Guest Post by Laurel Thomas: Friends & Gatekeepers

I dangled upside down, watching the back tire of a flatbed trailer revolve.

What a way to end a hayride.

We were a small mob of thirteen-year-olds too young to worry about looking cool. Our chaperone drove the tractor as we commenced a brawling, giggling hay fight.

A big plop of straw hit me in the back. Losing my balance, I tumbled over the side.

My friend, Carolyn, grabbed my ankles just as my head tottered near the underside of the trailer. With a giant heave, she swung me away from the edge.

I bounced a couple of times on the dusty field and rolled down a hill.

“She’s dead,” someone cried.

Embarrassed, yes. Dead, no. I hadn’t planned to exit life in the middle of an autumn hayride. I was bruised and sore for a few days, but alive, thanks to my friend’s quick intervention.

This dear woman rescued me the second time eleven years later. I was upside down again, this time emotionally. Life gyrated outside my control while I looked on stunned, but certain of my own stupidity. Obviously, without a cure.

I was a waitress that summer at a restaurant near a busy interstate highway. Vacationers arrived early in the morning. They needed coffee, required immediate biscuits and gravy, and were impatient to begin the fun.

They showed up again in the evening, sunburned, exhausted and crabby. As their server I was either an angel bringing refreshments, or a derelict scullery maid. I never knew which to expect.

One afternoon I looked up from a state trooper’s cup of coffee. There she was – my longtime friend. We made plans for dinner and that night she shared wisdom that gave me courage to begin a new journey.

The fact is, sometimes you just need a person who’s willing to open the door to a new place. A gatekeeper of sorts.

Years later when the thought of writing a novel crossed my mind, I remembered my friend. And how she’d opened the door to a new beginning.

Cue the applause! Her Name Is Gatekeeper released on December 10!

I’m still working out a place for a cool launch party – if you have ideas, let me know.

Bottom line – We can be those who open doors of hope and possibility. Or we can be walls of competition and insecurity.

Throughout the years, I’ve been so blessed with you and with many others who jumped on board this storytelling adventure.

Rene Gutteridge is one of them.

Write Your Heart Out is hosting an onsite Scene Building Workshop on February 21 & 22, 2026.

Scenes are the building blocks of a successful novel. Learning how to write the unforgettable kind is a must. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from storytelling’s finest – Rene Gutteridge. And me, of course.

The Early Bird registration is $199, which is an amazing deal for all that teaching, plus meals and snacks! You can sign up via my PayPal, Creative and Editing Services by Laurel Thomas.

Christina Rost and Kristy Werner are two more friends whose goal is to help other writers.

Hearts & Flame Collective debuted in October with smashing success. We’ll meet again on Monday, 1/12 at 1100 WB Meyer Parkway for a light meal, networking and a session on character development called “Character Code: Traits, Triggers, and Truths!”

My heart is a lot sweeter for your presence in my life! Stay in touch and remember – even though life can get pretty rough at times, our willingness to open doors for others is a gift that keeps on giving.

Laurel Thomas
Write Your Heart Out