Fernpeople–coming!

There is actually never an end to editing. An author can always find something else to change or improve. But really, there has to come a time when you say, “Enough.” I have reached that point and am ready to send Fernpeople out. It’s exciting and scary, but worth it to share my story with readers I love, even if I don’t know them.

The mountains–oh, the mountains

In Fernpeople, the sequel to Captives of the Fern Queen, Janna is trapped in a cave for days. She doesn’t exactly come outside in happy circumstances, but she is overwhelmed at seeing the world around her again.

“Oh Maker!” she whispered under her breath.

Morning mists were swirling gracefully on the lake, though they didn’t look as if they would last long. The world was already brightening up, and it was the colors all around her that made Janna’s heart ache. She didn’t even want to blink as she drank in the sight of blue water, green trees, and the mixture of blue, gray, green, and brown that made up the mountains—oh, the mountains. Her heart moved into her throat and stuck there. How she had missed them!

Sitting in woods with back against a tree

Last Friday, my husband and I hiked in Doughton Park, which is off the Blue Ridge Parkway near our cabin. I was tired, so we didn’t go far. Furthermore, we picked an easy stretch that paralleled the parkway. It was still wonderful.

When we stopped for lunch, I sat on dead leaves with my back against a tree and felt like I had come home. There’s something about being in the woods with a peanut butter sandwich and diet Coke (yes, I know they’re unhealthy and I don’t often drink them, but oh my, they’re good every now and then) that makes a deep place in me meet with my Maker.

Other people might have different places where they feel immediately close to God, but for me, it’s the mountain woods with a picnic lunch (did I mention the Fritos). I’d encourage you to think–where is it for you?