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When I was young, our front door was never locked. Family and friends would knock and pull the door open at the same time, yelling my mom or dad’s name. They’d sit at the kitchen table visiting—drinking coffee or munching cookies or cake. My mom always had something homemade and sweet for guests.
Today, my kitchen isn’t much different—maybe a little more cluttered than my mother’s was. And the sweets aren’t often home-made. On weekends during the early morning hours, while I’m still sleeping, husband sits on the wicker garden sofa to eat his oatmeal. In the evenings, he and daughter visit there while I cook.
The kitchen is the heart of the home.
In my novella, The Last Daughter, it seemed natural for my characters, Rayna and Trent, to begin their day by meeting in the old country kitchen of Wounded Heart, the 100 year old house Trent purchased in Oklahoma City.
He consumed cup after cup of coffee, visualizing what he might do with the house … until Rayna came into his life. Then, he consumed cup after cup thinking about her.
Trent loved to cook and enjoyed preparing her breakfast. While Rayna was accustomed to eating nothing but dry toast, she savored Trent’s cheese and black olive omelets. Many of their serious discussions took place at the scarred kitchen table. And though it’s not in the book, Rayna (being from Louisiana) introduced Trent to her muffuletta pasta dish.
Sometimes when I see the scarf display in a department store, I’ll picture Rayna choosing one she likes. Sometimes she hovers over the jewelry counter, squinting at a ring or necklace. I’ll hear a song on the radio and I can see Trent encouraging Rayna to dance with him across the scuffed wood floors in his living area. It will be awhile before I get Rayna and Trent out of my mind and heart … and especially out of my kitchen.
Try Rayna’s Muffuletta Pasta she prepared for Trent. He liked it. Sometimes she creates it from scratch … but this dish is simple and from a jar. Enjoy!
Do your fictional characters eat? Do they cook at home or do they travel to their favorite restaurant and hold hands in the candlelight? Are your characters so real that you visualize them enjoying life outside your books? Share!
The Last Daughter, book ten in The Scrimshaw Doll Series will release early Fall. Watch for it! In the meantime, you can follow author Jessica Ferguson on her blog or like her Facebook page or eye her few tweets Here.
Calisa Rhose said:
I’m going to check out the recipe, Jess. Your childhood home sounds a lot like mine except my mom rarely had people over for coffee as she worked all my life. But I still drool at the thought of her fried chicken and white gravy. Lovely memory road map. 🙂
Jess said:
Loved my mom’s fried chicken and white gravy too! Every Sunday after church. I look back and think why on earth would she cook such a huge troublesome meal after going to church? I always want to go out to eat on Sunday. 🙂 Yeah, my mom worked too but she thought she was superwoman.
Cait said:
Lovely post, ladies. Your kitchen sounds perfect! Love your cover too — The Last Daughter sounds great.
Jess said:
Thanks Cait. My kitchen is FAR from perfect. Way too much clutter but somehow, I make it work. 🙂 I’d really like to have the old country kitchen in The Last Daughter. I can see it in my head. 🙂
Pamela S Thibodeaux said:
Wow wonderful post Jess! One day I’d love to visit in your kitchen 🙂 I can hardly wait to read this book!
Good luck & God’s Blessings.
PamT
Jess said:
Thanks Pam! We’ll get together soon. Won’t be long now. 🙂
Linda Todd said:
Great post, Jess. Took me back to my childhood in Westlake. We had a kitchen like that. In fact, that kitchen is in my book.
Jess said:
Hi Linda. Our memories play a huge part in our writing. Thanks for dropping in. Hope to see you soon.
Teresa Bailey said:
Love your work.I can’t read your work w/o wanting to run pickup paper & pen and begin writing myself. Your stories always make me reminisce of childhood past. I wish for time and discipline to write. I had better start praying instead of wishing!! Teresa
Jess said:
Awww, Teresa, you’re too sweet to me. You need to take off work and have a writing day with me at the library! 🙂
Sandra Robbins said:
The kitchen was the center of our home, too, when I was growing up. My mother was always cooking, and I inherited her love for it. We remodeled our kitchen completely last year, and I have a great time cooking but I sure don’t like to wash the dishes. I can hardly wait to read your book, Jess. It sounds great, but I’ve always thought anything you write is great.
Jess said:
Sandra! I would love to sit in YOUR kitchen! I sure miss you.
stargazer12--Pat Marcantel said:
I loved your warm, heartfelt memories. Keep them coming! Love, Pat
Jess said:
Pat, you’re a sweetheart. Thanks!
cgramlich said:
When I was young our doors were never locked either, but we had no visitors. We were six miles out of town and up a dirt road. I don’t have my characters eat much. Ruenn makes Rannon a sandwich in my current WIP!
Jess said:
Charles … I thought all southerners put food in their books. 🙂 Thanks for commenting.
Kathy L Wheeler said:
I’m not a cook, but I love to eat. The pics are making me hungry. I love the new cover too!
Jess said:
Thanks Kathy. I had to learn how when I got married. I have a lot of disasters. 🙂 Who cooks in your family?
Taylor Anne said:
Hi Jess! The book, as well as the food, sounds wonderful. I tend to have my characters eating at some point in my books. Homemade lasagne usually comes into play. Look forward to meeting you in LC one day soon.
Jess said:
Hi Taylor, so glad you popped in. I can’t wait to meet you!
Anna said:
I loved this post! Yes, I see my characters EVERYWHERE. Especially their vehicles 🙂 In my latest book, Another Man’s Treasure, the hero is a garbage man. Now I’m constantly craning my neck at garbage trucks, pointing and saying, “There goes Deason!”
Jess said:
Anna, you’re so funny. I used to see my critique partner’s heroine everywhere. Strange! Once I saw her in Dillards checking people in and out of the dressing room.
Sylvia said:
Jess – Loved this post! Your vivid descriptions already gave Rayna and Trent a place in my heart and I haven’t even read your book yet. I can’t wait! Keep up the great work. I look forward to reading more.
Jess said:
Sylvia, you make me feel so good! Thanks!
Julie Jarnagin said:
Now I’m hungry! 🙂
Jess said:
🙂 Thanks for visiting, Julie. I’m always hungry … and I love olives!
Erin Taylor Young said:
That’s what I was thinking. Why can’t your characters come to my house to cook? I’m totally willing to let them…
Jess said:
Erin, too funny. Okay, I’ll send them over, but don’t keep them!
Lena Roach said:
Would love to visit with you even over a glass of green tea! Look forward to that novel!
Lena
walkingaroundsense said:
Soon, Lena, very soon. 😉
tamriefoxtail said:
Of course my characters have a life outside my books! I have them coffee with them every morning. 🙂
Jess said:
🙂 Love it, Tamrie. Isn’t fun that our characters are our friends?