To Have

Stella My life was good. But, like most things that are just “good,” it fell apart. I fell apart. I had lived to work before, but when my husband left my job became my entire life. Then I went for coffee and my life changed. Days before finalizing my divorce, my past sat down across from me and it was like life had been breathed back into me. It was only the beginning of a crazy, not at all planned out adventure with him ... much like our escapades when we were kids. Brian Twenty years ago my parents moved our family to Tennessee. My heart stayed behind in Western New York. On a well-planned whim, my best friend and I packed up and headed north to begin realizing our dream of owning a business — a coffeehouse — in the small college town I spent my childhood exploring. It took me years before I had the courage to go home, set up shop, and find her, though. I needed to be certain I could give her everything. That day finally came. When she walked in, she stole the air from my lungs. This is our story.

Miranda L. Pennock was born and raised in Western New York. She attended Alfred University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and communication studies and went on to earn her Master of Arts in communications from SUNY College at Brockport. After a handful of years working as a reporter and editor in the newspaper industry, Miranda left the news world to care for her children and begin working on creative writing projects. Miranda and her husband live in Central New York with their two daughters and black lab. This is her debut novel.