The truth is, I have a very good friend that is/was weight-challenged. In fact, I modeled Raquel after this very good friend of mine who after struggling with her gargantuan weight problem (pun intended) to no avail and getting no help from doctors mind you, got a gastric bypass.

To those of you who might say, well, why didn't she just try dieting harder? She did, I assure you. Why didn't she try diet aids? She did, at the risk of almost killing herself. (Many of those drugs aren't safe, even though prescribed by doctors.)

And she, like my heroine Raquel, now has a new life with the same old issues, however her new existence is minus the ball and chain of extra pounds weighing her down.

I am happy for my friend and character, Raquel, who marries the mysterious Abel Rollins, (you'll have to read the book), let's look at the ridicule and humiliation heavy people endure.

The scenes in the book where Raquel is embarrassed beyond words were real-life happenings I included in my book:

• I actually witnessed a scene like when an elevator stopped between floors and everyone else squeezes out and she's stuck inside for hours.
• The scene from "Raquel's Abel" in the bookstore where the people who came to hear about her recently-published biography on Isadora Duncan, yet the only questions she received were about what diet was she currently on.
• And when she broke her ankle and instead of attending to her, they blamed her for the accident. Yes, even medical personnel are judgmental about overweight people.

But, don't despair. "Raquel's Abel" is an upbeat read.

Get ready to read about a beautiful heroine with strawberry blonde hair, an esteemed biographer, and an accomplished ballroom dancer. That's right! Raquel can move on the dancefloor.

"Raquel's Abel" isn't out yet, but take a look at what's coming:

• Read an excerpt of Raquel's Abel.
• View a trailer.

• Why did Abigail fall in love with Zeb?
• Character interview on Zeb
• Read an excerpt
• Interview by Wanda Richards
• Click and listen to the podcast (.mp3)
• Watch the book trailer
• Get the e-book