Book Hooks Blog Hop #MFRWHooks
Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story Blog. Today we're joining the Book Hooks Blog Hop sponsored by the Marketing For Romance Writers Group. Each participating blogger shares an excerpt from their book. Today, I share an excerpt from my memoir, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir, released on January 1, 2021.
BACK OF THE BOOK: Arranging a Dream: A MemoirIn 1975, budding entrepreneurs Ted and Janet purchase a floral shop and greenhouses where they plan to grow their dream. Leaving friends and family behind in Illinois and losing the security of two paychecks, they transplant themselves, their one-year-old daughter, and all their belongings to Fremont, Michigan, where they know no one.
Will the retiring business owners nurture Ted and Janet as they struggle to develop a blooming business, or will they desert the young couple to wither and die in their new environment?
Most of all, can Ted and Janet grow together as they cultivate a loving marriage, juggle parenting with work, and root a thriving business?
Follow this couple’s inspiring story, filled with the joy and triumphs and the obstacles and failures experienced as they travel along the turbulent path of turning dreams into reality.
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Arranging a Dream: A Memoir
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EXCERPT: Chapter 13, The Funeral Business Keeps Us Alive
A few months into the winter season, I had the sad task of creating a small casket spray of
white roses for a baby. This order was the first one I would design on my own since the baby’s
visitation and funeral were scheduled on a Sunday. I waited until Sunday morning to go downstairs
to the silent shop to design the miniature casket spray.
Switching on the lights didn’t chase away the gloom that winter morning in the design room.
I noticed the chill and dampness in the air as I gathered everything I would need to create the piece.
I soaked the foam used as the base to hold the flowers. It had to be a small piece to fit the
small baby casket. I went to the cooler and took out the white sweetheart roses, greens and baby's
breath and set them on the design table. I wrapped the block of foam in green foil and taped it onto
a papier-mache tray. A casket saddle used as the base for an adult-sized casket spray that fits on
the foot of a casket would have been too large.
I set the prepared foam block next to the bucket of flowers and greens. I could not stop thinking
of the heartbroken mother and father of this baby. My eyes brimmed with tears when I thought of
losing Sara. How does one get through the crushing grief? The loss?
I prayed, “Please, Lord, be with this grieving family. Give them strength to endure the loss of
their beloved baby. Give them comfort and peace. Be with their friends to help them through this
unimaginable grief and loss. Be with me as I design this loving tribute to their baby. Bless my
hands and sharpen my skills to help bring peace to their grieving hearts. Amen.”
I stepped back from the design table, closed my eyes, and pictured the small casket spray. This
floral spray was the most important piece I had ever made. I took my time to place the dainty
flowers and ribbons into a design to convey how special their baby was.
Working on this spray brought home the bond that I had with the families, my customers. My
work was woven into families’ celebrations through weddings, graduation parties, and through
their trials of sickness and death. I would be a part of the highs and the lows in people’s lives.
I felt the weight of this huge responsibility and was humbled by the honor of being trusted to be a
part of their life-changing moments.
Arranging a Dream: A Memoir is available at major online booksellers. Click the Universal Link to find your favorite retailer.
UNIVERSAL LINK eBooks from your favorite digital bookseller.
Paperback from amazon
Thank you for stopping in!
↪Click here to visit bloggers participating in the #MFRWhooks Blog Hop!
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About JQ |
Author JQ Rose |
Whether the story is fiction or non-fiction, J.Q. Rose is “focused
on story.” She offers readers chills, giggles and quirky characters woven
within the pages of her romantic suspense novels. Her published mysteries
are Deadly Undertaking, Terror on Sunshine Boulevard and Dangerous
Sanctuary released by Books We Love Publishing. Using her storytelling
skills, she provides entertainment and information with articles featured in
books, magazines, newspapers, and online magazines.
Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games and
travel are the things that keep JQ out of trouble. She and her husband spend
winters in Florida and summers up north with their two daughters, two
sons-in-law, four grandsons, one granddaughter, two grand dogs, four
grand cats, and one great-grand bearded dragon.
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Thank you!!
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