The other day, Narelle, Elizabeth, and I (along with some guests), recorded the StoryChats podcasts for June. Yes, we record four shows in one day. Yes, we record well in advance. (Blame my husband’s work schedule for that. The rest of us do.)
I’m not sure which episode, exactly, we were recording at the moment. I think it was the one on contemporary marriages of convenience, when Narelle mentioned one of my books and commented that she didn’t remember how old, exactly, the heroine’s daughter was, but it was probably five, because (and I paraphrase) that seems to be Valerie’s favorite age to write.
I smiled and nodded. Because there would be a stack of evidence to support Narelle’s claim.
But I had two thoughts simultaneously. One: I obviously need to branch out a little more. And, two: she hasn’t even read A Wide and Pleasant Place yet, with not one, but two, five-year-olds in it!
Brittany Santoro is the heroine, and she’s preparing to work a six-month contract with the Town of Galena Landing. She’ll be staying with her cousin Gina for that time period. (Gina, if you’ve tracked through my Urban Farm Fresh Romance series, is Tony’s sister. Tony’s a chef. Which you don’t need to know to enjoy A Wide and Pleasant Place.)
So… let me introduce you to two little girls. The first one on the page is Emma, Gina’s daughter.
“…And this must be Emma. She’s sure grown.”
A pixie plopped onto the top step wearing a tutu and a plaid shirt buttoned up askew. “That’s because I’m almost five.”
“Wow, that really is big.”
“Yes. I’m going to kindergarten next year, but that’s not for a long time.”
“I bet you’ll be really good at school.”
The little girl nodded and leaned closer, pinning her blue gaze on Brittany. “Mama will miss me.”
Once, Brittany’d had all that confidence, too. It had vanished somewhere between four and twenty-four. “I’m sure she will.”
Gina chuckled. “Come on, Emma. Wash your hands, okay? Then you can help me put some cookies on a plate.”
“Okay.” The pixie studied Brittany. “They are molasses cookies, and they have sprinkles on them.”
“Oh, yum. My favorite.”
“Mine, too.”
The cousins don’t know each other well. Gina is quite a bit older, and they grew up in different towns, but Brittany is thankful for her cousin’s hospitality and is absolutely smitten with Emma. I admit, Emma was still four at the beginning, but her birthday party happens during the story, so it counts, okay? Okay.
The second five-year-old to show up in the story is the hero’s daughter, Scarlett. Treyan Ackerman has been divorced for about three years. He works for the Town of Galena Landing and lives on the farm he and his brother inherited from their grandfather. He’s a weekend dad, and his ex drops Scarlett off at Town Hall every Friday afternoon at 4:00. Except Treyan works until 5, something Kayla refuses to hear or acknowledge.
Now, the town administration has decided to wedge a desk for Brittany into Treyan’s office, replacing the visitor seating, where Scarlett usually spends that hour coloring. On the first Friday after Brittany is hired, Treyan brings Scarlett up to the office, and the girl is not impressed to find her coloring spot gone. Brittany has the opening line in this excerpt.
“Well, listen. I’ve got my projects wrapped up for the week.”
Of course, she did. “Congratulations?”
She tossed him a smile. “So why don’t Miss Scarlett and I go down to the bench by the sidewalk, and she can play a game on my phone until you’re done.”
“You’d do that?”
Scarlett stomped her foot. “But I want to color.”
“Or I have a notebook and some pens in my bag. Do you like glitter gel pens, Scarlett? I have lots of colors.”
His daughter sidled closer to Brittany, clearly intrigued. “I like glitter.”
Wasn’t that just like females, bonding over sparkles?
“If it’s okay with your dad.”
“I can’t believe you’re offering.” He couldn’t believe Scarlett looked okay with it.
Brittany shrugged. “It’s not like I have anything exciting to do for the next hour, and I happen to like hanging out with kids. They’re a lot more fun than many adults.”
“You’re not wrong.”
“I know.” She grinned and slung her messenger bag over her shoulder. “What do you say?”
“Um, sure. But I owe you one.” A big one.
“I’ll collect sometime.” She held out her hand. “Want to come? I have almost one hundred gel pens in my bag.”
Holy Toledo. She could be the Pied Piper of all the kids in Galena Landing with that stash.
“Okay.” Scarlett tucked her hand in Brittany’s and gave a little skip. “See you later, Daddy.”
I have four grandgirls, and the youngest is now five. I’m loving every minute… and thankful I’ll get to experience five one more time when my seven-month-old grandboy gets there. Meanwhile, yes. My Costco-size container with one hundred gel pens is always out when the grandgirls come over. Why do you ask?
Have you picked up A Wide and Pleasant Place yet? The Kindle version is now available to buy or borrow on Amazon! The paperback is also available, while the audiobook should be online sometime this summer.
Question for you: What’s your favorite age in real life? How about in fiction?
Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner who writes where food meets faith and fiction. She injects experience laced with humor into her green clean romances. Her life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
I real I love newborns. Happy to read any age in fiction.
My favorite age is 26. In fiction I like to read about people in their late 30’s or in their 40’s.
Hi Valerie, Yay for more adorable 5 year olds! I’m looking forward to reading your new series. 😊
I enjoy one year olds in real life but I find that I don’t always enjoy reading about babies and toddlers. In fiction I like reading about kids who are, you guessed it, five and older.
Ha ha, I have two five-year-olds in one book, too! I don’t know that I have a favourite age, though. We have four children, and it’s been fun getting through every age and milestone several times.
I’m really looking forward to reading A Wide and Pleasant Place.
I love reading about children and the funny things they can say or do.
I love babies!! I also like them when they’re older, except the terrible two’s, which can sometimes be three’s. Older isn’t too bad, until they think they know everything!
Oh, man, ME TOO! They’re so squishy. The seven-month-old is now far too busy for squishy hugs!!!
Okay, you’ve got me curious! Why 26?
Haha! Were your ears burning?!?
Ones are SO BUSY! We’re thinking the grandboy might be an early walker. He sure can’t sit still for long.
Yes, I’m thoroughly enjoying the big girls, too (currently 12, 10, and 9). But there’s something magical about 5. They are so wise, yet so winsome! Conversations often take quite unexpected turns…
Kids can sure add a great dimension to a story!
There are definitely wonderful things about every age. I’m totally enjoying the seven-month-old these days. The bonus there is that he lives next door, whereas the five-year-old lives a few towns over, so I don’t get to see her as often.
I love babies and toddlers but I like all ages. I have 12 sibblings ages 27,25,22,20,18,16,14,12,10,8,3,1 then I will be 24 on Monday. I have two niece’s ages 1.5 and 5 months and two nephews ages 1 and 6 months and a niece or nephew on the way due in December. My nephew that is 6 months we don’t see much cause they live out of town.
I’m 25 and I still want those glitter gel pens lol they would make my college notes cute.
I love babies in real life but in fiction they are more fun from 3 onwards.
Sounds super busy!!!
Haha, head off to Costco. That’s where I found the 100-pack!!!
Hi Valerie! Happy Thursday and congrats on your new release. Late June I will be heading to your neck of the woods and the setting of A Wide and Pleasant Place – Idaho. Our youngest son lives near Coeur d’Alene and Spokane, Washington. Will wave northward.
This Oma also loves 5 year old girls. Youngest granddaughter is five and second granddaughter is 8. Grandsons are 14 & 16. This mom can relate to Treyan Ackerman, so very similar to my son Jon’s situation. Jon has joint custody of his 5 year old daughter and don’t get this mom started on his ex-wife’s drama and putting my son through the wringer, changing her mind on child care arrangements and more. Your descriptions are spot on! Unfortunately Jon lives 70 miles away and I monthly I spend time helping him and snuggling with my granddaughter.
Loved the gel pens. Four days a week I take Missy (8 year old) to school. She likes to arrive early, so we have a 20 minute wait before the doors open. We have a clip board and coloring pages in the car. No gel pens in the car – but a pack of crayons, colored pencils and highlighters. Morning fun and memories. Crafts on the go. Girls are “funner”/craftier than boys.
Best wishes. Will post review soon.
no fav
no fav age
There’s something fun about every age :)
I do not have a favorite age. I love when children are written in stories. They always bring laughter to any situation. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I’m glad you enjoy kids in stories!
I love when mine was a newborn to 16 now. But for sure her younger ages cause she was more a stay with mommy type of girl
I would say teen years due to wanting to do more with me. Reading it would be toddlers & newborns
When you were mentioning Storychats I could just hear Narelle saying probably about 5 as I have heard her make this comment more than once.
5 is a good age. I use to teach sunday school and had the Kindergarten class (although it was around 3 or 4 – 7 age group. I like the younger kids as they are so much fun. Babysitting I enjoyed baby sitting the little ones. I had 2 girls I use to look after I started when the youngest was under 1 but the best when when they were around 2 – 4 and we would read books ( we had a couple we loved) and would change the names to Zoe and Emma. they would pick which character they were. (One was A pair in a pear tree by Pamela Allen). I found the age easier to look after.
Thanks so much, Renate! It would be cool to meet up in June. Shall we see if it can be arranged?
There’s nothing like that bonding time!
I enjoyed my daughter’s teen years, for the most part. My son… a little less so, LOL. It was fun writing teen kids into Cadence of Cranberries, but that’s the only time I’ve done that.
Oh, fun! Fives are so winsome and wise. :)
Yes. Will let you after June 10. Would have to be an the American side. I have a passport, but since our oldest grandson is probably coming as a senior trip surprise to see his Uncle Nate, he doesn’t have a passport. All depends on his grades. After 2 years of COVID, Oma’s incentive to get good grades to finish junior year.