“I found out what the secret to life is—friends. Best friends.”
–“Fried Green Tomatoes”
Who didn’t watch the movie Fried Green Tomatoes and fall in love with the sage wisdom of Ninnie Threadgoode? For certain, she’d figured out the things in life that really mattered, as evidenced by this quote.
Beyond God and my family, by far my greatest blessings on earth are my girlfriends (and that includes my sister!) I have some really good ones. A few I’ve known since childhood. Some, I met as recently as last month.
I’m (a’hem) years old, and here’s what I’ve learned about close girlfriends:
- They keep your children, and your secrets.
- They don’t always tell you you’re right, but they usually tell you the truth.
- They still love you, even when they disagree with your choices.
- They listen when you lose a job, your hair, or a marriage.
- They hold your hand and pray with you when your children break your heart.
- They’ll laugh hysterically with you over something that isn’t that funny.
- When your parents’ minds and bodies fail, they listen and nod in sympathy.
- They don’t mind when their shoulders get soggy from your tears.
- They come early to help you cook for a party and stay late to help you clean.
- They open your fridge and help themselves.
- They’ll listen to your problems for hours over the phone or a cup of coffee, even when you repeat yourself over and over.
Yup, I have a few of these kinds of friends. They are treasures.
Maybe that’s why I write women’s fiction—stories meant for moms, daughters, sisters, and girlfriends. I love a good historical, enjoy a cute romance, but ah . . . what I really adore is a story about women and their relationships, especially their friendships.
In my newest book A WOMAN OF FORTUNE (Revell), protagonist Claire Massey would not have survived having her extravagant lifestyle ripped away had it not been for Jana Rae – a tart-mouthed friend who remained firmly in her corner, sometimes telling her the truth she needed to hear.
On the night the book releases (June 3 at 7:00 pm central) we’re having a launch party and hosting a live online chat. We’ll be talking books and giving away prizes. Every attendee will receive a complimentary digital subscription to RT Book Review magazine and a half-priced lifetime membership to the Pulpwood Queens, the nation’s largest book club that was featured on Good Morning, America! Here’s the registration link: http://www.shindig.com/event/awomanoffortune Or, you can simply click on the invite on my website www.kelliecoatesgilbert.com
Hope to see you there!
Comments 9
Found myself ‘uh-huhing” all the way through this post. Loved it. Love you–thrilled about A Woman of Fortune! xoxoxoxo
Julie – You are one of my FAVORITE girlfriends!
Yep, friends are the best…and so are big sisters! Love you sissy, and am so proud of you! Congratulations on your new book. I loved every word!!!!
I love this post. Girlfriends help you get through some things that no one else can. My three sisters are my best friends and, by them, I am totally Blessed. I just finished A Woman of Fortune for your Revell Blog Tour and, I must say, it’s fantastic!
Blessings,
Wanda
Wanda…thank you SO much for the sweet comments about A Woman of Fortune. I appreciate all you did to highlight the story to readers. As you likely know, it’s so hard to get noticed in a SEA of books coming out every month.
Hallo Ms. Gilbert,
I wanted to let you know that I would have whole-heartedly gone to your bookish event but I attempted to attend Shindig events before and unfortunately that platform does not appreciate my computer system! Sighs. If you are ever a part of Booktalk Nation or another venue, I’ll be more than eager to ‘meet’ you there! Including a Twitter chat like #LitChat! Ironically, sometimes tech gets to the brink where older computers have trouble ‘catching-up’! I wish you a heap of lovely memories & I do hope a heap of readers & appreciators have signed up to participate & visit with you the day of the event! OR was the event already here? Hmm,… the text was too small to see the date! Either way — know I would have gone if I could have attended! Blessings!
ps: Are two CAPTCHAs necessary? Wow. I only use comment moderation and I have no issues w/spam at all.
Thank you, Jorie!
Hi Jorie! Yes, we found Shindig to be very troublesome. Likely won’t use the platform again. I love the book events on Booktalk Nation, so that is what I’ll explore next time, for sure. On the CAPTCHA’s – that’s a thing my web designer had set up after we had some trouble on the site with phishing…sigh. Hate that we even need that at all. Thanks for commenting, and I look forward to hearing from you again.
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