THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO - Karma or Coincidence? Countdown (Frank Kopet)

Have you read this intro already more than once? 
If so, skip down to Frank!
And please scroll through the rest of of the entries so far! 
They're all wonderful. 

As some of you may know, THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO, my second novel for young adults comes out March 25th from Algonquin Young Readers.

THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO tells the story of almost-16-yr-old Francesca “Beans” “Frankie” Schnell who, four years ago witnessed her baby brother, Simon, drown. Guilty and broken, Francesca has hunkered down in the shadows of her life, resolved to play second fiddle to her dead brother’s memory and to her best friend Lisette, a blonde bubbly beauty Francesca lives vicariously through. That is, until she meets a young boy named Frankie Sky who bears an uncanny resemblance to her brother. Frankie brings humor and hope to Francesca’s life, but are all the similarities between Frankie and Simon merely wishful coincidences, or could he be Simon’s reincarnation?

Curious coincidences abound in THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO —not only the overlaps between Simon and Frankie Sky, but also Bradley’s gift to Francesca, Bradley’s bird sighting, and the ties to the statue of  Saint Florian (you'll have to read to know what these are ;)). Midway through the story Francesca starts to think these events can’t really be coincidences, “but something bigger and magical at work.”

Have you ever experienced strange events that seemed like more than coincidence and made you wonder if fate was at work or that soul and or reincarnation exist?

Throughout the month, I've decided to pose that question to friends, some writers, others bearing other artistic talents, for a brief account of their own experience with karma, kismet or a mystical connection. I leave you to answer the question, “Random or something magical at work?” 

I hope you find these stories as intriguing and lovely as I do.

- gae

Today's post is from wonderful writer friend Frank Kopet.

Frank is one of the most energetic, inspirational guys I know. He's the author of the Tomorrow trilogy plus his connected YA story, Sarah's Tomorrow, a number of plays and other written works of art.

Here's Frank, with a staggering and heart-tugging moment of magical connection:

It was June 2006 and we traveled from Connecticut to our Georgia home.  Our family was still mourning the loss of our eldest son Christopher and we arrived at our favorite retreat with very heavy hearts. Chris lived in Alabama, about hundred miles west of our Georgia property. He suffered for over a year with Leukemia and equally so from the various forms of treatment. He died in February 2006.

We pulled into the garage and did the usual unloading, robotically, and settled in. This was the Friday before Father’s Day.

On Father’s Day the wonderful telephone calls came. We rejoiced and laughed and yet the void of another voice tugged at our hearts.  

Just an old folder, right? 

I don’t know the reason why but I went into the garage and a manila folder rested on top of some moving boxes.  It did not belong there. Our files were located in the house. The moment I touched the simple folder, a paper fell out. 

It was a child’s drawing celebrating Father’s Day. It was a handmade card that I received a long time ago from Chris. 

- Frank Kopet

Please check out Frank's books, and don't forget to order your copy of THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO from your favorite indie bookstore or brick & mortar.