Why I wrote “Homecoming”

It began as a sort of letter to my little daughters…

When I made my first serious attempt at writing fiction in the 1990s, I had four young children. My oldest was a daughter in grade school, and my youngest, also a daughter, was still a baby. Like many parents, I spent a lot of time thinking about the world my children were growing up in.

The most influential women in my life were smart, funny, capable people. They were caring and supportive, but also strong and independent, with their own dreams, struggles, and stories to tell. At the same time, I saw increasing pressure on young women to fit in, to be accepted, and to measure their worth by appearance or popularity.

Around that same time, a college roommate told me about classmates who had appeared on television shows when they were younger. What struck me wasn't the fame—it was how difficult it was for some of them to simply attend a normal high school and be treated like everyone else. I remembered what it felt like to be an outsider as a teenager, and the idea stayed with me.

Those influences eventually came together in Homecoming, the story of Julie Richards, a former child actress who wants nothing more than a normal senior year. She wants to fit in, make friends, and move forward with her life, while still staying true to herself.

Of course, she faces even more challenges on top of all that! 

Beneath the mystery and suspense, however, Homecoming is really about friendship, identity, and the choices people make under pressure. I wanted to explore how good people can be misled while trying to do the right thing, how imperfect people can make mistakes and still move forward, and how success often depends on the support of “true friends.”

What exactly is a “true friend” anyway?

To tell that story, I needed characters I cared about. If I cared about them, I hoped readers might too and would want to follow them through the challenges they faced.

The earliest versions of Homecoming never quite came together the way I wanted. I attempted to publish that version, but failed. Family responsibilities and career demands took priority. The story sat for many years.

A few years ago, I returned to it and wanted to make it a better book. With much-needed rewriting, critical feedback, and a better understanding of storytelling, I finally felt ready to publish the story. 

What began as a sort of letter to my daughters eventually became a mystery novel about friendship, courage, identity, and perseverance. I hope readers enjoy the mystery, connect with the characters, and can relate something in Julie’s story to their own experiences.