So much has changed since I last wrote to you, dear readers, fellow writers, and friends. For the world, for me. Despite so much tragedy and tumult, I hope you’re emerging better and stronger for having gone through it, discovering and embracing what’s really important to you. In my case, I became intentional about writing again. I learned once more to love the process of stringing words together. And I loved to learn even more about the craft of writing and what makes story work.
Having already written six published novels, why did I need to go on that journey? Well, in 2019, the stable center of my life crumbled virtually overnight. My wife of 27 years, the “Kate” in the dedication of all my books, decided she was no longer the person she’d been all her life. Gender, presentation, and finally even whether she wanted to exist anymore were up in the air. Being supportive wasn’t enough to keep us together…or keep her alive. Amidst all that, writing held no allure. Precious little did.
But I’m here to testify that new love in middle age can be sweeter, mellower, and even more fulfilling. I’ve been friends with Kim Conrey for a dozen years thanks to the Atlanta Writers Club. When our marriages were dissolving simultaneously, we found even more to talk about than usual and discovered we had more in common than either of us could’ve imagined. Falling in love with this wickedly smart and funny, gorgeous woman was the easiest thing I’ve ever done.
Kim is a dazzling good writer. You can find her powerful essays on The New Southern Fugitives. The Bitter Southerner, and other websites, and she blogs much more passionately and consistently than me at Harm OCD: You Are Not Alone. By contrast, her enthusiasm for writing didn’t flag a bit while pursuing her divorce. In fact, she embarked on writing not one but two books and invited me to be her sounding board. As she devised her new novel and a combination memoir/self-help book, I became enthusiastic about working on my own projects again.
Having deliberated for years about whether to write sequels to my most popular books—the Southern historical novel Hardscrabble Road and Southern mystery Aftermath—I bore down and got busy. I started outlining a follow-up to Aftermath that sent Janet Wright on a new adventure, this time with Bo Riccardi, the heroine of my suspense-thriller, Watch What You Say.
Then I received my latest royalty check. The stats therein reminded me that Hardscrabble Road has continued to outsell all my other books combined. So, I’ve set aside the other sequel (only temporarily!), and I’m honoring the choice of most of my readers. My Hardscrabble Road sequel will probably be published in 2022 with a predictable title like Return to Hardscrabble Road, but my working title (courtesy of my friend Phil Fasone) is Scrabble Harder. I’m having a ball reuniting Roger with his family and introducing all sorts of new conflicts and complications into their lives, bless their hearts.
Here’s the best news, though: Kim and I are engaged and will be married in late July! I hope I can continue to be a source of joy, wisdom, and strength for her and her daughters, Sloane and Brea. I hope I can make this sequel even better than the life that came before. And for those of you pursuing or contemplating your own Happily Ever After, I hope you’ll be as lucky as me. Because surely no one has ever been, or could ever be, luckier.
Chuck Storla
June 24, 2021 at 3:35 am (3 years ago)Glad you are writing again. Your readers look forward to hearing more from you.
George Weinstein
June 24, 2021 at 3:24 pm (3 years ago)Thank you, Chuck!
Karla Jennings
June 24, 2021 at 1:13 pm (3 years ago)I admire your great strength and determination in struggling through hardships that would crumble many people. Your embrace of a new love, new life, and new writing inspires me. I wish you the best and look forward to seeing you again in person at AWC meetings.
George Weinstein
June 24, 2021 at 3:24 pm (3 years ago)Thank you very much, Karla! I’m hoping GSU will open their campus to us in August–stay tuned!
Sheila
June 24, 2021 at 1:22 pm (3 years ago)Congratulations! Can’t wait to read the new book.
George Weinstein
June 24, 2021 at 3:23 pm (3 years ago)Thank you, Sheila!
Daisy Wallace Ottmann
June 24, 2021 at 1:55 pm (3 years ago)Wow, George–your personal saga has a real story arc from sadness to triumph. I went into a dark place after I moved from Atlanta to and couldn’t write, either. Now I have two novels being beta-read and feel so much light and brighter. Congratulations to you and Kim and best wishes.
George Weinstein
June 24, 2021 at 3:22 pm (3 years ago)I hope you’ll tell your own story over overcoming adversity, Daisy. Congratulations on your productivity and best of luck with your projects!
JIM & PHYLLIS LOFTIS
June 24, 2021 at 1:59 pm (3 years ago)We are very happy for you and Kim and wish you a long and happy life with your new family.
George Weinstein
June 24, 2021 at 3:21 pm (3 years ago)Thank you very much, Phyllis and Jim! I can’t wait for you to meet her!
Patrick Scullin
June 24, 2021 at 2:58 pm (3 years ago)I’m so glad for you and Kim. You are two wonderful people who will make a magical couple, and I’m proud to call you my friends. Your wisdom and talent are inspiring to all. Best wishes to you and your family.
George Weinstein
June 24, 2021 at 3:20 pm (3 years ago)Thank you, Patrick–we love being your friend!
Linda Gaffney
June 24, 2021 at 3:14 pm (3 years ago)I was so happy to receive your correspondence and will look forward to reading your sequel in 2022. I appreciate so much you helping me to introduce my grandson to the Flying group in Rome, Ga. Your kindness is much appreciated and I wish you much happiness in the future.
George Weinstein
June 24, 2021 at 3:19 pm (3 years ago)Thank you very much, Linda! I hope you and your family are well.
Cynthia Blakeley
June 24, 2021 at 5:27 pm (3 years ago)Heartfelt congratulations, George! You and Kim both sound very lucky, indeed. A toast to your joy!
George Weinstein
June 24, 2021 at 11:58 pm (3 years ago)Thank you very much, Cynthia! I hope you and Kim can meet and become friends, too.
John
June 24, 2021 at 6:15 pm (3 years ago)Inspiring read, George! Glad you’re continuing to write.
George Weinstein
June 24, 2021 at 11:58 pm (3 years ago)Thank you, John!
J Winfrey
June 24, 2021 at 7:51 pm (3 years ago)You have more people than you know rooting for you. All the best.
George Weinstein
June 24, 2021 at 11:59 pm (3 years ago)Thank you very much, Janice!
Chrystle Fiedler
June 24, 2021 at 9:01 pm (3 years ago)Thanks for sharing George! It gives all of us who’d like a life partner hope!
I’m also writing again and enjoying it for the first time in a very long while! Thanks for the introduction to Rebecca through the writer’s conference. She’s been very helpful in giving me focus for my new book.
Congrats on your upcoming nuptials and I hope to meet you in person soon!
Chrystle
George Weinstein
June 25, 2021 at 12:01 am (3 years ago)Thank you very much, Chrystle! I’m so glad you’re enjoying stringing those words together. Rebecca is indeed a treasure. I hope the AWC will return to in-person meetings at GSU-Dunwoody this fall, so we can all enjoy each other’s company again!
Mahasweta Bhaumik
June 30, 2021 at 3:50 pm (3 years ago)I have been out of touch the past three years. I had no idea what you were going through.
Glad to see the happy ending. All is well that ends well.
Congratulations to Kim and you.
Wishing you a very happy life together,
Sweta
George Weinstein
July 1, 2021 at 2:07 am (3 years ago)Thank you, Sweta! We hope you’re doing well.
Jedwin Smith
June 30, 2021 at 4:53 pm (3 years ago)Congratulations to a remarkable man and thoroughly gifted author who is about to meld his heart to that of thoroughly remarkable lady!
George Weinstein
July 1, 2021 at 2:05 am (3 years ago)Thank you, my friend–we very much appreciate you!