You Can't Kill Them

So, let's talk about brothers. You can't kill them.

Having 7 of them growing up was a lot more difficult when I was a kid. Yes, 7 brothers. Since I was the last of 9-yes, 9 kids--those lovable dudes taught me some valuable life skills:

Coping- "Annie, go play marbles on the freeway," my oldest brother used to tell me.

Self-defense-For a toothpick, I was strong at wrestling. And the boy who called me Annie Pannie in my 3rd grade class regretted it.

Tolerance-Dirty/inappropriate jokes gave me a healthy sense of humor and keen insight into the male mind.

With a 16-year age gap between my oldest brother and myself, it made sense that most of them didn't want to play dolls or hang out. Though in my teenage years, I developed a bond with the brother who is the closest in age to me. He is 4 years older.

Inevitably, a friend of said brother hung around the house, teasing...or ignoring me. Went with the territory. But, then there was the friend--we'll call him Paco for fun--who happened to spend a lot of time with that brother. Now, Paco wasn't like the others; he was tall and nice...and my feelings for him emerged. Unrequited, of course. I resented the hell out of Paco's girlfriend, proclaiming to myself that I would've been sooo much better for him. (Cue the band Heart's song 'Alone.')

I've shared this personal and embarrassing experience to show that I understand the mechanics and taboos that go with this kind of crush. I never told my bro that I liked Paco. That would have not only caused strain between us but also on their friendship.

(Ironically, my brother also crushed on my bestie at the time but didn't tell me until much later.)

Funny how life works. Turned out to be a good thing that I couldn't kill my brothers. And who knew that one day I'd write a novel about a girl who had romantic feelings toward her brother's best friend?

My book explores all the fun, humor, and awkward emotions. You can expect angst--the hot jealousy of seeing your crush dating someone else. And the lies. Because fooling your family and the members of your small town gets tricky. It takes creativity to pretend not to have the hots for a guy who is an honorary brother.

Dale and Veronica are characters that I've had so much fun getting to know. They have entertained me for over 50 chapters with their opinionated points of view. Their PG-16 tale begins with a twist: our born-to-be-married Dale opens up our story, fending off the advances of his best friend's sister.

I am so excited to share this story with you when it is ripe, juicy, and ready to fall off the tree.

Until then...

If you like to laugh: Check out the Teflon Saga on Facebook for dad jokes told by aliens--their laughter alone makes me chuckle.

If you like to swoon and giggle, look up Carlo and Sarah on Instagram, Facebook, or Tik Tok. Their videos are about Sarah, an American girl who married Carlo from Italy. They are adorable and the way he messes up his English words amuse me to no end.

If you prefer to delve deep into self-worth and inspiration, check out: beingandbecomingavi on Instagram. Avi is so inspiring.

Check back here for recipes and more! And I'm sending you all love and light.