Letters to Hank

Foreword

A couple of years ago, I was browsing through an antique mall and found nearly a dozen postcards written from a woman named Florence to a man named Ollie. From the moment I laid eyes on them, I knew I had to write a story about it. I had no idea who Florence was, nor anyone named Ollie, yet so much passion could be found in the delicate handwriting on each of the letters.

I wanted to turn the postcards into a novel, but I knew I didn't have enough material. Likewise, I knew the story of Ollie and Florence couldn't be limited to a few pages in a short story. When I signed up for a course devoted to novellas, I figured I would simply be reading some classic novellas and analyzing them. However, I was assigned to write one of my own. I decided that there was never going to be a better time than now to finally write this novella, Letters toHank.

This novella is very loosely based on my idea of where the postcards from Florence to Ollie may have come from. Since beginning this story, I have been in contact with Ollie and Florence's daughter-in-law, and I have discovered who they truly were. This story in no way, shape, or form is representative of the actual lives of Florence and Ollie.

Letters to Hank is simply an idea I had before finding the truth about Ollie and Florence. It is not faithful to their real lives, nor does it touch any of their personal details. I read their postcards and blindly came up with an idea that would capture the hearts of the readers.

This novella is a project for college. I will write weekly, with new additions to it. Please know that the requirement for the assignment, as of right now, is simply quantity over quality. I am aware of the mistakes, and I intend to fix them before the final submission at the end of the course. I hope this novella gives you a small taste of my writing style and helps the reader further connect with the writer.

And, most importantly, I sincerely hope you enjoy!

—L. Taylor