Back in 2018, the world was a different place. My youngest was in preschool, the thought of a deadly, global pandemic seemed like nothing more than a Hollywood plotline and no one was labeling what “era” they were in. That winter, I innocently opened a Word document on my laptop and began writing a novel (my first) about four women doing a section of the Appalachian Trail.
The neglected work in progress, titled simply “Hike,” lived in the bottom right corner of my desktop like a set of dusty bookshelves. I tended to it here and there, when I had time to kill or came across it. It was fun, low-pressure. I was writing what I knew, having some experience on the AT, which you can read about here, here, here and here.
But I never truly believed I’d finish it. No one would ever see “Hike.”
Enter the lockdown.
In 2020, like most of you, I found myself with significantly more hobby time on my hands. It was during those long, uncertain months that I really started sculpting out “Hike.” Who were these women? What events led them to venture into the Georgia mountains? What would come of their time in the wild? What was the tension? Would they make it out?
Then another twist. In November 2022, my dad got sick, and everything else in my life got very quiet. Every effort was either entirely necessary for the survival of my family or tethered to him. His hospital stays, his appointments, his progress, his setbacks, his weight loss, his disappearing act. The anticipatory grief, and then the actual grief.
Dad passed away in July 2024, and I poured my pain into writing a fictional novella based loosely on my experience. Writing “He Answers to Grief” was the literary exercise I needed at a time when nothing cooled the incapacitating burn of our loss. And I have to say, the connections I’ve made through self-publishing that story have been an embarrassment of unforeseen riches.
But, like the rest of my reality, the women of “Hike” were waiting.
Armed with a better (not GREAT, but better) understanding of the indie author process, self-promotion and editing, I returned to Georgia in my mind. I enlisted more beta readers (see below), did more research and read every word until I could practically recite the thing.
I gave it a name, “Puds,” and then renamed it “Blazin’.”
And now it’s finished.
What’s BLAZIN’ about?
Helena Ward might be halfway through her life, which isn’t special. Just unsettling. Often, following a day of dealing with her busy family, lackluster career and the ceaseless conveyor belt of demands for her time, she stares up at the sky from her suburban neighborhood and wonders if where she is, is all there is.
When a one-two punch of unexpected news rattles her, it sparks an adventure. After much convincing, Helena takes her close circle of girlfriends for a section hike on the Appalachian Trail. In the Georgia mountains, led by their guide, Granola, they encounter punishing injuries, inclement weather and the unpredictable elements of human nature.
Throughout the roller coaster trek, with its turbulent rises and falls, the women confront the weight they carried onto the trail. They must decide what to shed and what to pack out when they return to the comforts and constraints waiting for them back home.
What inspired this story?
Certainly, my time on the AT with my husband, brother and friends was the initial spark, but BLAZIN’ is also a brutally honest look at what, I believe, many women feel as they approach middle age, overcommitted, exhausted and reflecting on the dreams they always assumed they’d get to one day.
Above all, BLAZIN‘ is a love story to my female friendships, each of which I believe makes me better and stronger in one way or another. There’s something magical about a group of women gathering, sharing and offering support. At 43, I’m approaching relationships that are nearly three decades deep, and when someone holds your history like that, it’s hard not to be inspired.
How can I support BLAZIN’?
Every time someone feels motivated to purchase something I’ve written, I’m humbled. Money and time are always tight, and your investment in my passion projects means so much, as do your stories of how you’ve gifted or shared my work with someone special to you.
If you enjoy BLAZIN‘, please consider leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon. This is never expected, always appreciated, and a tremendous way to spread the word.
If you see something, say something! Often, I think people avoid telling me when they find errors out of fear of hurting my feelings. Believe me, I’d rather know and fix it than send these pages out into the world with a ridiculous rogue space or [gasp!] absent apostrophe. It’s a small operation here, folks!
Where can I get a copy?
BLAZIN’ is now available online, in ebook and paperback. This link will show you all of the retailers currently carrying the novel. I’m constantly updating these connections, so be sure to check back if you don’t see an option you like. (Some digital storefronts take longer than others, especially for print files.)
Special thanks …
To my incredible, generous, insightful beta readers, I know I’ll forget someone: MOM! Jackie, Sarah, Katie, Kim, Jacque, Stephanie, Natalie and Alyce. Plus, Ms. O’Reilly, my high school journalism teacher, who continues to help me improve as a writer and human 25 years later.
My dad read an early version of this novel, and I’ll never forget his feedback. “It’s really great. You need to edit down your descriptions.” Hope I tamed ‘em enough for ya, Dad.
Nissa, for designing the cover and threading thoughtful ties back to “He Answers to Grief.” You make me look good, and I’m so grateful you’re willing to share your talent.
My Excel magician, ClaireBear. The numbers aren’t big, but they all have a place thanks to you!