And Then it Rained: Lessons for Life is the story of how I lost my most trusted confidant… and found myself.

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REVIEWS:

Megan Morrison’s debut novel will speak to all students struggling to find themselves and make difficult decisions that will impact the rest of their lives. As a 9th grade teacher, I consistently see young teenagers struggling with many issues Morrison describes in her book. The decision of leaving home for college and what drives a student to succeed are two of the many issues Megan touches on in her book that will speak volumes to high school students struggling to make those same choices. Through meaningful quotes added to her own words, Megan poignantly describes the heartache of a parent disappointing his daughter, the adoration of a role model, and the difficult, but triumphant decision of leaving home to achieve her dreams. Students will relate to the difficult decisions that Megan made in high school. Do you follow the crowd? How hard are you willing to work to attain your dreams? Can you let go of someone you admired, but who let you down? Will the homesickness that comes with starting college ever end? Megan shows students that you can go your own way: make the best choices for yourself and live life to the fullest.”

– Jennifer at www.amazon.com

“Based on her own life, Megan shows us that we are stronger than we think. Despite the turmoil of her father’s alcoholism, his various bouts with treatment, her parent’s divorce, and losing the one person in her life that she truly admired, this amazing girl goes on to accomplish some incredible feats. It’s her journey to find the strength within herself and become the person, the example to others, that she really wished Maya had been for her.”

– Angela at www.amazon.com

“I’m not a big fan of memoirs, but this book is so well-written it’s like reading fiction. Megan and I had very different paths in life, so her choices and experiences were not familiar roads for me, making her journey all the more interesting to read. This book, without being preachy, is inspiring, motivational and useful for anyone. While she and I have lived such different lives, her engaging prose and openness of heart made it easy to relate to the core human struggles of fear, loneliness and loss of hope… and to rejoice with her as those were replaced by bravery, camaraderie and excitement about life. I highly recommend this book.”

– Kimberly at www.amazon.com

“I read “And Then It Rained: Lessons for Life” on my Kindle shortly before Christmas. What with the hectic pace of the Holidays, a person can get overwhelmed and sometimes lose focus on what’s important. Megan Morrison’s story of how she persevered through the emotional ups-and-downs of school, family, and relationships helped remind me to regain my focus and concentrate on what really matters in my life. Now, what matters in a person’s life will obviously differ from one person to the next, but I think anyone who reads “And Then It Rained” will be able to take away some great insights and, hopefully, put them to good use in their own day-to-day struggles.”

– Matthew at www.amazon.com

EXCERPT

I rehashed the conversation on my ride home.  Was there anything I could say to help?  Should I tell her she’s crazy for thinking those things?  What if that made her mad?  Would it make a difference if I told her how much I looked up to her?  Probably not.  She had so many other people in her life who were closer to her.  What could I do?

***

The second Sunday in August, an idea tunneled from the bottom of my mind like a worm fighting its way through an apple.

I marched inside and straight down to our basement family room, which housed our computer, and yanked the wooden chair from under the desk.  I sat and rested my hands on the cool, plastic keyboard.

The inspiration to write Maya a letter had come a couple years prior.  How neat for her to walk out to her mailbox one day—long after we’d gone our separate ways—and discover the incredible way she’d affected the life of another person.  She’d done so much for me.  Shouldn’t she know that?

I hadn’t thought about it much the past few months; the soonest I’d send the letter would be when she went to San Diego State, and even that was over a year away.  But now, other reasons compelled me to write.  I needed to say something, even if no one could hear me.

“Dear Maya, I have no idea how to start this letter.”

After a couple agonizing minutes, I forced myself forward.

“I have contemplated writing it to you for a very long time, and I cannot even begin to imagine what your reaction will be.”

Would she be flattered?  Or would she deem my admiration over the top?  It doesn’t matter.  We’ll hardly know each other by the time she reads this. 

After introducing the letter’s purpose, I moved on to my memorable moments with her  That’s where the letter took on a timeline format—the summer we’d met, how she’d become my idol.

The story about my focus on her academics sparked additional hesitation. Would she be upset at me for calling out something negative?  But to appreciate why she was my idol, she needed to understand how I’d come to recognize those qualities.

She’d taught me quite a lesson, among other things.

I took my last bike ride to the coffee shop the following week.  Last, both because school started a day later, and because Maya had informed me that the owner was shutting down the store.  Those slow afternoons were a little too slow.

Our conversation topics proved more positive this time—school starting, the new apartment she and her friend Chloe were moving into the following weekend.  Yet she still spoke in the same tone—defeated.  The radio played softly in the background, Len’s “Steal My Sunshine.”

I glanced out the window at the threatening clouds, and then back at Maya.  Sounds about right.

We said our goodbyes and I dashed to my bike, hoping to get ahead of the impending storm.

Too late.  Five minutes in, the sky unleashed its fury, complete with thunder, lightning, and hard, cold rain.

What a bad day.

What a bad month, really
.