, to whom the book is dedicated—for all the editing you did on this novel. Erika Danou and Simone Elkeles, my appreciation to you both for your early feedback on the opening chapters, too.
Huge thanks to my lovely friends Catherine DePasquale, Anita Mumm and Therese Walsh, who took the time to critique this project at various stages and offer such valuable suggestions. An extra dollop of gratitude to Sarah Pressly-James for not only reading the book but for helping me find the perfect title! And another one to Lexi Ryan for sharing so many insights on this story, being tremendously supportive throughout the publishing process and letting me include a novel excerpt here, too.
More thanks (and unlimited bottles of wine) to the members of the fabulous Glenview Book Club for their feedback and heartening enthusiasm, particularly: Dori Barbeau, Claudia Bianchi, Janet Conlin, Marcie Dixon, Terri Guercio, Chris Lama, Lisa Lockett, Megan Lockett, Fran Mazur, Marty Mazur, Allison Vevang and Beth Weigel. I love chatting about books with you ladies and always look forward to our delightful evenings together.
Endless appreciation to the Austen Authors and the entire JA community, as well as to Deb Haupt, Debbie Hoffman, Karen Karris, Jakki Leatherberry, Margie Longoria, Monica Perry, Joyce Twardock and all of the warm and generous librarians, reviewers, bloggers and friends—online and off—who’ve supported my novels for years, no matter what the genre. Couldn’t have done it without you!
Special thanks to Sarah Hansen for your gorgeous cover design, and to Emily Mah Tippetts for your magical work on the manuscript’s interior, especially the way you brought Gideon’s journal to life. The two of you made the book look beautiful.
And my deep gratitude, too, to all who help maintain historic sites, like those along The Mother Road/Route 66, and who strive to preserve for future generations this famous American highway with its unique connection to our country’s past.
Most of all, hugs and kisses to my family for being there for me every day through this rollercoaster ride of publishing. Special thanks to my dad for answering so many of my chemistry questions, to my husband Jeff for reliving the Chicago of the 1970s with me and to my son for being open to experiencing our own Route 66 travel adventure. I’m incredibly grateful for you all.
A young woman who is good at academics but struggles with finding true love gets two decades of dating advice from the spirit of Jane Austen.
New Adult/Coming-of-Age/Contemporary Romantic Women’s Fiction.
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For mature audiences.
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Three married suburban moms contemplate whether they wedded the right men in this deeply thought-provoking relationship drama.
Contemporary Women’s Fiction.
A woman goes on a grand international journey of self-discovery with her eccentric aunt and their lively Sudoku and Mahjongg Club.
Humorous/Romantic Women’s Fiction/Travel Adventure.
A shy dessert cookbook writer and the guy she had a crush on as a teen—an ex-football player turned hot-shot restaurant owner—must run an ice cream shop together for the summer.
Light and Steamy Romantic Comedy.
A dedicated second-grade teacher fights the school’s handsome and inscrutable new financial director to reinstate a much beloved fall festival.
Romantic Comedy with a Dash of Mystery.
A love story told over a year of holidays between the lady owner of a scenic small-town inn and the big-city businessman who frequents the place just so he can see her.
Sexy Romantic Comedy.
The Sweet Temptations Collection
An anthology containing the complete trio of Wisconsin-set romantic comedies: On Any Given Sundae, Double Dipping and Holiday Man.
Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Match
A modern, Austen-inspired story between an ER doc and a single mom who meet on an Internet dating site—both with motives other than the hope of meeting their perfect match.
Sweet Contemporary Romance.
Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Bet (coming 2014!)
The course of true love doesn’t run smooth when it comes to a wealthy flirtatious bachelor and a not-so-angelic psychologist in this lighthearted sequel to ‘Perfect Match.’
Sweet Contemporary Romance.
“Music is the shorthand of emotion.”
~Leo Tolstoy
“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
“Who Are You” by The Who
“Pinball Wizard” by The Who
“Dance With Me” by Orleans
“Life in the Fast Lane” by The Eagles
“Band on the Run” by Wings
“Love the One You’re With” by Crosby, Stills and Nash
“More Than a Feeling” by Boston
“Hitch a Ride” by Boston
“Let Me Take You Home Tonight” by Boston
“Wheel in the Sky” by Journey
“Rock and Roll All Nite” by KISS
“Grease (Is the Word)” by Frankie Valli
“Greased Lightning” by John Travolta & the Cast of “Grease”
“Stayin’ Alive” by The Bee Gees
“How Deep is Your Love” by The Bee Gees
“If I Can’t Have You” by Yvonne Elliman
“You Should Be Dancing” by The Bee Gees
“Jive Talking” by The Bee Gees
“Promised Land” by The Grateful Dead
“Get Your Kicks on Route 66” by Perry Como
“The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin
“Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts
“Running on Empty” by Jackson Browne
“The Fuse” by Jackson Browne
“Saturday in the Park” by Chicago
“Muskrat Love” by The Captain and Tennille
“I Think I Love You” by David Cassidy
“Sweet Talkin’ Woman” by ELO
“Only the Good Die Young” by Billy Joel
“Goodbye to Love” by The Carpenters
“Da Doo Ron Ron” by Shawn Cassidy
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones
“Roll Me Away” by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
“Abracadabra” by The Steve Miller Band
“American Pie” by Don McLean
“Nobody Does It Better” by Carly Simon
“Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” by Rod Stewart
“Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
“Ventura Highway” by America
“Don’t Look Back” by Boston
“A Man I’ll Never Be” by Boston
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy” by Bad Company
“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John
Dedication
For my dear writing friends—Karen Dale Harris, Lisa Laing and Laura Moore—I’m so thankful to all of you for your thoughtful feedback on this novel, for your longstanding encouragement of my writing career and, most of all, for your friendship.
And, of course, for Andrew—this book was yours from the beginning.
