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Old Friends

by

by: Staci Stallings

I just heard a song called, “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” and it got me to thinking about the series that is currently being released called “The Imagination Series.”

Much like The Grace Series before it, The Imagination Series follows a group of friends. When we start their story, they are all in high school. Honestly, when I wrote the first one “Becoming Me” in 2009, there wasn’t supposed to be more story to it. That was supposed to be the end.

But, as usual, God had a different idea. So here I am nearly 10 years later, writing the last four books, and what a journey it has been.  Like so many young people today, they battle with the norms of society—in and out of relationships, falling in love and then wondering what that even means when life happens, trying to navigate growing up with parents and past issues.

It’s so interesting to me watching them trying to be friends but sometimes not even really knowing what that means.  What happens when a friend makes decisions you don’t agree with?  What happens when they hurt one of your mutual friends?  Who picks up the pieces, and how do you go on?

I think being friends sounds so simple, but if you’ve lived for very long, you know the fallacy of that. Becoming old friends is even more profound because you remember the backstory when him and such-and-such were in love, long before he fell for the one who would become his wife. You remember that time at the prom, that day at the beach, those times of hanging out at school.  You remember the dances and the classes and just trying to keep everything in one piece. You remember graduation and summer break, going back to school and everything being different…

You remember.

In this series, I think maybe even more than any other, the reader gets to go along for that crazy ride called growing up with all the turmoil and hope, all the heartache and bumps and bruises.

I’ve been reading a couple of these books again just getting them final ready to go, and the journey in them is just so profound.  Because I remember their prom and the first time Nelson asked Paige to play with him. I remember the notebook, Paige’s words, and Nelson’s melodies.  I remember who they were even as I write who they are becoming.

It’s strange in a way to “be” at both places at once.

Where they are, and where they were.  Seeing who they are because of who they were and what they’ve been through.

And for me, it gives me insight into my own kids and their journeys now.  I can stop just a moment and realize how very far we have come in this crazy thing we call life.

So, I hope, dear reader, that you have some time to spend with these characters as they grow up, so you too, can learn from them about life. I know I have!

Becoming Me

Book 1 in

The Imagination Series

Is FREE August 26 – 30, 2018

Grab Your Copy & Tell Your Friends!
Click here.

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Staci Stallings (87 Posts)

A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. Although she lives in Amarillo, Texas and her main career right now is her family, Staci touches the lives of people across the globe with her various Internet and writing endeavors.


Comments

  2. Hi Staci, thanks for sharing about the series. Isn’t it awesome to look back and see how a friendship progresses? and to have it in a series:)
    Blessings:)

  4. Pretty profound. Makes me realize that I haven’t connected with my “old friends” in awhile and I need to remedy that. The book and the series sound amazing.

  5. Hi Staci! Thanks for sharing about the series that is currently being released called “The Imagination Series.” WOW! How creative and inspiring and the price is right. Yes LIFE is a JOURNEY, which can be crazy. As a grandmother, it is blessing to be able to not only see my son’s journeys, but my grandchildren as well. Life moves much to quickly. Often difficult to imagine I have a son that is 40 and a grandson, who will be 13 on Thursday. A journey through Teenland again. How is it possible, when I am only 39? (Celebrating my 29th anniversary of my 39th Birthday – LOL). Best wishes and enjoy your weekend.

  6. We have so many different things vying for our attention these days that friendships seem harder than it should be, it seems. Thanks for the free book, starting tomorrow, I can’t wait!

  7. What an amazing journey you are on! I totally understand about the old friends…to me they become family!

  8. Watching kids and grandkids grow up is profound. Watching the joys and heartaches while helping and praying is a privilege.

  9. I have not been on Facebook too long. I am now reconnecting with old highschool friends after 50 years. And other friends that I lost touch with in my early married days. It is so wonderful to find some old friends are Christians. And it helps to keep up with what grandkids are doing. Thanks for the post.

  11. This particular group has been amazing to watch because they are all so trying to be good friends to the others. It’s just crazy how life doesn’t always make that very easy. Thanks for stopping by!

  12. So agree! Old friends are very precious and not to be taken for granted. Thanks for stopping by!

  13. Old friends are some of the most precious gifts on the planet. It’s important to remember that once in a while. Thanks for stopping by! God bless!

  14. I’m at the before grandchildren stage but the oldest two are college and just beyond stage. It’s crazy to watch them grow up and start making their own lives. Crazier still how fast it all goes. It’s taught me to cherish the moments because you realize they really aren’t coming back around again.

    God bless! & Thanks for stopping by!

  15. I think one thing we are missing is that friendships just take time. We think in terms of microwaving everything, but relationships don’t work like that. This series really points that out, I think.

    Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoy the book!

  18. I actually have my high school reunion this coming weekend. I’m really looking forward to seeing how everybody’s doing and where life has taken them.

    Thanks for stopping by! God bless you!

  26. I’ve really learned a lot from these side characters which is fun.

    Thanks for stopping by and sharing a moment with me today!

  27. I think it’s interesting to think about old friends because you have a connection to them due to shared history. But seeing them in the present, makes you think about the past, about change, and even the future. Sounds like a great series.

  29. So true. l’m going to my class reunion this weekend. So interesting that many of us now have kids in college or getting married and having kids. Yet to me, we all still seem like kids. Not sure how that happened.

  31. Friendships are difficult for me. Making new friends has always been hard for me. I love to read about friendships so i can live vicariously through them. It’s neat to hear how some people stay friends for a long time. :)

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