Exciting News for AspenRidge Readers!
Bison Valley Ranch, the second book of the Persephone’s Garden Series will be released August 18, 2027!
A Huge Thank You to everyone who purchased, read, reviewed AspenRidge, and asked for more of Jessie and Shawn’s story!
September brought great news from Black Rose Writing, my publisher:
AspenRidge—which released on May 14–reached a big milestone with over 1000 copies sold by the end of August! And, I signed a contract with Black Rose to publish Bison Valley Ranch!
My manuscript for Book Two is now in the hands of an editor. When I have her notes, I’ll work on revisions and prepare to send the final version to the publisher by January 1, 2027.
A year ago, the road to AspenRidge’s publication was mysterious and unfamiliar—this year, it’s nice to know what to expect. If you’re interested in how books make their way into the world, I’ll be sharing updates here on Bison Valley Ranch’s journey to publication day.
Autumn—My favorite time of Year!
In the Northern Hemisphere, fall officially arrived on September 23 with the Autumn Equinox—the moment when the sun hangs directly over the equator. The Equinox marks the balance point between summer’s sunny days and the dark days of winter as the sun retreats toward the Southern Hemisphere.
According to the classic Persephone myth referenced in my novel series, the Equinox signals Persephone’s return to the Underworld for her six months stay with Hades.
Here in Wisconsin, it’s time to put away shorts and sandals, break out warm sweaters and boots, and look forward to cozy nights with a good book, a fire crackling in the fireplace and all things pumpkin spiced. Fortunately, we’re still enjoying sunny days—perfect for hiking, biking and trips to the local farmer’s market with its bountiful harvest of squash, peppers, beans, potatoes, apples and of course, pumpkins!
In my garden, I’m keeping an eye on green tomatoes and a few small peppers. I’m hoping the first frost will hold off long enough for them to ripen, and most days, I can still collect a handful of ripe berries from my small raspberry patch. On chilly days, there’s nothing better than heaps of chopped apples simmering in a crockpot, filling the house with fragrances of cinnamon and warm applesauce.
Winter in Wisconsin is too long, but I wouldn’t want to live in a perpetually warm and green climate. I’d miss the changing seasons—each one with its own unique beauty—earth’s way of reminding me life is cyclical, change is constant, and routines and habits can be adjusted.
Like Jessie—AspenRidge’s female protagonist—I love autumn’s cool crisp mornings, the soft light suffused with a golden glow, and leaves sparkling with dew. Even though the earthy scent of damp leaves triggers my allergies, I wouldn’t miss taking walks amid forests resplendent in fall hues of red, ochre, and sienna.
In this excerpt from Chapter One of AspenRidge, Jessie describes an autumn morning in Boulder, Colorado:
“A light breeze twirls a swarm of golden aspen leaves against the
mountain-bluebird colored sky. I’ve always loved the glorious color play of
autumn—the earth turning warm and golden as the sun retreats and
temperatures cool. It’s like a spectacular, slow-motion sunset, a feast of color
to remember in the monochrome winter days to come.
With a whir of tiny wings, chickadees scatter from a row of euonymus
bushes. I stop to admire the jade and ruby-colored leaves shimmering in
rain-scrubbed air. Nobody teaches color theory like Mother Nature. “Show
off,” I mutter. “How do you turn green leaves red?”
The beauty of autumn always inspires me to dig into creative projects. I just starting fleshing out an idea for Book 3 of the Persephone series, and I’m creating a map of Jessie and Shawn’s fictional world of “Peaks County, Colorado”.
I hope you’re able to get outside and find something beautiful and inspiring in nature today!
