The Original Premise

Five years ago, I jotted down the title A Beautiful Fall in a journal with a note that went something like this: “Woman falls from high career position into a better, simpler life. It happens during the fall.” When David C. Cook asked if I had another novel, I found that journal entry and wrote the following premise to show them the direction I would take for a second novel. Much of the story stayed true to the premise, but you’ll notice that some of the characters and plot points were merged together to speed up the storyline. Consider this a kind of behind-the-scenes look at story writing.

Synopsis:

Emma Madison is Boston’s fastest-rising-star attorney. Her strong work ethic and personal ambition earned her a partnership at Adler, McCormick & Madison by age thirty. But when her father, Will Madison, suffers a stroke, Emma must return home to the small Southern town of Juneberry, South Carolina, to help arrange her father’s affairs. What she thought would be a quick weekend trip is unexpectedly extended as Emma realizes the extent of his debilitated condition.

While caring for her father, Emma becomes reacquainted with the small town she broke ties with years ago to pursue big-city success. On a drive into Juneberry, she has a chance meeting with her old beau, Michael Evans, the love she walked away from fifteen years earlier. Michael was twenty-two then, Emma a college sophomore already invested in the education she knew was her ticket out. Theirs was an impassioned love affair that long, easy summer, and though it was difficult, when fall came, Emma returned to college to pursue her legal career. Michael remained in Juneberry, becoming the town’s highly gifted carpenter, never ceasing in his love for Emma. She invites Michael to work on her father’s house, which has fallen into disrepair.

Emma is telephoned by her best friend, Lara, still in Boston and eager to lure her back to the excitement of the law practice and a fast-paced single’s world. Emma’s boyfriend, attorney Colin Douglas, is also leaving frequent messages on her cell phone, since she’s become increasing difficult to contact following her first encounter with Michael.

Emma is surprised by how much she has in common with the people of Juneberry. She values the counsel of her grandfather, Sam Turner, who shares his wisdom and stirs the faith she learned in childhood but lost hold of in her twenties. Her cousin, Samantha Connor, becomes a new friend and trusted confidant as she teaches Emma the panache of the Juneberry women. Emma develops a mentoring friendship with Sara Prichett, the eighteen-year-old high school senior who reminds Emma of herself, with the same burning desire to leave Juneberry after graduation. She also finds inspiration in Samantha’s son, Noel Connor, the young college grad with an especially strong faith and an expectation that the Lord has a calling on his life.

Emma’s feelings confront her as she thinks over her life and her hard-fought identity as an independent woman. Her all-consuming career feels less important as she reconnects with the town of Juneberry and mends fences with her father. Her lifelong ambitions fall aside as she bonds with the small-town community. Emma treasures her single life, but feelings for Michael Evans are strong, rooted in vivid memories from the past, and kindled by an intense passion now.

Colin Douglas is worried about Emma. After conferring with Lara, he travels to Juneberry to rescue Emma and bring her back to her senses. Emma must decide who she is. Is she Boston’s star attorney with the platinum salary and a scorecard of courtroom victories? Or is she her father’s daughter, bonded to generations of Juneberry women, and fulfilled by the discovery of the lost love of her life?

Autumn is bringing colorful and surprising changes. This season, attorney Emma Madison will leave a new home to find an old one, surrender a dream to take hold of the Dreamer, and cease living one life to be reborn in another. The corporate ladder climber is about to let go of the high rungs. Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful fall.