Have you ever lived somewhere that seriously influenced your life? A place that
gave you a different perspective on the world as you know it? What I’ve found is
that each place I’ve lived has somehow changed my world view.
I grew up in Iowa. We didn’t live in the largest city in the state, but I grew
up believing we were the most cosmopolitan utopia ever. I was rudely divested of
that notion when I went away to college. But Iowa is where I received my
education, my interest and training in writing and a life-long love of learning.
Moving to Houston after graduation, I learned how to live on a budget. A
straight commission job I loved, but wasn’t very good at meant I also had to
learn how to exist on limited sleep. Because I needed a second job to make ends
meet. Oh, and I learned to love country music and dance the
Cotton Eyed
Joe.
I’ve lived in the same city in Illinois twice. I moved there the first time as a
young newlywed and didn’t know a soul (other than my husband). This is where I
learned resilience. I learned to rely on myself or my husband, to meet new
people. That’s where I learned that a home isn’t a location or the structure you
reside in. It’s the people around you.
My journey of homes wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention living in a small
town in Kansas. I loved that small town. It was warm and welcoming and I felt as
if I’d lived there forever. This is where I learned the value of volunteering. I
was involved in a newcomers-style group and ended up being president. I continue
to volunteer my time and efforts for groups based on the positive experience
there. Bits and pieces of that small Kansas community have shown up in my
novels. I firmly believe everyone should live in a small town or rural community
at least once. There’s a strong probability fond memories would result.
The family traveled back to the city in Illinois a second time. This time
around, I learned the value of being a friend and of having a best girlfriend.
Oh, I’d had a couple of BFF while I was growing up, but adult girlfriends are
more like sisters. That second time around also taught me the sorrow of moving
away. I miss them so much.
My husband’s career afforded us a chance to live in London for a time. The
resilience I learned from an earlier home paid off here. Again, I didn’t know a
soul, but I went out and found friends. I learned to indulge my intrepid side
and wander through Central London and explore by myself. I learned to navigate
public transportation and the mysteries of exchange rates. I learned how to hide
my homesickness for my children and parents from my husband. I rediscovered a
love of history when I visited the original London wall, Stonehenge and the
Tudor castles I dragged my husband to.
All of these places have led to my current home, back in Kansas, but this time
in a more urban setting, in Kansas City. My time in this home has been spent
learning how to write novels. I’ve taken everything I’ve experienced in previous
homes and used the knowledge to enrich my stories. I make sure the things that
have impacted and influenced my life experiences find their way into the lives
of my characters.
It makes me wonder where I’ll go next and what new things I’ll learn. Now, tell
me what you’ve learned from where you’ve lived.
About EXPOSED TO PASSION
They walked through the shadows individually. Will they emerge into the
light together?
Leading a vagabond life as a curator for a traveling photography exhibit
translates to a lot of bad days for Rikki Salerno. But her trouble doubles when
a careless high school student shoves her into a marsh. Being rescued by teacher
Sam Kerrigan should have made things better, but Rikki’s inability to confess
her true identity casts a shadow over their budding affair.
When Sam refuses an overly aggressive parent’s marriage proposal, she’s
determined to ruin him. Not only does she doctor photos to make it look like
Sam’s behaved inappropriately in front of students, she hacks the foundation
website to reveal Rikki’s true identity. Faster than the blink of a shutter,
Rikki’s focus changes from pursuing her full-color future to the black and white
necessity of clearing Sam’s name.
About Gemma Brocato
Gemma's favorite desk accessories for many years were a circular wooden token,
better known as a 'round tuit,' and a slip of paper from a fortune cookie
proclaiming her a lover of words; some day she'd write a book. All it took was a
transfer to the United Kingdom, the lovely English springtime, and a huge dose
of homesickness to write her first novel. Once it was completed and sent off
with a kiss, even the rejections addressed to 'Dear Author' were gratifying.
After returning to America, she spent a number of years as a copywriter,
dedicating her skills to making insurance and the agents who sell them sound
sexy. Eventually, her full-time job as a writer interfered with her desire to be
a writer full-time and she left the world of financial products behind to pursue
an avocation as a romance author.
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