December Newsletter:
Since the holidays are consuming my time, I will keep this brief. I decided to write about the concept of a found family. I don’t think it is as unusual as you might think that people outside of your biological family can bond in a significant way. Just like what you might see in a Hallmark movie, familial-like bonds can develop over extended periods of time through interactions with others in a noteworthy way by providing love, safety, and support, while a sense of belonging emerges. Eventually, that connection can extend to become a chosen one or a replacement family. This bonding can result from a shared experience, such as being on a committee to coordinate a fundraiser, where shared values initially create the connection. Adversity can form a bond through the generosity of providing help during a time of need, like surviving an earthquake or a flood. As trust develops through mutual caring, so does the commitment to the other. 
In my novel, More Than Luck Required, the opening for a bond to form came when Lora and Cooper candidly shared their experiences surrounding the loss of people they loved. Later, that bond strengthened when their two families united to help a teenage girl build a plan to secure a better future for herself.
I learned years ago, as a foster parent, that your mothering instincts kick in easily when you become goal-driven to give a child the safety and security they need to thrive. So, it is not surprising that as I draft my next novel, the concept of a found family and people reacting to the needs of a child show up again.
One thing that families do is share the gift of a good meal. To me, cooking is an extension of my love for my family. In More Than Luck Required, Cooper’s daughter, Emma, has taken up baking as a connection to her deceased mother. At Christmas, Emma makes her first Yule Log Cake. Here’s one to try, taken from the Pioneer Woman’s website – https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a33943671/yule-log-recipe/
A quote from the book:
The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. ~ Richard Bach
Happy holidays, my friends.
