Firefly Island (35 page)

I
t's a funny thing about books. You start out with a blank page, and yourself, and an imaginary person or two. The story world is small at first.

Over time, the world inside the story grows to include more people and places that don't exist. But it also grows to include wonderful people who enter from the real world in all sorts of different ways. There are those who lend advice on research issues, those who help to proof and edit, those who design the covers and sell the books, and of course those who eventually read the book. If you're here, you've just become a citizen of Moses Lake. Welcome! We're so glad you've come. The journey would not be complete without you . . . and without a few other people whom I would like to acknowledge here.

First of all, thank you to my beta-reading crew, Teresa Loman, Ed Stevens, Sandy Strong, and Sharon Manion. Nobody could have a better group of first readers or encouragers. Each one of you is a treasured presence in my life, and also in Moses Lake. Thank you for sharing these story worlds with me.

To my boys, who lived some of the real-life adventures in this story with me when their daddy walked out of the bedroom years ago and said, “I think I've just been offered a job in Texas.” Thank you for teaching me not only about motherhood, but about really important things, like how to make clay pots out of the goo at the side of the driveway, how to catch grasshoppers for fish bait, and how to properly enjoy a new bloom of rain lilies on the lawn. I'm so grateful for the little boys you were, the wonderful young men you have become, and the lessons in life and love that you have taught me.

In terms of print and paper, my thanks and admiration goes out to the group at Bethany House publishers. To Dave Long and Sarah Long, thank you for being talented editors and just great people to work with. To the group in marketing, publicity, and art, thank you for using your talent in support of this and so many other books. Without your skill and dedication, books would never reach readers. To my agent, Claudia Cross, at Folio literary management, thank you for taking these literary journeys with me over the years.

To Alice Steele, and her sweet sisters Paula and Cindy, who won the chance to join the cast of Moses Lake in this book, thank you for sharing your Binding Through Books club with Mallory and the residents of Moses Lake. I know they're glad to have you here, reading books together in Alice's new little cabin on Moses Lake. I hope you enjoy your time alongside these wonderful waters. May they take you on an adventure!

Last of all, but never least of all, I am grateful to so many reader friends far and near, who have helped populate Moses Lake. Without you, the lake would be a lonely place. The Docksiders and I love it when you stop by. Thank you for all the sweet notes about the books, for all the wonderful book club nights, and for recommending my stories to your friends.
You can't imagine how much it means, when the story goes out into the world, and people give it a wonderful home in their reading lives and their imaginations. I hope you enjoy this latest adventure in Moses Lake. May your time there be a blessing, just as you have been to me.

God's way of connecting people is, indeed, the most magnificent part of any story.

1. In the beginning of the story, Mallory thinks she has life all figured out . . . until life turns a blind corner. Has your life ever taken a sudden turn you weren't anticipating? How did you react to the change?
   
2. When Daniel gets the job offer in Texas, Mallory finds herself forced to choose between her career and her love for Daniel. Do you think she made the right choice? How much should we sacrifice to make someone else's dreams come true?
   
3. Mallory has struggled all her life to step out from the shadows of her older sisters and to escape her parents' control. How much of her decision-making do you think is based on her position as the caboose baby in the family? Do you think birth order determines personality? Have you seen this in your own family?
   
4. Mallory's mother advises her to “get over herself” and apologize when she and Daniel have their first big fight.
   Mallory feels that her mother is asking her to stuff down her feelings and be a doormat. Do you agree? What was your mother's best advice for resolving marital disagreements?
   
5. Mallory struggles with the feeling that she is “losing herself” to the demands of marriage and motherhood. Do you think too much is asked of women, in terms of sacrificing themselves for family? Is it possible to have it all? Where do you think the balance should be between the traditional 1950s housewife and the modern mom?
   
6. When Mallory meets Cowgirl Al, Al takes her under wing even though Al lives a fairly reclusive life. Why do you think she decides to befriend Mallory? What bonds them together?
   
7. Mallory's first struggle in Moses Lake is making the ranch house habitable for the family. She likens it to coming to Texas as a pioneer. How well do you think she does in adopting the pioneer spirit? Have you ever felt like a pioneer trying something new? Do you have a funny “critter” story to share?
   
8. Both Mallory and Al are struggling to leave the past behind. Do you think it's ever possible to fully move beyond the past? How can we accomplish that? Should we?
   
9. When Mallory begins to document her adventures in
   The Frontier Woman
   blog, she finds that she begins to look for adventure in her life. How can journaling, blogging, or documenting our experiences change the way we look at life? How has blogging changed our culture? Is it a change for the better or for the worse?
   
10. Keren struggles with the pressure from her family, but in a different way than Mallory. She feels that God is using her right where she is, even though her family doesn't fully support her decision to put so much of herself into her career. Mallory also wonders how we can know which voice inside us is God's voice and which voice we may be creating on our own. When we feel a calling that other people do not support or understand, how can we know if it's God's voice we're hearing?
    
11. When Mallory finds out who Al really is, she jumps to conclusions. Do you think she is justified in this? Have you ever jumped to conclusions about someone based on evidence, and then been sorry later?
    
12. In the end, Mallory uncovers a political scandal that she is in the unique position to combat. She feels that she finally understands some of God's reasons for sending her to Moses Lake. Have you ever been surprised by God's plans in your life?
    

Lisa Wingat
e is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books, including
Tending Roses, Talk of the Town, Good Hope Road, Dandelion Summer,
and
Never Say Never
. She is a Christy Award finalist, a seven-time Carol Award nominee, and the winner of the 2011 and 2012 Carol Awards. Her work was recently honored by the Americans for More Civility for promoting greater kindness and civility in American life. Lisa and her family live in Central Texas.

Visit
www.lisawingate.com
to sign up for Lisa's latest contest, read her blog and excerpts from her novels, get writing tips, contact her, and more.

M
OSES
L
AKE

Larkspur Cove

Blue Moon Bay

Firefly Island

D
AILY
, T
EXAS

Talk of the Town

Word Gets Around

Never Say Never

T
ENDING
R
OSES

Tending Roses

Good Hope Road

The Language of Sycamores

Drenched in Light

A Thousand Voices

B
LUE
S
KY
H
ILL

A Month of Summer

The Summer Kitchen

Beyond Summer

Dandelion Summer

Resources:
bethanyhouse.com/AnOpenBook

Website:
www.bethanyhouse.com

Facebook:
Bethany House