Hello Lovely Readers!
Today we’re welcoming Wendy Lindstrom back to the blog in honor of her new release, Done With. We’re so thrilled to have her, and so we’ll hush so she can do her thing.
Can one bold decision have the power to alter a life forever?
I believe we all have “done with” moments in our life when we want to walk away from whatever ails us (a bad job, a toxic relationship, a life not of our own making, a world that no longer makes sense, or something small and seemingly insignificant to others). But what would it actually take to walk away, end it, quit something, start something new, or maybe even leave everything behind?
Is it courage? Maybe desperation? Or something else entirely that empowers a person to make that one bold decision that changes their whole life?
I explore this theme in my contemporary women’s fiction novel Done With because characters experiencing that level of commitment or desperation are wildly interesting. They take big risks, break rules, make impossible sacrifices, burn with passion, and fight like hell for a life of their own. Brave women, especially in midlife, refuse to be silenced. They rebel, reinvent themselves, and find their own voice. They stand up against oppression, misogyny, bigotry, and stand out without apology. They’re complex, intelligent characters who defy societal norms and initiate important conversations.
Some women are born standing up and speaking out. For others, it might take a “done with” moment to bring them to their feet. That moment can be as innocuous as a whispered warning in their ear or maybe it’s a violent gut punch that leaves them gasping.
“Done with” moments in life happen in a single moment of illumination when a situation becomes so clear or intolerable it’s impossible to ignore. A character might witness the destruction of their old life, or the death of their art, or suffer a loss so profound it changes them irrevocably.
Protagonists who experience a “done with” moment might be emotionally wounded—or maybe they’re just fed up and really pissed off—but it’s that underlying emotional power that drives them forward. They stand up and take their power back. Who doesn’t love a passionate character willing to kick down walls, or build new ones, to reclaim control over their life? Bearing witness to a character’s hard-fought journey of self-discovery and empowerment keeps us turning pages to see what’s next. They’re unforgettable characters.
We envy and applaud their courage. We wonder if we could be that strong or brave.
I know I couldn’t endure what my main character, Kate Weston, experiences in Done With when she finds herself destitute and alone in the wilds of the Adirondacks. She has four dollars in her wallet. Duct tape holds her shoes together. An old shed is her only shelter against the frigid Adirondack weather. Amid the grim reality of her situation, she embarks on a wrenching and sometimes humorous journey of self-discovery as she fights for a life all her own.
I envisioned her “captivating, heart-wrenching, and triumphant” journey in every excruciating and empowering detail. And it’s all in the book.
Done With is an evocative, emotional novel that illustrates life in all its messy beauty. It’s about reclaiming the things that make us whole, that bring us joy, that feel necessary to our very being. Writing Done With was that thing for me. Necessary. Important. One of the most challenging and liberating pieces of work I’ve accomplished, and I hope you’ll read and enjoy it.
I also hope you’ll post your own “done with” moments in the comments or share how you found your voice, reinvented yourself, or reclaimed your power because it might inspire someone else to find the courage to change their life.
Want to know more about Done With?
An evocative, emotional novel that illustrates life in all its messy beauty from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Lindstrom
One ordinary day, Kate Weston woke up, drank her coffee, then abandoned her life.
Her search for an unapologetically honest existence drives her back to her hometown—a place she vowed never to return to. With her marriage in shambles, her family ties broken, and her friendships lost, she finds herself destitute and alone in the wilds of the Adirondacks.
Amid the grim reality of her situation and domineering husband’s sabotage, she fights for independence and holds her world together with duct tape and shoelaces. As she struggles to rescue a stray cat and heal relationships with her quirky friends and angry sister, she embarks on a wrenching and often humorous journey of self-discovery that will change her life in ways she never could have predicted.
Meet Wendy Lindstrom:
Wendy Lindstrom is the RITA award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of the Grayson family saga, a captivating series of unforgettable, heartwarming stories about enduring friendships, family bonds, and romantic relationships between strong, complex characters living in a charming small town in America.
Fans of uplifting, binge-worthy historical romance will love Ms. Lindstrom’s popular Grayson series, a #1 storewide bestseller on Barnes and Noble, and a New York Times and USA Today bestselling series. Romantic Times has dubbed her “one of romance’s finest writers,” and readers rave about her enthralling characters and the “awesome underlying emotional power” of her work. The Grayson series is a must-read for those who love feel-good stories that uplift and warm the heart. Her Second Chance Brides series is for the reader who prefers a sweet and clean read (same books as the Grayson series without the love scenes).
For more information about the author, her books, and to get the behind-the-scenes scoop at her Rustic Studio visit her website at WendyLindstrom.com and subscribe to her wonderfully engaging newsletter where she shares photos and personal stories about her beautiful water garden and the magnificent wildlife at her rustic studio, along with her insights on writing, her passion for great books, and other fun topics. She’s also on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and BookBub.
