The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is… What?

So we’re all sitting around in our Facebook group–the Suamalie authors, I mean–and talking about what our books have that we can share in our release celebration posts. Amanda says something like, “In Seashells Tell No Tales, we have a character with a fear of heights. So for mine, let’s talk fears.”

Can I just say that I wanted to crawl in a hole? Right there? Yeah. You know why? There is absolutely no way to say this without sounding arrogant. Because here’s the thing. I don’t have much in the way of fears. I have things I don’t LIKE… but fear? I mean… sigh. What do I say?

But then a memory came back. Look, this isn’t a big deal these days for reasons that’ll become very obvious very soon, but twenty years ago I walked out of a doctor’s office refusing to come back ever again because of an irrational fear (in general) I had back then and a very rational one in the moment.

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The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is… What?

C-sections.

Yep. Just the idea of a C-section used to break me out in a sweat. Call me crazy (or don’t… I’m good either way) but the idea of a C-section was enough to make me decide that if I ever had one, that would be the last child I ever carried. I was not doing it twice.

I also decided to share that little factoid with that doctor I mentioned. This happened when I was pregnant with my 9th child. She was appalled that I was pregnant AGAIN at “my age” (I was 34). So I tested her and told her about my irrational fear when I asked about her C-section rates. Never before in my life had I been able to read someone’s thoughts so clearly. If I chose her for my doctor, I’d have a C-section. No doubt about it. She’d make sure that was my last baby.

I walked out of there and told my husband, “Nope. Not going back.”

For the record, we went on to have baby #9 at home, unassisted (except for a couple of friends), and under the care of a midwife an hour away. Yeah. I’d say we did pretty well. And no C-section. SCORE!

Look, will I end up with some other fear sometime? Probably. It’s what we do as people. Fears tend to come and go (debilitating phobias notwithstanding). For all I know, like the gal in Seashells Tell No Tales, I’ll end up with a fear of heights. It wouldn’t surprise me when I become less steady in my advancing years. I mean, that just makes sense, right?

Meanwhile, I’ll get my phobia fix through fiction–like Amanda’s new release!

Faith Marlowe never breaks a promise. Especially not a promise she made to her dying brother. Easier said than done when the promise includes taking care of an injured and embittered war vet. Not to mention having to hide who she truly is in order to keep her vow.

Army Ranger Vet, Gideon Sundquist (Sunny) doesn’t want help. He’s exiled on an island in the middle of the South Pacific and hiding from the world for a reason. However, losing both his legs forces him to accept care from a nurse. But if she—or anyone else for that matter—finds out about the black ops mission where he was injured, it could put all their lives at risk.

On a beautiful, remote island in the Pacific, Faith will try to teach Sunny to live again. But if the tales of their secrets are told, neither will see the sun rise in the Suamalie Islands again.

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.

Follow the other authors each day over the next few days to see what kinds of phobias or fears they’re dealing with.

Amanda Tru: February 27
Susan K. Beatty February 28
Chautona Havig: February 29
Melissa Wardwell: March 1
Tabitha Bouldin: March 2
Marguerite Martin Gray: March 3

Also! Don’t forget to enter to win!