August (The Year of The Change Book 2) (32 page)

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed Sylvia’s adventure as she settles into her new home in Alaska. I’ve delight in writing this fun story for your enjoyment.

I love to hear from my readers so drop me a note at
[email protected]
and tell me how you would handle Sylvia’s ‘
problem’
.

You can also find me on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/kathrynagilmore
“Like” me while you’re there.

While I have your attention, I need a favor. Reviews are a huge part of marketing in our online age. Will you please take a minute and leave a review? Here’s a link directly to the review page for August:

https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review?ie=UTF8&asin=B012UINBHI
If
you loved or hated the book, please take a moment and tell me about it. Whether it’s two sentences or 50, each word will be appreciated. Your feedback will help me hone my craft and become a better writer.
Reviews are what keep us going, learning and reaching new readers.

My author profile is a
t
http://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-Gilmore/e/B00AJ63HNC
where you can find all my books and short stories.

Thank you for spending time with me.

Kathryn Gilmore

Other books by Kathryn Gilmore

Sylvia Kennin turns sixteen and is thrust into a family curse ... or is it a blessing?

There are hundreds of challenges she must overcome before her seventeenth birthday when The Change will be complete. Most importantly, she must make it to her seventeenth birthday with her virtue intact. You wouldn't think that would be hard for a girl who’s too tall, too plain and wears glasses. Oddly enough, there's just something about Sylvia that no single male can resist
.
 
Buy it now from Amazon
:
http://www.amazon.com/July-Year-Change-Book-1-ebook/dp/B012UINBHI

Kelly Goins’ life didn't match her four-point plan
.
 
Everything in its right order. Except, for Kelly, life didn’t follow the order after step two.After a hard day of corporate climbing in Lincoln, Nebraska, Kelly slips into a vintage nightgown and goes to sleep. The next thing she knows she’s in a dream ... maybe
.
 
In Iraq, Duran had come to grips with the fact that he would be alone for the rest of his military career, but Kelly turns his orderly life upside down when she appears in his tent. The woman is more than interesting, but is also crazy. He doesn't want to like the hard-nosed woman that keeps popping up in his cot, but maybe he's crazy too
. 

Buy it now from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Two-Days-Dream-Gown-Book-ebook/dp/B00JZ2RXH2

Single, church-going, never-broke-a-rule-in-her-life Cara has stolen a vintage nightgown from the poor. How pathetic could her world get? She's sure she's headed for the hot place even though her intentions were good. Surely, sleeping in the satiny material one night won't make things worse.
Buy it now from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Days-Dream-Gown-Book-ebook/dp/B00MP2PC3G
 

Lureen has been widowed for four long years. In that time she’s thrown herself into her supervisory position at Gilman Manufacturing. She’s good at what she does, but if she lost this job no one would hire her at her age. Before the new temp driver, Newell, drove into shipping bay six she was satisfied with her life. Now she’s not so sure
.
 
Newell is counting down the day until he flies south for the winter where he can enjoy his retirement. His big, hazel eyed supervisor, Lureen, has him hoping the snow won’t come early
.
 
Buy it now from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/New-Love-Kathryn-Gilmore-ebook/dp/B016VWUPLO

Continue for Character List

*=affected

A

*Alan Franklin
– (August 12
th
) Police officer who meets Sylvia at Target. He is now kicking himself for not getting the pretty young woman’s name and phone number. He’s hoping she will call him.

Anna Mae
– (August 6
th
) She is in her eighties. Emma visits her every other week. She went blind ten years ago after a long illness that Emma nursed her through.

B

*Billy Beaver
– (August 26
th
) Totem. Going to be a junior in high school, and is the middle Beaver brother. He is confused over what his life had become, but is eager to learn everything he can to fill his new role in his tribe.

Mr. Bohannon
– (August 29
th
) English teacher. He’s involved in the local theater group.

C

*Caleb
– (August 6
th
) Isaac’s grandson. He is 19yrs old, and a wrestler at the University in Juno. He was the top wrestler in his high school, but when he got to college he had to work hard to move up in his ranking. With all the talent on his wrestling team he struggles to keep his confidence.

*Calvin Thompson
(July 11, August - Prolog) He lived next door to the Kennins, in Oklahoma. Sylvia’s big crush since they moved next door. Has moved to Florida and is fully ensconced in the Theater Department of the University of Florida. Though dating regularly he always has Sylvia at the back of his mind.

Cara Peterson
– (July 26
th
, August 1
st
) She is the next door neighbor to the Kennins, in Alaska. She is thirty-nine, and the mother to Richard, Destiny and Eddy, granddaughter to Emma. She lost her husband in a car accident. The next day Emma (her long lost grandmother?) showed up to help her through the funeral. Cara immediately trusted Emma and accepted her invitation to come live with her in Alaska. She was reluctant to uproot her family after all they’d gone through, but there were too many memories to fight off so she went northwest from New Swanzy, Michigan. She has never regretted her decision.

*Casey Eugley
– (August 12
th
) Totem. 14yrs old. He helped Eli at Target, to protect the gifted. He is the nephew of the high school coach, Mr. Eugley. His father died when he was nine years old. He has four sisters, one younger and three older. He’s learned how to deal with girls through necessity.

Clara
– (August 6
th
) Elderly woman in her late seventies. Emma visits her every other week. She doesn’t hear well. She is actually descended from gnomes, but doesn’t know it.

*Cory Sukup
– (July 27
th, 
August 8
th
) He lives near Sylvia in Talkeetna, Alaska. He will be a freshman this coming school year and is best friends with Danny. He thinks its true love with Sylvia because all his other crushes were just that, crushes, this is so much more. He’s not sure he wants to stay friends with Danny, but isn’t willing, yet, to walk away.

Cowgirl
– (August 7
th
) She lived to a ripe old age before moving her mouse duties up to heaven. Now she watches over Gram, who watches over Sylvia.

Cyrus ‘Cy’
– (July 31
st
, August 1
st
) He’s a painter for Paulson house painting in Talkeetna, Alaska. He’s madly in love with his wife and he doesn’t know it, but they are expecting their first child. He got his younger brother, Zach, a job painting. He doesn’t understand his brother’s goofy behavior, but he’ll keep him out of trouble, even if he has to wring his young neck to do it.

D

*Danny
Michaelson
– (July 27
th
August 8
th
) He lives near Sylvia in Talkeetna, Alaska. He will be a freshman this coming school year, along with his best friend, Cory. He’s never really liked a particular girl before so his feelings are a bit bewildering. He doesn’t understand why Cory won’t get out of the way, since his friend doesn’t have a chance. Now, Danny, on the other hand, has a plan.

*David
– (August 23
rd
) Totem. He helped save Sylvia at Lake Louise. The golden haired girl is special. His mission is to convince his shaman in Gakona, Alaska, to let him pursue her.

Destiny Peterson
– (July 26
th
, August 1
st
) Sylvia’s next door neighbor and Cara’s daughter. She has become one of Sylvia’s best friends. As a sophomore this coming school year she can’t wait until next year when she can date. She figures out Sylvia is special and she’s fascinated by what happens around and to her friend. She’s told not to ask Sylvia about her
problem
. Destiny doesn’t see what the problem is. She sees it as an advantage.

*Donny
- (January 2nd, August Prolog) He is Sylvia’s best friend in Oklahoma. He’s picked up more hours at work so he can buy a ticket to Alaska. Every penny goes into savings. Cassie is harassing him, again.

*
Andrew ‘Drew’ LaMarr
- (July 18th, August Prolog) He met Sylvia on the Alaska Marine Highway Ship. He won’t admit it to Sylvia, but he’s lonely. He didn’t know how that happened since he was just fine looking down his nose at everyone else. It all changed and it’s Sylvia’s fault.

E

Eddy Peterson
– (July26th) He’s Sylvia’s next door neighbor and Cara’s youngest child. He immediately likes the Kennin twins. He’s into scouts, camping, building forts and gardening. Although, he’d never admit the gardening part to his older brother, Richard. His best friend, in Alaska, lives two miles away so when his grandmother asked him to make friends with the Kennin twins he was game. They’re both great, but Tam is just a girl. He doesn’t care what Richard says, she’s not cute enough to go everywhere Tim and he goes.

*Eli Longwater
– (August 2
nd
) MMC. Totem. He’s 17 years old and will be a senior this year. He has too many responsibilities to take time to check out the new girl that smells so good. Besides, he already has two, too many girls to deal with.

Emma Schnauffer
– (July 21
st
, August 1
st
) She owns the house next door to the Kennins, in Talkeetna, Alaska. She has figured out there’s something special about Sylvia. She wants to help wherever she can.

F

Mrs. Foster
– (August 29
th
) She is an Art teacher at the high school and a Village Counselor. She is curious about Sylvia’s talents.

G

Gram
- (January, August 6
th
) She is Sylvia’s grandmother on her father’s side, deceased. She didn’t succeed with her Change and wants her granddaughter to have the talents and gifts she didn’t earn. She watches over Sylvia.

Gramps
– (January, Aug 11
th
) Sylvia’s grandfather. He was more of a father to Sylvia than Len was. His death was a big blow to Sylvia. He died two years ago, but keeps an eye out for his favorite granddaughter.

Howard Sukup
– (August 15
th
) He is Cory’s father, and an avid runner and volunteer fireman.

I

Isaac
– (August 6
th
) He is 81 years old. Emma visits him every week. There’s history between Emma and the retired history teacher, but she won’t talk. He buried two wives before he met the love of his life. If only his old body would behave he’d catch her, too.

K

Kevin Beck -
(July 11th, August Prolog) He lives in Nebraska, near Crete. This winter he leaves for the MTC and a two year mission to Canada. He doesn’t know where he’s going, yet, so don’t tell him. He’ll get his papers next month. He’ll be so close to Sylvia, but, yet, so far away.

L

*Lay Asst. Minister
– (August 23
rd
) He almost drowned Sylvia in Lake Louise. He’d been praying God would show him what he’s supposed to do with his life. As soon as he saw the girl in the water he knew he had his answer. He was to get married and he was to marry the girl in the lake.

Galen ‘Len’ Kennin
– (July 11
th
, August 2
nd
) He is Sylvia’s father. Overwhelmed from the sheer magnitude of what Sylvia is going through he worries all the time that he’s not up to the task. Nonetheless, he’s very proud of his daughter. He misses his mom and wishes she was with them to help him understand this strange Change his daughter is going through. None of his Army training prepared him for the family legend.

M

*
Mark Beck
(July 11th, August Prolog) He lives in Nebraska, near Crete and is the middle Beck boy. He has anger issues, just like Sylvia said. He’s working hard to overcome his anger so Sylvia will like him more than his brother. Unfortunately, he knows Kevin has a better chance with her, which makes him angry.

*Marv
– (August 9
th
) He’s 17 years old and best friends with Roger. They like to hand fish. He has a girlfriend, JoJo. He’s second thinking his relationship with her and wonders if he can ever find Sylvia again.

Rev. Michaelson
– (August 10
th
) He is the father of Danny Michaelson and pastor to a nearby church. He is regretting letting Danny go with him to meet the Kennins. Now, his son wants to go visiting with him all the time, but thinks they should visit the Kennins every time.

*Mike Beaver
– (August 2
nd
) Totem, youngest of the three Beaver brothers and is going to be a sophomore in high school this year. He knows he’s not supposed to, but he can’t help thinking about Sylvia. Hopefully Eli won’t find out and assign him extra duties just to keep his mind off the new girl.

N

Mr. Nelson
– (August 29
th
) He’s the new high school’s principal. His biggest worry right now is how he’s going to blend kids from two different schools and keep there from being tension on the new campus.

O

Obadiah ‘Obi’
– (August 9
th
) He’s twenty-five and a very good swimmer. Sylvia rescued him. His buddies are giving him a hard time because a teenage girl saved him. He just knows he’ll never live this down. Maybe he should move to Fairbanks.

Old Geezer
– (August 12
th
) He was the toothless old man that was part of the crowd who watched Destiny and Sylvia model. He’s also the shaman from near Gakona. Much meditation has been performed about this new Gifted that has come into his world.

R

*
Randy Beck
- (July 11th, August Prolog) He lives in Nebraska, near Crete. He’s the youngest of the Beck boys. He doesn’t understand the weird new feelings he’s had, but he sure likes them.

Richard Peterson
– (July 26
th
, August 1
st
) He’s a next door neighbor to Sylvia in Talkeetna, Alaska. As a senior this year he’s Cara’s oldest child. He adores Sylvia and enjoys having her as his adopted sister. He is learning a lot from her and hopes he can always be there when she needs him.

*Ricky Beaver
– (August 26
th
) Totem. He’s the oldest of the three Beaver brothers. He’s also the biggest Totem in their village. He got a glimpse of Sylvia at practice and can’t get her out of his mind. He can’t wait to get a whiff of her and hopes she’s as sweet as Mike says she is.

*Rob
(July 15
th
, August Prolog) Oregon is where he was born and has lived all his life. It had been a long time since he’d let anyone into his heart and now it felt like she stole it.

*Roger
– (August 9
th
) 17 years of age, he’s mastered the art of hand fishing. Now, if only he could catch that pretty blonde.

S

Sammy
– (July 29
th
) A neighbor to Sylvia and talks a lot. There isn’t a subject he can’t talk about … and talk about, and talk about. He’s secretly in training to become the person who talks the longest without stopping.

Samuel
– (August 6
th
) Anna Mae’s grandson whom she made a date for him with Sylvia, next year. Samuel is mortified when Anna Mae tells him what she’s done. His plan is to avoid this new girl, Sylvia, at school and hope she forgets all about it.

*Shalem Marin
- (July 12
th
, August Prolog) Waiter at the Mexican restaurant, in Crete, Nebraska. Who says you can’t have love at first sight? With all the women he’d been dating you’d think it would’ve happened before. “No, it had to be someone just passing through long enough to snag my heart and leave me empty.”