There’s so much I could say … so much I want to say in today’s blog post. And yet I weigh my words. Mindful of my word count. Mindful of so much more.
My debut women’s fiction novel, Things I Never Told You, releases today. It’s a Little Women gone wrong story about the Thatcher sisters: Johanna, Jillian, and Payton and Pepper, who are identical twins.
I was so eager to write this book … and so unsure of myself.
My relationships with my two sisters — one younger, and one my fraternal twin — are complicated, to say the least. This doesn’t mean I don’t love my sisters. It just means I haven’t figured out how to mend the broken parts of our relationships.
So I wrote a story about complicated, broken relationships between sisters. Because that? I know that.
What’s one detail I know about sister relationships? They are powerful. Sisters influence one another all the days of their lives — and memories can echo with laughter or be stained with tears. Often it is a blend of both.
In Your Words: What’s your take on sister relationships? Join the conversation today and share a sister memory — even a sister-of-the-heart memory. And make sure to keep reading and find out about my Book Birthday Celebration and Giveaway!
[bctt tweet=”In Others’ Words: The Power of Sister Relationships http://bit.ly/2HYz52x #quotes #sisters” username=”bethvogt”] 'If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child. Click To Tweet
Join me in celebrating the “Book Birthday” of Things I Never Told You! My debut women’s fiction novel from Tyndale House releases today and you’re invited to enter the giveaway for a chance to be one of six prize winners! The giveaway is open to U.S. residents and lasts from May 8-May 18.
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Comments 53
Well, being male and having no sisters, I really don’t have anything to say, but I’ve never let THAT stop me before.
Reebok and Josie are twin sisters, enormous (and enormously strong) Ridgeback-Pit mixes whom we acquired as pups; they ere slated to be killed. Couldn’t have that, yeah?
Fast-forward, and they are grown and lethal, if you’re prey. With people they’re wonderful, gentle and a bit timid. But let them see a cat…and hold on. They are NEVER off-leash, and they share a sleeping crate, in which they have plenty of room, but always cuddle together. Sometimes hard to see here one dog ends and another begins.
The interesting thing is that you can ‘see’ a shared brain-connexion…kind of like a canine Borg collective, if you fancy Star Trek. Thoughts simply fly between them, and you have to be aware of that whilst walking…
“Hey, a cat!”
“Dig it, Sis, let’s GOOOOOO!!!!!!!”
And we’re off to the races, being dragged face-down at the end of a pair of leashes.
Fortunately, New Mexico breeds fast cats.
Author
Andrew: Thank you for starting today’s conversation as only you can! You’ve made me smile on my “book birthday”! 🙂
Happy Birthday to Things
I Never Told You!
May its sales have wings,
and it attract readers new!
Author
Thank you for celebrating with me, Andrew!
Beth, I loved your book, and I’m beyond excited it’s been officially birthed! I am blessed to have two sisters. Our relationships growing up were…complex. Three is an awkward number. It felt like one sister was always left out.
As adults, we talk. And it’s taken this long with one sister to get below the surface. there have been issues and things not discussed that shaped the relationships we have today. I’ve learned I must be intentional if I want to have relationship with my sisters.
Great post and wonderful book!
Author
Jeanne: You bring up a good point — the number of sisters can affect the relationships between sisters, just as birth order can.
HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY! 😀
Author
Thank you, Sabrina!
I am blessed with 2 sisters. I was a surprise as my Mama thought she had the flu. My oldest sister is 17 years older than me and my middle sister is 12 years older than me. We have a wonderful relationship. I love both of my sisters very, very much.
Author
Hi, Melissa: Your answer made me smile because I thought I had the flu when I was pregnant with my firstborn. 🙂 My youngest daughter — my Caboose Kiddo — was born 12 1/2 years after our then-youngest child.
Beth,
Great quote! And yes, it is a blend of laughter and tears. Complicated at best : )
Thanks for being honest about sister relationships. Looking forward to your new release!
Author
Hi, Cynthia: I’m glad to hear you are looking forward to reading Things I Never Told You. It was both fun and challenging to write the Thatcher Sisters’ relationships — and I’m looking forward to the next two books with them. 🙂
Beth,
My sister in Christ pointed me to yoyr new book because my biological sister and I do not have a strong relationship. I hope to gleam some knowledge from you and mend some ways.
Author
Chrissie: Sisters-in-Christ are gifts, aren’t they? And I hope Things I Never Told You encourages you.
I’m lucky enough to have six sisters, and we’ve always gotten along well together. Two of my sisters are now deceased, and we miss them so much. They were the life of the party–always planning something fun.
I also have 2 brothers, and they’re wonderful. It’s such a blessing to have a wonderful, caring family.
Author
Winnie: Your post made me smile. I have several friends who come from or who have large families and the dynamics intrigue me. 🙂
My sister relationship is very special. You see it’s not one by birth but by choice. I never had sister growing up being the one girl and having only one brother. I have a very dear friend who is a sister to me. She’s always been there for me when everyone else seemed to disappear.
You find the special people in your life when you are having a tough time. When we were full-time caregiver to my Mom with cancer and Alzheimer, she was the one that helped to keep my sanity and to reassure me that what we were doing was all we could and that I could do all that was put upon me. Other than my husband, she was my rock. She stayed in contact, sent me surprises in the mail and came to visit when I was down to help and lift my spirits.
Even now years after Mom went to her heavenly home, we chat on computer and she calls me every week to touch base. When I think of who do I want to go visit, it’s always let’s go to see sis. I am very blessed!
Author
Hi, Kay: I’m so thankful you shared your story. I smiled as I read every single word …Being a full-time caregiver is exhausting in every way, and I am so glad your sister-of-the-heart was there for you then, and is still there for you.
I am the youngest of five girls…all born in six years. We are close and we don’t all get together often. It is such a blessing to have such strong women with which to share life’s sorrows and joys.
As so many have said, I have wonderful sisters in Christ, but no growing-up-with-you sister. But I’m loving the story of the Thatcher Sisters. I can see bits of myself and my friends in them. Can’t wait to read book 2!
Author
Hi, Angie: I hoped that readers would see themselves in the Thatcher sisters, no matter what their sister relationships — just as you say.
Beth,
The link for Sign up for an RSS feed: In Others’ Words doesn’t work.
Author
Julie: I will have my web person check into this.
I have an older sister, my fraternal twin and my younger sister. We were together nearly 4 yrs ago. I remember my younger sister teaching us a dance. We were laughing so hard. It was one of the best moments of the trip. It will be the last time we will all be together. My sisters are the best and we are always there for each other. They are honest, funny, loyal and just plain crazy.
Author
Sonnetta: There are certain memories that seem to stay front and center stage in our minds and hearts.
I was only blessed with one sister, but recently we have been through quite a bit and it has brought us closer to each other and our faith in Christ has also grown because of what we have been through. She is a true friend and I love her dearly and would be lost without her. As we have aged our relationship has blossomed more and I feel blessed.
Author
Lori: You make a good point: That relationships can change as time passes.
Beth,
I am the middle girl out of five girls, a total of nine kids is our family. Growing up, our family was always busy with church activities – I have often said if the doors were open, then our family was there. I love my sisters and my brothers!
Author
June: Here’s to celebrating large families! 🙂
My sisters of the heart have been with me through the greatest grief I have known. Also, brought laughter & confidence back to me.
Author
Lisa: I agree with you about the blessings and joys of sisters of the heart.
My sisters are “heart-sisters”, but I love them as though we were really related. I know they are always there for me and I’ll always be there for them. In some ways, I feel like our relationship might be stronger than “normal” sisters, because we chose each other and while we have the power to walk away, we don’t.
I don’t know, though, because I don’t have biological sisters 🙂
Author
Sarah: Heart-sisters can be such a blessing and the bond can be unbreakable, in some ways stronger than a biological one.
I have three sisters and for the most part we got along well. I just lost my second sister about a month ago. I miss my sisters. Thanks for the opportunity to enter this giveaway. Am looking forward to reading this book
Author
Hi, Marilyn: I’m sorry for your loss. So glad to hear that, for the most part, you and your sisters get along.
My sister and I are not really close friends. We like different things and she (the older) can’t imagine why I don’t have the same taste as her! However, we would do anything for each other if we have a need.
Author
Joan:Even though you and your sister aren’t close friends, the loyalty is there, and that is priceless.
My sister and I are twins so we are CLOSE!
Happy Birthday
Author
Joye — love the spelling of your name! How fun that you are a twin, too!
Beth, congratulations on your amazing book’s release!
I also have a giveaway of TINTY on my blog this week (through Friday), if anyone wants to enter for a chance to win a Kindle copy. WritingToInspire.blogspot.com
Blessings and hugs,
Andrea
Author
Thanks for sharing about Things I Never Told You — and for the giveaway!
I’m glad to help TINTY get to best-seller status! 🙂
Happy book birthday!!!
I am so excited for this series! Maybe it will be the book that my sister finally reads and becomes a bookworm with me ?!
Author
Irene: Now that sounds like fun: sisters reading the Thatcher Sisters Series together! 🙂
Amazing giveaway! What fun to have a book to share with your sister!
Author
Thanks, Becky. It seemed only appropriate. 🙂
I have three daughters (and a son). Though they are different in countless ways, they are similar in probably just as many. Yes, they love one another fiercely and would like to wring the others’ necks at times, but I have never seen a stronger bond nor a more protective nature than these beautiful girls of mine.
Author
Thank you for sharing about your 3 daughters and your son, Kelly! 🙂
I’m late to the party, but I got here as fast as I could. ? I’ve absolutely loved all of your books I’ve read! Looking forward to this one. As youngsters, I was a pain in the neck for my sister. I am six years her junior and was a total tomboy. She was a prissy Missy and didn’t want to get dirty. She didn’t want me to bother her or her friends…. The list goes on. As adults, we’ve rallied together thru her journey as a young widow, thru faith questions, trust issues, thru parenting our own children and now navigating best options for our aging mother. I’ve learned so much having a sister.
Author
Hi, Su-Su: I’m so glad you joined the celebration and thank you for the encouraging words about my books. I appreciated what you shared about your relationship with your sister.
I have three sisters. We come from the same parents and yet I’m sometimes surprised by how different we are!
Author
Arletta: This can be so true — as you testify to! 🙂
Happy book birthday! I am the oldest of 10. Six sisters and three brothers. One younger sister passed away a few years ago!