Falling in love wasn’t easy.
Staying together may be impossible.
In this sequel to Turning Point, as her divorce proceeds, Brenna Lanigan struggles with her sons’ cold shoulders and opposition to her intimate relationship with Cassidy Hyland. Cassidy’s son Ryan eagerly accepts their relationship, making Thomas and James’ lack of support even more upsetting.
When the women return from holiday hiatus to resume shooting on “Time Trails,” they sneak precious moments of intimacy in shadows and trailers. As many in the cast and crew openly show support, Cassidy and Brenna try to date. The paparazzi give chase. When the romance is publicized, the revelation sets off Cassidy’s ex-husband. Mitch Hyland will take his son from the lesbian couple…
by force if necessary.
The story behind the story:
A large portion of Turn for Home came from the original draft of Turning Point, written in 2001. That first book was so long, I knew I’d never get a publisher to agree to something so long. So, I reworked the arcs. Turning Point became the “getting together” part of the romance, and Turn for Home dealt with the “fallout,” including Cassidy’s ex and the paparazzi, when her relationship with Brenna becomes public knowledge.
This book is also very time-bound to when it is set: 2001. This is before most LGBTQ equality laws were on the books anywhere, and celebrities (and others) were losing their jobs for coming out. As my mother said at some point: “it’s more political than your first.”
There’s conversations about legal protections, hospital visitation rights, and religious challenges that echo a lot of what was being said from political parties, pulpits, and in private between family members, at the time. That makes Turn for Home a sort of “ripped from the headlines” story.
There’s also violence at a level I have not written before or since. It gave me nightmares for weeks while drafting. I researched everything I could, and worked to be true to the characters. And I got them to a happy ending, where they were together and committed to creating a blended family with their children.
First published in 2010, by PD Publishing Inc., the first edition of Turn for Home is out of print. But here’s a snapshot of the original cover:
Awards:
2010 Rainbow Award Winner: Lesbian Contemporary
The end of Turn for Home wasn’t the end of Brenna and Cassidy’s story, though. Over the years since 2010, I penned the odd short story here and there, sharing more events in Brenna and Cassidy’s life together. Turning In: More Stories of Brenna and Cassidy was published by Supposed Crimes in 2023.
Lara Zielinsky 