It took working through and acknowledging the inner pain and turmoil which can keep anyone a prisoner in their own bodies, whether by taking drugs, sleeping around, starving oneself, emotional eating, shopping compulsively, self-harming or any number of things designed to take you away from your feelings. Is it possible to become wholly healed? After many years of various addictions and healing, I believe one can live an enriched, beautiful life better than anything they might have imagined. But I have long referred to people as the “walking wounded” because we are. I try to have compassion, avoid judgment and accept the things I cannot change. No one knows what I have been through by looking at my exterior any more than I understand anyone else’s journey by looking at theirs.
I seek evolution, enlightenment, spiritual principles and connection. These guide me and bring solace and understanding in a complicated world.
In the end, although Anna experienced the ultimate repercussion, I’m grateful I didn’t have to (and believe me, I could have between the dangerous situations I found myself in and suicidal thoughts). I hope you know there are solutions, help available and choices. Start the conversation with me, your friends, your parents, anyone. Love yourself. Respect yourself. Honor yourself. Choose yourself. And to thine own self be true.
AUTHOR NOTE THANK YOU for reading one of my books. I love writing, a dream that began when I was a young girl penning short stories with a pen and notepad. Did you enjoy Falling? If so, I’m going to ask you a favor. A heartfelt one. Would you hop on over to Amazon and leave a review? I appreciate your review on Amazon, Goodreads and anywhere else that supports reader reviews. You may not realize it, but your reviews help independent authors like me tremendously—along with potential readers, who often read reviews to decide if they’d enjoy a book. Click HERE to leave your review right now, while it’s fresh in your melon. I read every review, and hella value yours! Thank you madly, Katherine P.S. Please consider signing up for my newsletter list. I don’t send many emails, but I do announce new releases, do giveaways, and share the occasional post plus freebies! It’s easy to sign-up at my website at http://www.katherinecobb.com.
Acknowledgments
This first novel took many tries and a formidable effort spanning ten-plus years (and then five years later and additional editing, I re-released it under the new title, Falling. The previous title was Skyline Higher). Thank you to the following people who supported me in this effort.
My husband Greg, who loved me until I could love myself, is unarguably my biggest supporter in life. He has taught me priceless lessons including how to be mentally strong. I thank you and love you, babe (even if I didn’t dedicate my young adult novel about high school to you).
Many thanks to my mother, Linda Briganti, who not only brought me into this world, but who has been a steadfast supporter of my writing efforts (and faithful proofreader of my editorial columns for years) despite the fact she was petrified to read this particular novel. It’s going to be okay Mom, I promise!
Priscilla Rodd, I thank you for your blunt, fearless editing that ultimately turned this book into something readable, and taught me tons.
Kim Maeda, I can’t thank you enough for reading through this book in its earlier forms and iterations. You’ve been a bestie since junior high school, and I value your support, feedback and generosity.
I also humbly thank other manuscript readers for their feedback including Lynn Trautner (one of my childhood friends—I cherish your friendship still), my good pal Rachel Hally (librarian, reader, writer and beast in the gym—you know I dig you, DCR), and dear friend Amy Hakola (your wit, demeanor and obsession with food are a perfect pairing with my own), plus the handful of young female readers she solicited.
My thanks to members of my writing group: Barbara June Appelgren, Tara Bell, Millie Curtis, and Karen Robbins, who listened to my novel week after week in its near-final form and offered encouragement, suggestions, tears, laughter and dismay, all at the right moments. Congratulations to us for publishing our novels! My thanks also to members of a former writer’s group that met at the Martinsburg Library, who heard an early rendition.
Special thanks to Liz Wilson and her daughter Allyna, the photographer and model, respectively, for the cover of the first iteration of this novel.
Finally, I thank all the friends (and boys!) who permeated my life during high school, for without them, there would be nothing to write about.
Playlist
Every good book has its own soundtrack, and this is mine for Falling.
1. We Go Together (John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John)
2. Falling In Love (The Scorpions)
3. Open Invitation (Santana)
4. Freewill (Rush)
5. Walking On The Moon (The Police)
6. Girls Got Rhythm (AC/DC)
7. Can’t Get Enough (Bad Company)
8. Slow Ride (Foghat)
9. Bottoms Up! (Van Halen)
10. La Grange (ZZ Top)
11. White Lines (Grandmaster and Melle Mel)
12. Baba O’Riley (The Who)
13. Snortin’ Whiskey, Drinkin’ Cocaine (Pat Travers)
14. In The Evening (Led Zeppelin)
15. Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
16. Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne)
17. The Last Time (The Rolling Stones)
18. Don’t Look Back (Boston)
About the Author
Katherine Briganti Cobb was born and raised in California’s San Francisco Bay Area but has lived in the Mid-Atlantic since 1989, where she has written for numerous publications. She won Best Lifestyle Columnist by the West Virginia Press Association for her award-winning editorial column, “It
