Wright, Tanya, If Only.., (Richmond, Surrey: Mills & Boon, 2014).
Title: If Only…
Author: Tanya Wright
Imprint: Modern Tempted (KISS)
Issues: Bereavement
Blurb:
If only I hadn’t had that last drink…
It might be the toughest night of the year for Micah O’Shea, but one tequila too many and suddenly she’s seeing the world–and her best friend firefighter Josh Taylor–in a new light! Surely a bit of Dutch courage is all she needs to see if he tastes as good as he looks?
Why did no one tell her that the morning after is way more awkward when you’re friends with the man you threw yourself at? And that it gets more awkward when you start having X-rated dreams about him? Perhaps Micah should stop saying “If only…” and start asking “What if…?”
Dear Reader,
This story began fifteen years ago, long before I was aware of just how it could be used. I was a young teenager, experiencing first love, when my boyfriend was tragically killed in an accident. What followed was nothing short of heartbreak and pain, before I was eventually able to see that life went on regardless.
It was in 2013 that I finally realised my healing process had come to an end. In that moment, on what would have been his thirty-third birthday, I began to ask myself the question every writer asks: What if…? I wondered what life would have been like if only he hadn’t died that day. And so this novel was born.
It is not a biography by any means, but the story of two character on a journey of grief and healing similar to my own. It was cathartic, writing Micah and Josh’s story. You can watch them grow together as they struggle with the pain of their past and manoeuvre their way through unknown territory and burgeoning new emotions.
Even when I felt it shouldn’t, life went on-the world kept spinning. It wasn’t the pain that defined me, but rather the way I handled it.
I have been writing for many years, but lacked the confidence to pursue my dreams. My first step after finishing my manuscript was to get it out there Such was my motivation for entering So You Think You Can Write. You can imagine my surprise when I found out that the story so near and dear to my heart had won the public’s vote, awarding me a publishing contract.
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. And that you walk away inspired and encouraged by Micah’s story.
Tanya
The CatRom Project 