Rita A. Gordon's Blog

How I wrote a story about two characters experiencing the grief of losing a parent when the sting of losing mine is still fresh.

With great difficulty. Often through tears. But…always with care.

Grief is strange. It doesn’t move in a straight line—it lingers in the corners of your mind, waiting for a scent, a song, or a quiet moment to pull you right back. When I write, I can’t help but bring pieces of myself into the story, and this time, it was the ache of missing someone I love beyond words.

In London Calling, those pieces found their way into Aaron and Jasmine’s journey. I poured my own raw edges into the spaces between their words, the silences in their conversations, and the moments they choose love in spite of the loss. It’s a story about family, love, and self-discovery—but it’s also my way of holding my grief in my hands and turning it into something beautiful.

I hope I did it justice.

LONDON CALLING
Here’s an excerpt:

And there it is…the condolence.

They come often and unexpectedly when you lose a parent as a child. People ask about your mom, and they don’t expect the answer you give. She died when I was five.

Then comes the pause. The widening of eyes. The quick intake of breath, as if they can inhale the shock away. And always, the soft, automatic response—Oh, I'm sorry.

I nod. I say thank you. I reassure them, as if it’s my job to make them feel better about my loss. And then, just like that, I move on. But the moment lingers, the reminders settling into my bones. She's gone. She’s been gone. And somehow, it’s still a surprise to people. Amara has many more years of experiences like this to come.

When you’re young, condolences follow you like a shadow. People whisper about how sad it is, how hard it must have been. Teachers, parents of friends, even strangers—always an expression of sympathy, an acknowledgment of absence, a reminder that my life isn’t quite normal.

But then you grow up, and something shifts. People stop offering condolences when they learn you’ve lost a parent. Maybe they assume time has softened the edges of grief, that by now, it’s simply a fact of life. But losing a mother at five isn’t the same as losing her at fifty. There’s no lifetime of memories, no decades of love to hold onto. Just fragments. A laugh I think I remember. A scent that fades a little more every year. A voice I can no longer quite hear in my head.

When you lose someone young, you spend the rest of your life knowing they should have been here for every milestone. Every birthday. Every achievement. Every quiet, ordinary day.

So yes, I know she’s gone. I’ve known it for as long as I’ve known how to speak. But every unexpected condolence is a reminder that she shouldn't be.

“London Calling” is a standalone, marriage-of-convenience, contemporary romance.

END NOTE: While London Calling is a work of fiction, student homelessness is a very real issue across the globe. The glimpse you see in this story only scratches the surface—reality is often far more dire. As a world traveler, I once found myself in a similar situation as the main character, moved by an overwhelming desire to help a homeless student. If you’d like to learn more about the challenges students face in the U.S., here are a few resources/articles to read:

->'Invisible' crisis: Student homelessness in CT hits record-high, advocates fear more are at risk
->California’s hidden homeless children: living in garages, doubled-up and unseen

Want to help in your local area in the USA? Contact your school district's local homeless education liaison, your national state-level organizations, or dial 211 or visit 211.org to find local services and shelters in your community, including those that specifically help homeless youth. Those in the UK and other countries can research resources via a simple online search.

London Calling

Looking for your next romance read?

SEVEN DAYS IN SEATTLE is now available on Kindle Unlimited.

One week. No strings. No names. No feelings. What could go wrong?

Rain

This Seattle meeting will change my life…just not the way I expected.

Instead of focusing on my presentation, I’m dealing with a cheating boyfriend and sister who bailed on me. The only good thing to happen is when a stranger at a bar offers a pretty distraction: a one-night stand, no strings attached, no questions asked. A distraction from my mess of a life is exactly what I need….

But our one-night stand turns into a week-long affair. He only wanted sex, no feelings, no last names, no talk about business, nothing personal. And I was fine with that. Until I wasn’t.

Nik

I don’t have time for relationships. I have a company to run, a legacy to uphold, a reputation to protect. I only care about power and success. I don’t do dates and I don’t do tomorrows. I only do one-night stands with women who know the rules and don’t ask for more.

But then I met Rain at a bar. She’s beautiful, smart, and sassy. And suddenly, I want more. The more time we spend together, the more I want from her. Her name. Her story. Her dreams. And I was fine with that. Until I wasn’t.

Fate is about to punish us for staying anonymous…by throwing us into each other’s lives in the worst possible way.

“Seven Days In Seattle,” a contemporary romance, is Book 1 of the “Let It Rain” series.

Available in eBook, paperback, and hardcover.

Learn more here.

Seven Days In Seattle

AVAILABLE NOW!!!!

30 Days In Belfast

Special Cover Design
Amazon



Just one distraction could lead to failure—several may spell ruin.

As the daughter of the wealthiest Black man in the country, Rose Ross struggles to make a name for herself as the COO of her father’s tech company. She’s even forced to let go of a promising relationship to focus on her career, but still cannot seem to escape her father’s legacy. Rose fears that if she remains at Rick Ross Enterprises, she will never rise above the vast shadow his name casts.

When her ailing friend reaches out to her for help, Rose doesn’t hesitate. She has just thirty days to curate the most important charity art exhibition in Europe and break into a field she is truly passionate about. However, just before she leaves for her flight to Belfast, her father informs her that she has only three weeks to decide whether she will succeed him as CEO.

With her concentration already split between one life-altering decision, Rose is stunned when she meets her friend’s handsome and overprotective brothers. Right away, she recognizes an undeniable, yet different, attraction to both.

Her mind in turmoil, Rose’s focus is now fractured among love and business. If she cannot make a decision—or if she makes the wrong one—she will lose everything she has worked for and, perhaps, more.

Add to your TBR: 30 Days In Belfast

COVER REVEAL!!!!
30 DAYS IN BELFAST
by Rita A. Gordon

Pre-order Now
Kindle
Amazon
Barnes & Noble



30 Days In Belfast is my debut novel.

Just one distraction could lead to failure—several may spell ruin.

As the daughter of the wealthiest Black man in the country, Rose Ross struggles to make a name for herself as the COO of her father’s tech company. She’s even forced to let go of a promising relationship to focus on her career, but still cannot seem to escape her father’s legacy. Rose fears that if she remains at Rick Ross Enterprises, she will never rise above the vast shadow his name casts.

When her ailing friend reaches out to her for help, Rose doesn’t hesitate. She has just thirty days to curate the most important charity art exhibition in Europe and break into a field she is truly passionate about. However, just before she leaves for her flight to Belfast, her father informs her that she has only three weeks to decide whether she will succeed him as CEO.

With her concentration already split between one life-altering decision, Rose is stunned when she meets her friend’s handsome and overprotective brothers. Right away, she recognizes an undeniable, yet different, attraction to both.

Her mind in turmoil, Rose’s focus is now fractured among love and business. If she cannot make a decision—or if she makes the wrong one—she will lose everything she has worked for and, perhaps, more.

Add as your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...

30 Days In Belfast

Now Available!!!!
Amazon | 12:56 a.m. Box



On A Positive Note is a gratitude journal filled with prompts to help record your thoughts throughout the day. A simple design allows you to make quick notes wherever and whenever you designate time to write. Various prompts guide you through the day like, daily intentions, the day’s playlist, space for notes, and more. Each section begins with an inspirational quote to get you started on a positive note.


A gratitude journal
On A Positive Note: Gratitude Journal

*** COVER REVEAL CELEBRATION ***
INTRODUCING On A Positive Note!!!!



Releasing December 9, 2021
Preorder link

On A Positive Note is a gratitude journal filled with prompts to help record your thoughts throughout the day. A simple design allows you to make quick notes wherever and whenever you designate time to write. Various prompts guide you through the day like, daily intentions, the day’s playlist, space for notes, and more. Each section begins with an inspirational quote to get you started on a positive note.


A gratitude journal
On A Positive Note: Gratitude Journal

Now Available!!!
Amazon | 12:56 a.m. Box



This guided journal encourages the cultivation of mindfulness and appreciation amid a busy lifestyle. Each journaling page contains an inspirational quote and provides a place to record your thoughts and activities and consider how they affect your emotional and physical well-being. Having filled the journal with positive reflection, you will end up with a personal trove of beautiful thoughts, which can be a source of positive inspiration at any time.


Grateful: A Gratitude Journal
Rita A. Gordon

I’m a firm believer that we all have a reason to be grateful. Being thankful helps you develop a positive mindset, and I am sure we all have more things to be thankful for than not. Many studies have been done on the effects of expressing gratitude, which support an association between gratitude and an individual’s well-being.

What are you thankful for today? Not sure? Here are a few to get you started.

1. Health
2. Life
3. Warm home
4. Friends
5. Family

I feel so strongly on the topic of gratitude that I published several gratitude journals that you can find online at Amazon. Most recently, I published Grateful, a gratitude journal designed to help you reflect on all the things in which you are thankful. I feel every day being alive is a day to be grateful. Be inspired by each day’s inspirational quote and or create your affirmation. There is also space to share amazing things that happened in this feel-good journal.



Rita A. Gordon
Grateful: A Gratitude Journal