Steak & Potatoes
October 10, 2024
Welcome to Day 9 of promoting my next release - Time for Love. I’ve been working on this collection for about four years. The romantic collection has twenty short stories - ten about how a couple got engaged and ten about how a couple met. The story I’m going to talk about today is Steak & Potatoes, a short story taking place on the Father’s Day 2008.
Zoey was devastated when her husband walked out. She rebuilt her life, started a new career, and struggled to raise her daughter as a single mother. She also adopted one too many pets. Ben became a veterinarian, intending to follow in his father's footsteps. When Zoey brought her new puppy in, he finally found the love he was looking for. Are they ready to take the next step? You’ll have to read the 7th story in the collection to find out.
How does this story relate to other stories in the gagengirl universe?
In Just a Kiss, Kelly Sargeant names the other three gymnasts who were on the team with her and Susanne McCallum - Kylie, Ashton, & Abby. Ashton’s mom Zoey was created for this story as the female lead. This story takes place eight years before they all go to Rio.
Near the end of the story, Ben arrives with his dogs named Fetch and Catch. They were named by his niece and nephew in Chicago. Ben’s sister married Spring Showers’ Cassie McDowell’s brother.
Zoey’s neighbor Allison was created while I was working on my murder mystery musical. She’s the murder victim’s sister-in-law. (I created way too many characters that don’t appear in that story.)
What can you share about Zoey?
Zoey has been divorced from Ashton’s father for almost six years. She copes with the stress of the divorce by adopting two cats, Daisy and Jasmine, and later a dog named Lily. She is still bitter about the divorce, but has finally found love again.
And what can you share about Ben?
Ben was the popular athlete everyone knew in high school. He harbored a secret crush on Zoey, who ran with a different crowd. He is grateful every day that he was working the day Lily brought her new dog to see the vet. If it had been his dad, he might not have finally had a date with his high school crush.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about this story?
It’s a romance, the story of how Zoey and Ben got engaged. It’s also the only story I’ve considered renaming. I liked the title, then I hated it, and now it’s starting to grow on me again.
Do you know which story you’ll tell us about tomorrow?
Yes. Tomorrow’s story is Veterans Day.
Are you curious about the music that helped inspire me while writing Steak & Potatoes? Click here to read about it.
