High School Reunions and Old Friends

There's something really special about going to class reunions and partying with the people you grew up with. For one thing, you're still around! And these days, that's a real plus. Add to that, these are people who knew you when you were a little tyke, AND they were witnesses to all your tantrums and embarrassing moments and they're still smiling. I've thought a lot about what a reunion means and realized that for people who grew up in a big city, a big, anonymous city, our high school is the equivalent of the small town we never knew. In that high school, going back to junior high and elementary school are people you knew since kindergarten. Teachers, friends, parents, and classmates.

Once we leave high school, we leave the only "small town" we ever knew and end up in "the world." How sad, but at the same time, how wonderful to know that we still had the community within the high school--the football team, the spirit, the togetherness, and the friendships.

Here are some pictures from my reunion. [I'm the one with the glasses, long hair and red blouse].

"I see you as the kindergartner I met in the sandbox. I see you as the third grader hanging on the rings and the fifth grader socking the sockball out of the field. I see you in junior high school playing in the orchestra or running the mile, and I see you in high school yelling your heart out with the Pep Club. I see you at eighteen going out into the world with that unquenchable Banning Pilot Spirit. And now, I still see you, my friend, with all your wisdom, love, tears, and experience. And I love you because being with you brings us back to those unforgettable days when we all cheered for ol' Banning High, in unity and victory." - Clare Chu, writing as USA Today Bestselling Author, Rachelle Ayala

Speaking of small towns, come with me to my favorite fictional town in Nebraska, Sapphire Falls, where Amber and Chad, two nerdy scientists, get makeovers and a new start during the Summer Festival. [This book is a sweet romance, although other books in the series are not].

GOING GETS HOT

One more thing! Remember the Summer Book Blast in July?
http://www.sweetromancereads.com/2017/07/rachelle-ayala-july-book-blast-6-free.html

The Winners of a Free Sweet audiobook are Stephanie Coutts and librarypat, please contact me using the contact form at my website: http://rachelleayala.net

ALSO, you may choose one of the following three sweet audiobooks.

My Husband's Birthday and Audiobooks

Today is my husband Jose's birthday! It's pretty awesome to think that I've been with him for 60% of his life. While real life romance is definitely not as well-packaged as a storybook one, it is sweet, vivid, rocky, exhilarating, familiar, strange, comforting, and as many adjectives as you can add. We know so much about each other, but there are still mysterious nooks and corners that can surprise and thrill: new ventures and hobbies, places to go, and of course finding unexpected facets of love and romance.

So, let's wish my husband a happy birthday today! [And a picture of us over 40 years ago]

What does it have to do with audiobooks? You say... Well, it's something new I'm doing this year. I have over 40 published titles and now is the time to catch up. Last fall, after I became a USA Today bestselling author, readers have been asking for audio. It all felt daunting at the time, not to mention expensive! But after careful consideration, I prayed about it and with halting steps of trepidation mingled with hope, I picked two books to turn into audio.

I also had to explain to my husband that I would be losing money this year [unless something surprising happens], and he had to buy into this. I'm hoping that by investing in audiobooks this year, I can help supplement our income once he retires. But of course, that is a promise for the future that may not bear fruit.  Being together over forty years is no guarantee he'd agree with me putting out so much money that may not pay off, at least for the short term.

With my husband's blessing and some eye-rolling as he watches and listens to me laugh and play my audiobook drafts over and over like a toddler replaying Barney, I stepped up and my first Veteran's Christmas book, A Father For Christmas, winner of the 2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Award for Christian romance is now available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes Audio.

So far, the reviews have been great, and I really, really love the way my narrator, Elizabeth Klett, did little Bree's voice. It makes you want to go through the speakers and hug her. More sweet stories will be coming soon, including Christmas Lovebird and Christmas Stray.

Happy Birthday, Jose, and thanks for the love and encouragement that makes all of this possible! Love you, honey!