A former
English teacher, Lynette Sofras gave up a high level career in education to
focus on her writing a few years ago, thus fulfilling her lifelong dream. She
mainly writes women fiction, often with suspense and/or a supernatural twist. Learn
more about her and her books at her website and blog.
Increased life expectancy is something we ought to be able
to celebrate, but with advancing years come many challenges and problems. Health
issues apart, perhaps the most significant challenge facing many elderly people
is that of loneliness. With the fragmentation of society, loss of partners or
other family members, many old people lead isolated and often miserable
existences, rarely seeing a friendly face from one day to the next. But what a
difference a cheerful smile and a few kind words can make to the vulnerable in
our society.
According to recent studies, within the next 30 years, the
number of Americans aged 65 and older is set to more than double, reaching 88.5
million. This means that future generations will need to be prepared to care
for a larger populace of elderly loved ones with ever-increasing needs.
There are many practical ways we can help and perhaps the
most important is to ensure they eat healthily and of the foods they
particularly enjoy, as well as having ready supplies of goods that meet their
essential needs and allow them some independence and dignity.
My second contemporary romance, Shopping for Love was inspired by a lonely, elderly neighbour for
whom I became a friend and carer. I used to take her to do her banking and
weekly shopping, but when she moved into sheltered accommodation, she lost her
confidence and became too unsteady on her feet to venture out, so asked me to
take care of everything for her. On one occasion, while shopping for her, a
rather delightful elderly gentleman struck up a brief conversation over the
baffling choice and variety of tomatoes in the supermarket. And from little
acorns (or should I say tomato seeds?) my novel was born.
Primary school teacher Emma does a weekly shop for her
elderly neighbour Joan, while computer scientist Greg performs the same task
for his aging grandfather. Needless to say the two meet while buying tomatoes
and soon fall in love.
Shopping
for Love
Love can
find you in the strangest places - but it's never for sale!
They meet - of all places - buying tomatoes in the
supermarket and there’s no denying the attraction is mutual. But Greg, a
software developer, is still raw from his painful divorce and Emma, his
children’s teacher, is recovering from her own heartache. Then the reappearance
of Emma's career-obsessed ex-boyfriend and Greg's spiteful ex-wife threatens to
kill their new love before it has even begun.
Is Emma’s love strong enough to survive Greg’s demanding
past and the threats to both their careers? What will be the cost of falling in
love in a world where everything comes with a high price tag?
Buy Links
