RACHEL'S SONG, Part I

Many years ago, I had a dream that reminded me of the Old Testament story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel. When I woke up, I contemplated the dream for about two seconds before it sparked an idea, and the novel Rachel’s Song came rushing into my brain.

I wasn’t even sure I wanted to write the story, but it came anyway, tormenting me for days, disrupting my ability to focus on anything else. When the mad rush of thoughts tapered off to a trickle, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Rachel’s Song is an off-beat story about Jacob Potter, River Leah Jorgensen, and Rachel Rosenbaum. I don’t necessarily agree with the lifestyle the characters lead, or the choices they make. But they make those choices anyway. Fortunately, young Thor possesses more wisdom than the misguided adults, and helps to save them from themselves.

River’s mother Melody is an old hippie who lives blissfully in her own interpretation of reality. She goes with the flow and doesn’t interfere with the lives of others, but offers up her Earth Mother brand of wisdom when called upon for help.

When I was in the final stages of preparing Rachel’s Song for publication, I met my friend Judy, who is the real-life version of Melody. The similarities between the Judy and the fictional Melody were so uncanny that I ended up dedicating the book to Judy.