Character of the Week: Brynn from The Peace Officer/the Loving Her series

Brynn, and her sister Willow, were named after nearby town by their now deceased father. But what's in a name?
                                                




Brynn Racanelli is a woman who wears many hats.

She is a dutiful daughter.

She tries to spend as much time as she can with her mother. Ralph (Brynn's father, Julia's husband) was a police officer who was shot while on duty. Julia was suddenly alone. She had two daughters to raise, a job, bills to pay. Her entire life was turned upside down. As time progressed, Willow became devastatingly sick (we'll discuss that shortly), and then Brynn graduated from the academy. Julia still carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. Not a day went by that she wasn't panic stricken about Brynn possibly having the same fate as her father. Never did a day pass when she wasn't worried sick about Willow. So Brynn came by to check on her mother and sister often. She did her best to help ease her poor mother's burden. With the death of her father, Brynn felt obligated to step up and ensure the health and well-being of her family. If she didn't, who would?



Brynn is also a steadfast sister.

She dedicated every free moment that she had to her sister. While in the academy, Willow became increasingly ill. So much so that she had to drop out of the academy. Her life was suddenly filled with doctor appointments rather than accomplishing her hopes and dreams. Brynn drove her to every appointment. She tended to her sister like a nurse. She loved, supported, and cared for her sister unwaveringly. Willow was losing her life to her illness, Brynn made sure that she didn't lose her family too. Willow and Brynn share an amazing connection. In some ways, Brynn is as dependent on Willow and their relationship as Willow is on her. At times, it seemed their sister was the only one they each had. Supporting and helping each other was synonymous with sisterhood.


She is also a police woman.

She's actually a third generation cop. It was in her blood. She couldn't imagine doing anything else. Brynn was born to be a cop. Not for the action, not for power, not for the glory. She is focused intently on helping others. She is the Peace Officer because that is exactly the type of cop she really is. Hers is a presence of peace. She brings peace and hope to a woman named Helen. She brings peace and justice to Donna and John. Brynn does her job so that she protects and serves every person she encounters. She is selfless, she is compassionate,she is gentle, she is dedicated, she is Doylestown's greatest.



Brynn is also a faithful partner.

Growing up, she had a wonderful example of love and fidelity in her parents. She saw their unending love and devotion to each other. Brynn's parents led by example. They demonstrated the work, honesty, trust, and love that are needed in partnerships and marriages. So it comes as no surprise that Brynn invests herself completely in her relationships. She and her live-in girlfriend of 3 years, Erika, share a tremendous relationship. They are completely committed to each other. Even at the end, Brynn was still loyal. Sometimes relationships just fizzle, and that is exactly what happens between Brynn and Erika. Since neither broke the other's trust, they are able to maintain a friendship over the years. Once she and Donna get together, she is again devoted and true. Brynn exemplified love and devotion for Donna. She shows her a level of commitment that Donna had never seen before. She is entirely devoted to her. Brynn commits herself completely to the women in her life.



Then there's Brynn the horse lover.

Like many girls growing up, Brynn was horse crazy. REALLY horse crazy. With parents who would do anything for their kids, she was fortunate enough to have a horse named Petunia when she was growing up. Petunia was her best friend. She and Petunia seemed to be able to read each other's minds. When they were together, they were always in sync. She could race with Petunia and feel completely free. The wind in their hair, the world around them was nothing but a blur. As Brynn discovered who she was, Petunia never judged her. Their connection was incredibly powerful. They were best friends for years and years. Even after Petunia was gone, Brynn still felt a strong affinity for horses. Hers is a passion that only gets further ignited as her story goes on, thanks to Donna.



Brynn is a woman of such great depth and character. Her multifaceted personality makes her interesting and relatable. Brynn was a character that I never initially imagined, but I'm glad I did. She is a woman that I deeply respect.

Favorite quote from Brynn: "See? Look how beautiful it is out here. This is all for you, Helen. This is your new life."

Happy reading!

http://www.amazon.com/Peace-Officer-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00ICQWXCW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1432428644&sr=8-7&keywords=lauren+shiro

Next July The Peace Officer WeWriWa!

It's WeWriWa time!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.
This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)


Happy #8SentenceSunday! This month, our WeWriWas will be from The Peace Officer, Brynn's story in the Loving Her series.

Brynn Racanelli is a daughter, a sister, a friend, a partner, a police officer, and so much more. Devoted to serving others through her police work, and to helping her sister who battles chronic Lyme Disease, she is the the poster child of selflessness. But she does have wants, needs, hopes, and dreams. After the sad ending of a long term relationship, she wonders if she will ever be able to get what she wants. Will fate finally bring her the life and love she’s always dreamed of?



Background on the snippet: Brynn was just called for a domestic disturbance. A male officer is speaking to the husband. Brynn just met the wife to get her version of the story. This snippet has been edited to fit 8 sentences.

They sat opposite each other at the table.
“So what’s going on? Can I have your name?”
“Helen,” she peeped.
“Hi, Helen. What’s going on? What happened?”
Helen looked away, her eyes staring at the linoleum floor; “N... n... nothing,” she mumbled.



I hope you liked it!
Happy reading!

Final WeWriWa from The Writer

It's WeWriWa time!

Click www.wewriwa.com for more information and to see other 8 Sentence Sunday posts.
This post is part of an ongoing blog hop hosted by Weekend Writing Warriors. Every Sunday, participating authors post eight sentences from a published work or even a WIP (work in progress). Then we hop to our fellow warriors’ blogs and check out all the fabulous fiction that’s happening! It's a great way to meet readers, writers, and your next favorite book!  :)

This month, we will be focusing on Maria's story in the Loving Her series: The Writer.

Everyone has that one friend - the mother of the group. Maria is that one friend; nurturing, wise, and with a spicy streak, Maria is the matriarch of the clan. Cerebral, emotional, and even sometimes comical, Maria’s story is the seventh in the Loving Her series. The Writer tells the story of Maria through grief, and joy, love and fear, and an emotionally challenging family relationship that threatens to interfere with the love she'd given up ever finding again...

Background on the snippet: Steph and Maria are on a date. Stephania has just disclosed her battle with drug addiction, and the loss of her younger brother to drugs. Maria pauses before speaking. This snippet has been edited to fit 8 sentences.

     “I have learned that in life, we are all in some kind recovery. Whether physical or emotional, each of us is recovering from something. A surgery, an injury, a disease, an addiction.

     “What is important in all of these recoveries is the rehabilitation. Everyone needs to be doing something to maintain this recovery. It could be physical therapy, chiropractic, massages, exercises, therapy, or meetings. They are really all the same. They are the work – the exercises you need to ensure your health and well-being; they help you to get better so that you don’t have another crisis, medical or emotional.”


I hope you liked it! Happy reading!

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 19 (S)

For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

19 days in means that S is our letter today. S is for softly, or softness.

Pianissimo means, "to be played softly."

How does that apply to the story?

It relates in a few ways, actually.

First off, there is the softness, the tenderness, and the love between Agnes and Margaret. And that softness needed to be played softly due to social stigmas of that era. They couldn't be out and proud, like so many of us are able to be nowadays. Instead, they needed to downplay their love and affection. They needed to be quiet and secretive. Their love song needed to be played softly, so to speak.

Even Corinne's story was played out softly. So much of her story is kept in the silence of her solitude. She had no audience but her own mind (and Millie and Mollie, of course). Her experiences are quiet, heard only in her mind. Rich comes along later, but her self-discovery is still a quiet concert for one.

Corinne's greatest realization of Agnes and Margaret's humanity is the apex of the story, and yet it is played so quietly. It is an epiphany that she shares with no one. There is no giant, "lighting bolt" moment. It's just a thought that gently and quietly washes over her.

There are more ways - several - that softly or softness applies to the story of Pianissimo, but I don't want to give it all away! Just remember that some of life's greatest moments aren't big and loud, but gentle, sweet, and soft.

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 16 (P)

 For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

Today just happens to be the 16th day, so that means our letter is P. P is for Pianissimo.

Pianissimo means softly, or to play softly. With a story that talks about softness, gentleness, caring and compassion, the title is quite fitting.

It's a title that is meant to grab and intrigue you. I think it does just that (it's ok for me to say that. I wasn't the one who came up with the title! LOL).

In this story, the music is played softly; the love between Agnes and Margaret runs deep and softly; the changes and growth Corinne experiences come softly; the restoration of the piano comes about by a soft touch.

It may mean softly, but it still has a tremendous impact!

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 13 (M)

For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

M's the word - uhhh...letter. And M is for Margaret.

Margaret is an interesting character. She's quiet in comparison to Agnes, yet she was bold enough to confess her love to Agnes. Music is her escape, yet it draws everyone to her.

Margaret is a good daughter, a wonderful friend, and an amazing companion. She embraces all that Agnes is and does. She shares similar passions with Agnes without ever losing her own identity.

Margaret is kind, compassionate, gentle, loving, strong, talented, unique, funny, passionate, and nothing short of wonderful.

Come get to know Margaret. She may be the best person you never meet (in person).

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 11 (K)

For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

Eleven days means eleven numbers which means the letter K. K is for kindness.

Kindness was not something that Agnes and Margaret received regularly. Margaret's parents are kind to them, oblivious to the true nature of their relationship. Aside from the Begums, though, there is only one other person who shows the couple any kindness: Raymond Wilson.

In a time where homosexuality wasn't even heard of, let alone accepted, kindness was very scarce for Agnes and Margaret. Most people were perplexed by the nature of their relationship and how they lived their lives. The only person who truly followed "live and let live" was Raymond Wilson. He did not understand their way of life, but he respected the people that they were. He saw past the social stereotypes and misunderstanding. He focused on their personalities, humanity, and talents. He reminded everyone else that first and foremost, they were people.

Kindness may have been scant, but it wasn't completely depleted for Agnes and Margaret. Their story reminds us all to be kind to each other.

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 6 (F)

 For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

Today is F-day! F is for frankness.

I'm pretty bold in Pianissimo. I wanted to be honest and unabashed. There was a reason for me to write this story, and I share that openly in the book.

I wanted to be frank because I thought that was the best way to get my point across.

You see, for as much as Pianissimo is here to entertain you, it also serves a greater purpose. I wrote it with the hopes of reaching people. I wanted to show the struggles of our LGBT predecessors. I wanted to show the similarities between the hetero and homosexual communities. I wanted to remind us all of our humanity. I wanted to show the stupidity of labels and bigotry.

I'm not sorry that I wrote the book with that much frankness. I consider my writing a gift, but what gift is of use if it's not being used genuinely and with a greater purpose in mind? So yes, I am bold, frank, honest, open, and very clear cut. For me personally, a book with a message behind it is the best the kind.

I hope you'd agree. Check out Pianissimo, and see for yourself!

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

A to Z '14 - Unafraid

For this year's A to Z Challenge, I am honoring my grandfather who passed away on April 3, 2013.


U is for Unafraid.


My grandfather was unafraid. Never once did I ever see him exhibit fear. When my mother was 16, they had an electrical fire in the house. When my grandparents got to the house, my grandfather ran in (while the house was burning) and saved the family parrot. The firefighters told him he couldn't go in, but he did anyway.



That was him: brave, determined, and always thinking of others (seriously. How many people do you know who would risk their lives to save someone else?).


He came from nothing. A childhood in poverty, he had to be determined just to survive. He started working as a teen in order to support himself and his family. With no degree, not even a high school diploma, he could not be afraid if he wanted to get anywhere in life.



He turned down no jobs, no opportunities. Even if he was afraid because it might be something new, foreign or awkward to him, he still did what was needed. He never let fear hold him back. He never said, "I am afraid."


He was bold, and he ended up making a name for himself in the process.


He taught me the meaning of courage and determination.


Thanks to him, I face life boldly.


U is for Unafraid.

A to Z '14 - Role Model

For this year's A to Z Challenge, I am honoring my grandfather who passed away on April 3, 2013.


R is for Role Model.

My grandfather was the greatest role model a girl could ever ask for. I cannot think of any way in which he wasn't the perfect role model.



Wikipedia defines a role model as, "A role model is a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, especially by younger people."


His behavior was impeccable. He was always giving, helping, caring, doing for others. He laughed often. He took care of his family in every way possible.


He led by example. He was generous, he was smart, he was respectful. He gave us something to emulate.


His success was like something out of a novel. Growing up in the Great Depression, he came from nothing. He started working as a teenager - he dropped out of high school to work. And he worked until he was about 80, having briefly owned companies like Poland Spring and Revlon. His life was the epitome of hard work and success.


So was my grandfather a role model? Yes! He was the perfect role model!


R is for Role Model.

A to Z '14 - Morals

For this year's A to Z Challenge, I am honoring my grandfather who passed away on April 3, 2013.


M is for Morals.

I am so very grateful for having my grandfather be such an influential person in my life. Raised with the influences of the 1950s to the 1970s, I was taught valuable lessons about respecting your elders and teachers, the importance of honesty, and the value of being a good person (rather than the value of a good manicure).



Thanks to my grandfather, I am respectful, professional, polite, grateful...I have morals.


Morals are so important. They guide us, they help us to discern right from wrong. Most of the time, that's fairly simple to do. But when you're suddenly caught in one of those strange situations where the line is clouded, morals are what we need and use to make the best decision - the right decision.



It seems that the younger generations have lost the real sense of morals. Instead of living in a world where we live with other people, most people today can only think of themselves. Getting what they want is far more important than giving to others. Getting things now far surpasses time spent with family. We focus on material things now. Money rules. Which I find rather comical since you can't take it with you, but that's an entirely different blog.


Morals help us all to be better people. To be kinder, wiser, more compassionate. Morals don't necessarily come from a specific religion. They really come from a place of love and respect. If we love and respect others, we will not hurt them. That is an example of morals in the simplest, most basic form.


It can be easy to fall into the endless cycle of thinking, "Oh poor, pitiful me." But we need to stop and think. How blessed we really are to have all that we do and the people that love us. Let us not lose our morals. Instead, let us use them as they can only enrich and enhance our lives and relationships.

M is for Morals.

A to Z '14 - Kindness

For this year's A to Z Challenge, I am honoring my grandfather who passed away on April 3, 2013.


K is for Kindness.


My grandfather was a very kind soul. He was strong, but very gentle. He was forgiving, understanding, supportive, and generous.


He would give you anything you needed, and then some.


He was a listening ear, a shoulder on which to cry.


He was not judgmental towards anyone.


He emanated kindness.


As far as kindness and compassion goes, he was the perfect role model.


I aspire to be like him. I may not ever be as great as he, but if we are all a little kinder, the world will be a much better place!


K is for Kindness.