Weekly Newsletter - Behind the Title: "His Greatest Regret"

-

 


Dear Readers,

This week, I wanted to share with you the story behind the title of my latest work, His Greatest Regret, and what it means to me on a personal level.

When crafting Richard's character, I was drawn to exploring the weight of consequences that cannot be undone. Richard embodies a man haunted by his choices, a complicated soul with many flaws, much like all of us. But what separated him from many was his inability to either make amends or find peace with his mistakes.

The title His Greatest Regret emerged from that central struggle. Richard carried many regrets throughout his life, but one towered above all others, a mistake that burned too many bridges and caused irreparable damage. This singular regret followed him relentlessly, becoming both his shadow and his burden until his final breath.

What fascinates me about Richard's story is how sharply it contrasts with my own philosophy on life. While creating his character, I found myself reflecting on how differently I approach my past mistakes. I've made plenty—some that still make me wince when remembering them—but I don't classify them as regrets.

Instead, I've come to view each misstep as a necessary part of my journey. Every wrong turn, failed relationship, or poor decision has shaped me into the woman I am today. Remove any of those mistakes, and you might remove the wisdom, strength, or compassion they eventually taught me.

This title reminds me that regrets are burdens we choose to carry. Unlike Richard, who only realized the devastating weight of his final regret when it was too late to change course, I believe in setting ourselves free by embracing our imperfections and learning from them.

Perhaps that's the most profound lesson hidden within this title, the choice we all have in how we carry our past. We can let it haunt us like Richard, or we can transform it into stepping stones toward becoming who we're meant to be.

To those of you who have been faithfully following my journey these past months as I complete this book—thank you. And no, I don't regret the time it's taking to finish. True craftsmanship can't be rushed. While I do use AI as a tool for brainstorming and assistance, the heart and soul of this story remain entirely my own creation. I'm excited to share that my beta reader is currently reviewing the final two chapters, and I've been editing alongside them, a process that has led to cutting some chapters entirely and completely rewriting others. My target release date remains the end of May, and I'm increasingly confident we'll meet that deadline.

Until next week,

Amy Crooks



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

52 Ancestors: The Bridge Between Two Worlds--William Vaughn Cook

-
Image
  The Bridge Between Two Worlds: William Vaughn Cook's Journey from Missouri Pioneer to Chickasaw Citizen In the dusty archives of the National Archives and the faded pages of century-old census records, there lives a story that speaks to the heart of America's frontier experience—a tale of love, adaptation, and the courage to cross cultural boundaries. It's the story of William Vaughn Cook, a man who became a bridge between two worlds. A Mystery That Began in Kentucky Picture this: somewhere in the rolling hills of Kentucky, a family named Cook made a decision that would echo through generations. Ananian (or Ananias, as records sometimes spelled it) and Mary Cook packed their belongings and joined the great westward migration that defined 19th-century America. Like thousands of other families, they sought opportunity in the expanding frontier, carrying with them little more than hope and determination. But here's where their story becomes a genealogist's riddle...
Read more

Newsletter: His Greatest Regret

-
Image
"It started like a spark — hot, irresistible, impossible to ignore. But sparks burn out fast… and the ashes leave scars." When I wrote  His Greatest Regret , I wanted to explore what happens when grief and longing push two people together — not because they’re ready, but because they’re lonely, human, and aching to feel alive again. Richard and Charlotte’s love was never meant to last. It began as a spark: a widow and a widower, each carrying their own grief, finding an unexpected comfort in one another. What started as warmth grew into a fire that neither of them could control — and that fire left behind ashes that scarred everyone it touched. Most of all, it scarred William — the child born of that spark — who would carry the weight of Richard’s choices for the rest of his life. (William’s story comes next month — but you’ll need to catch up on what came before.) 🔥 Excerpt: Charlotte stood before the shop, her arms wrapped around an enormous flour sack that threatened to s...
Read more

52 Ancestors: Rachel (Mason) Roe - Hidden in Plain Sight

-
Image
  "Did your mom speak Romani, and were your mom and dad both gypsy?" The question from my newly discovered cousin, Rhonda Krug, stopped me cold. After fifteen years of tracing my ancestors, I thought I had uncovered every family secret. But this? This was something I never saw coming. My second-great-grandmother, Rachel Mason Roe, had always been one of my more puzzling ancestors. Born around 1863, she appeared in records with frustrating inconsistencies—different birth years, various spellings of her name, and conflicting information about her origins. When I discovered the 1910 census claiming she was "half Chippewa Indian" born in Canada, my mother and I thought we'd finally found the answer to our unknown heritage on that side of the family. But those inconsistencies that had frustrated me for years suddenly made perfect sense once I understood the truth: Rachel wasn't Native American at all. She was Romani. The Records That Didn't Add Up Rache...
Read more