That Black Moment

As I wrote in my last post, I still write. Barely. I don’t understand my lack of motivation because I LOVE my Surrendering Hearts series. I am so proud of the first book, ANCHORED HEARTS. I am OVER THE MOON for Book 2, REPAIRING HEARTS.

But I have wasted a lot of time not writing.

Last night I reached the place that I’ve had in mind the entire time I’ve been writing Repairing Hearts. The black moment. It’s where everything comes to a head and all hope is lost.

It’s crushing. Hard. Sad. And I love writing those things.

Confession? I love the black moment more than writing the romance!

Why is that?

Without giving too much away, Ryan Hart is a loner among the sextuplets. When his siblings went to college, he joined the Navy. While most still live at or near home, Ryan bought a place forty minutes away. He always did his own thing.

Turns out, that house purchase wasn’t a great transaction. The house is a pit and Ryan doesn’t have the funds to renovate. Sextuplet #3, Evan, concocts a plan to help Ryan and help celebrate their twenty-fifth birthday with the public.

A reality show.

Repairing Ryan’s Heart is supposed to be a quest for Ryan to find a project manager for those renovations. Once that person is hired, a second show moves to a sister network where the siblings work with the project manager and crews to make Ryan’s house a home.

What happens isn’t quite the same. The project manager angle isn’t as important as pairing Ryan off. All the contestants are female and have varying home renovation experience. The goal is to capture Ryan’s heart.

It’s been fun to write this because reality shows are a bit dramatic so the contestants are enthusiastic. At least, most of them are. BJ Wallace is experienced in home repair and construction, but she wants no part of the show or Ryan.

And that’s why the black moment has been so enjoyable to write. Ryan is aloof and BJ has secrets. One is full of faith, the other hasn’t stepped inside a church since their mother’s funeral. Ah, conflict!

I thought maybe conflict was why I love writing the black moment. It’s the opposite.

I love a bottom-of-the0pit experience because that’s where hope is found.

—Julie Arduini

Jesus extends a hand and lifts us up. He helps. Heals. Strengthens. Loves.

My characters are fictional, but they are flawed. Jordyn has control problems. Ryan is proud. My prayer is readers relate to them and surrender their lives and issues to the Lord, because that is where freedom is found.

That’s why I do what I do.

That’s why I love the black moment.

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