“Forget February” is the latest release in my
Forever Finley Short Story Cycle—and
a perfect read for the upcoming Valentine’s Day. But what is a short
story cycle, anyway? And how can a story called “Forget February” be so
perfect for Valentine’s Day?
A cycle is, simply, a collection of short stories that all stand alone
and can be read in any order. Grouped together, they present a different
picture than they do when read individually. It’s kind of like a TV
show that you don’t necessarily have to watch every single week. You can
even jump in mid-season and become a fan. (Isn’t that freeing? To be
able to sit down and read a satisfying short all in one gulp? Especially
considering what busy lives we all lead…It’s also a great way to unwind
at the end of a long day.)
In the
Forever Finley Short Story Cycle, the connecting
thread is the town in which each story takes place: the heart-warming,
magical, legend-filled small town of Finley, Missouri. A new story will
be releasing once a month throughout ’16.
“Forget February” is the third story in the cycle:
“Come December,” the story that started it all, offers a
slightly mystical storyline that, on its own, explores the impact a
person’s attitude has on their experience (both positively and
negatively). It’s a little bit romantic, a little bit mystical—Natalie,
our heroine, receives comfort from the spirit of a WWI soldier named
George Hargrove.
In
“January Thaw,” the town of Finley is explored in
depth for the first time—the sweetness of it, the comfort of it. Young
people, we’re told, return to Finley, often before their thirtieth
birthdays. On its own, it’s a story of friendship and forgiveness. Of
bonds that can be twisted or pulled to fraying, but never severed
completely.
In
“Forget February,” we get the history of Finley—how
it was founded on one man’s broken heart. (Amos Hargrove’s heart to be
exact—notice he has the same last name as our WWI soldier in “Come
December”?) A story about a broken heart sounds about as Valentine-y as
the title, I know. But really, it’s not just about heartache itself—it’s
a story about the beautiful things that can happen after (or maybe even
as the result of) a broken heart.
“Forget February” is not a perfectly pretty Valentine’s
Day card; instead, it recognizes that love—whether it’s love of another
person or your life’s greatest passion—is clumsy and comes with plenty
of bumps in the road. It’s perfectly imperfect, just like the object of
the singer’s affection in the old standard “My Funny Valentine”…
“Forget February” is available as a free read for a limited time. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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