VERONICA, ten years old and growing physically during a cold winter in the eighties, the winter begins to chip away at her youthful glow when her father dies in a hospital in Maryland. Unable to grapple with why God would take away a father who was a consistent provider, a solid role model and all around good person, his death sets her life into a regressive motion.

Veronica no longer feels the unconditional love, security and order that her dad once provided, and in an effort to take control of an uncontrollable situation, Veronica begins to submerse herself into an adult world of faulty friendships, an abusive relationship that ends in an abortion, dependency, hidden agendas and without much resistance, freely lets this one circumstance shape the rest of her life, forever threatening her chances at success.

Her MOM, thirty-two years young and still needing to find herself, now not only has to deal with her own grieving, but has to choose between the demands of a nearing adolescent daughter or DANIELLE – her youngest daughter. One of them has to take a back seat. Unable to control Veronica, mom and AUNT together make the decision to send Veronica to New York.

Veronica's aunt is determined to give her the structure and discipline she needs, getting her enrolled into high school and insists on her education and studies. Veronica seeing the move as a power play – unable to provide any input into the decision — rebels against her mom and aunt's mandates of control, refuses to go to school, finds a neighborhood boyfriend and continues down the road to self destruction.

Things seem to be looking up for Veronica when she begins her freshman year of college in 1998 and secures a position with BAD BOY ENTERTAINMENT. Shortly after she's fired, her mom tells her that she is no longer able to continue to pay for college due to the financial hardships she's having and Veronica is forced to terminate her studies early.

Nearly ten years later, Veronica re-enters college to finish her Bachelor's degree and before graduating travels to Europe – a crucial point in her turnaround. She develops independence, confidence, establishes healthy relationships and boundaries, and makes significant strides in shedding the “scripts” from her past. A reflection of her time spent in Europe plants an “inspirational seed” that forges Veronica's interest in wanting to become a Spanish voice-over artist.

She receives an “inspirational nudge” that calls her to move to New York. Renewed by an overreaching spirit of confidence stemming from her decision to move on her last $11.21, Veronica also sets out to begin work on her book.

Veronica reunites with her aunt, with whom she plans to stay. Danielle is also there, just having finished her studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology and reestablishes the lost bond with them both. But time has changed everyone.

Veronica not wanting to a burden to her aunt, starts her job search and in two weeks lands a job with a BROWNIE MANUFACTURING COMPANY. On top of an overbearing aunt, Veronica is also dealing with the brownie manufacturing company, who operates as a social enterprise, to whom she was initially drawn because of the company's concern for transitioning individuals. But issues of bullying, embezzlement, and hidden agendas soon arise and Veronica begins to see the company's mission not congruent with their behavior.

The book wraps when Veronica moves into the YWCA. She’s found herself placed in a “desert” situation – family, friends and associates have all been stripped away from her and she is forced to look at herself through new eyes.

Stephen Fortune

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