Home Again (ePub)

Home Again is a 76,500-word work of women's fiction with elements of magical realism set in the small resort town of Fish Creek in Door County, Wisconsin (USA).

Self-help author, Garrett Oakley, isn't feeling the love of self, help, or writing as he struggles to finish the sequel to his best-selling book on parent-child relationships. Already past his deadline, his life gets even more complicated when his reporter fiancée, Morning Glory Wilson, reveals his estrangement from his father during her nationally televised morning show.

Out a fiancée and forced by his publisher to move back to his hometown, Fish Creek, to outwardly and publicly mend his relationship with his father and save his career, Garrett comes face to face with Poppy Hansen, the girl from his past who took it upon herself to interfere in his life when she put in motion the events that directly led to his current predicament. Poppy forwarded a box of letters from Garrett's father-which Garrett had sent back unread-to Morning Glory's production assistant, who makes sure Morning Glory reads them during a live interview with Garrett.

Poppy Hansen isn't the brave, carefree, adventurous girl Garrett remembers from High School. She's the woman who credits his father, Robert Oakley, with helping her build a life for herself and her then-infant daughter after her divorce. Poppy now manages the world-renowned B & B which Robert owns. When Garrett shows up on her doorstep to confront her for the upheaval she created in his life, he is greeted by a stray dog who immediately adopts him and will be a driving force in healing his relationship with Robert and building one with Poppy and her siblings. Garrett is also introduced to Astrid, Poppy's seven-year-old daughter, a mini-adult who questions everything, and with Robert's help, pushes him and Poppy closer. Garrett soon learns of Poppy's abusive past, which she rises above with help from the secondary characters in her life.

Garrett opens one of the boxes of letters Robert sent to him and begins to read. As he reads and witnesses Robert's interactions with Astrid, Poppy, and his B & B staff, Garrett starts to see Robert with more empathy and less judgment. Garrett mends his relationship with Robert, and words begin to flow. Garrett's writing again but now in a different direction. When it looks like he's about to get everything he wants professionally and personally, Poppy's ex-husband, Mark, comes to town demanding Astrid's placement.

Garrett punches Mark, which is recorded by the team sent by his publisher to document his progress. This complicates Poppy's action to retain custody of Astrid. Garrett's publisher drops him because of negative press.

A year later, Poppy, pregnant and newly married, watches from home with the dog as Morning Glory Wilson again interviews Garrett, along with Astrid, and Robert. Garrett publishes: Letters to My Father through his new company.

Laugh, cry, fall in love with Home Again.