The Ancestral Pen

  It's that time of year again. Though the nights are still cool and it's too early to plant in my garden, it's warm enough to start the remodel projects. I had a dear reader tell me that I shortchanged her on her Monday morning read, but after I showed her this picture and explained how full my weekend was, she understood. So today, while I should be working, I'm creating another newsletter to share what's going on with us. Remodel — need I say more? If you've ever lived in your home while remodeling, you'll get this. It's dust everywhere, constant trips to the hardware store, noise, piles of tools and supplies, and endless frustration. But don't despair. I won't forget about my loyal readers — I'll absolutely share the funny and horrifying moments with you so you can laugh or cry right along with me on this journey. Nothing will be predictable between now and fall, so be sure to open each email, because you never know what fun nugget will b...

  I’m sparing you the chaos, but just know my fingers are wearing the letters off my keyboard. I’m currently editing  The Fading Light , which is available for pre-order on Amazon, while also working on the prequel. This short story will be available on StoryOrigin and BookFunnel for you to download and read at no cost. Now for the main course. Last week I introduced the weekly question about books, and I really am interested in hearing from you. I want to learn what you look for in a story, what you love, what makes you put a book down — and everything in between. Your answers will genuinely shape the kinds of books I write next, so don't be shy! This week's question: "What book have you recommended most often to friends or family in the last year?" Just hit reply and tell me. I read every response. Your Truly The Pack Saddle Ranch The Pack Saddle Ranch series is now complete.  Button While my fingers dance across the keyboard, consider supporting some of these other...

  Dear readers, I hope you’ve got a good book in hand and something warm to drink  because I’ve got some exciting news this week. The Fading Light Is Available for Preorder! The Fading Light  is now available for preorder on Amazon, and it officially releases on  May 25th. I’ll be sharing more about the book in the weeks leading up to launch; behind-the-scenes research, the history that inspired it, the characters I fell a little in love with while writing it. You’ll be the first to know everything. If you’ve been with me for a while, preordering means the world. It genuinely helps get the book into more hands. And if you know someone who loves a sweeping historical story, well… it would make a pretty great gift. Preorder The Fading Light on Amazon: Button This Week’s Reader Question Over the past year, I’ve shared so much about myself from my writing life, my obsessions, and the history that keeps me up at night. Now I’d like to turn the tables. I want to get to kno...

  Oh my goodness! There are never enough hours in the day. Spring is in the air, which means gardening begins — even this weekend I will be starting my seedlings that need to begin their journey indoors. There is something so hopeful about that: tiny seeds, full of potential, just waiting for the right conditions to bloom. Sound familiar? That’s exactly how I feel about The Fading Light right now. The Fading Light — Now Available for Pre-Order! I am thrilled to share that The Fading Light is now available on Amazon for digital pre-order, with a release date of May 25, 2026. This timeline gives me the space to polish a few remaining details and make sure the story is everything I want it to be before it lands in your hands. Button A Few Requests While I Tend My Garden… You are the heart of this little writing community, and I have a handful of small asks that would genuinely make a big difference: 1.  Spread the Word  If you know readers who love historical fiction, please...

  I sat down at my desk this week to write the final chapter of my Patriot book, and I had to stop. Not because the words wouldn’t come, but because they poured out of me, literally. The kind that make your hands hover over the keyboard while you wait to see the words on the screen clearly again. Just as a reminder, Ann and Edward — the two central figures in this book — are not fictional creations. They are, in fact, my fourth great-grandparents. I won’t share the passage here because it belongs to the ending, and the ending belongs to the book. But I will tell you this: writing the final words of Ann’s story, I felt the full weight of who she was. A woman who carried burdens quietly, who loved fiercely, who gave thanks even when she had every reason not to. And Edward, my great-great-great-great-grandfather, faithful to the last. That faithfulness, that quiet love — it did not disappear when they left this earth. In some way I don’t fully understand, it found its way down through...