Jackson’s Bridge feels as real to me as the small towns I grew up in, surrounded by the patchwork pastures and majestic Southern Alps of New Zealand’s Canterbury region. The romantic vision of wooden cabins on lakefronts, slow-moving rivers winding through the land, and towering mountains that watch over tight-knit communities feels like home.
I now live in the subtropics of the Bay of Islands in the far north of New Zealand’s, with postcard-perfect beaches lined with Pohutakawa (the New Zealand flowering Christmas tree), and rolling hills of dormant volcanoes. The town I live in is small, and the towns further out are even smaller. And the fields of sheep and crops like wheat, maize and other grains of my childhood are far away, as are the snowy foothills for snowball fights and frozen ponds for ice skating during winter. My heart is drawn to those memories, dramatic landscapes, and distinct seasons that come and go throughout the year which is no doubt why I'm drawn to Colorado when writing my stories.
While Jackson’s Bridge is fictional, it is inspired, in part, by the places and people I’ve known all my life, and the new connections with landscapes and communities I'm still making today though everyday life and as our family travels. Small communities are full of individuals juggling multiple roles and responsibilities, alongside their own desires, frustrations and wounds from past experiences. They’re the perfect backdrop for stories of resilience, transformation, and connection, and writing about these characters is my way of saying that I see you, and I understand our shared humanity, our differences, and our deep-seated desire for security and belonging with family and community, no matter how challenging that can be at times.
My stories explore the emotional and cathartic aspects of being human, reflecting the complexities of real life in ways that resonate with people like you ane me.
In Jackson’s Bridge, the community members are always trying to keep the peace, keep life in balance, and to right wrongs and restore balance, echoing the unspoken truth that, despite our different perspectives, we’re all in this together. The stories I write dig deep into characters' emotions and your emotions along with them, and althoguh I'll take you on rollercoaster-worthy journeys, my endings will always satisfy with either a happy ever after or a hopeful “happy for now." I want you to feel comfort and closure when you finally reach the end.
I invite you to step into Jackson’s Bridge and meet the inspirational characters and breathtaking settings that have captured my heart and the hearts of many other readers. For a taste of what’s to come, download my free short read, “One Night in Jackson’s Bridge,” where you’ll become part of the community I hope you’ll come to love just as much as I do.
As a bonus, I've included the first three chapters of Letting Go, where you'll come to know my protagonist at her very lowest, and then present day as she's about to begin her heroic and life-changing transformation, which prepares her for a second chance at pursuing her purpose as well as love in the charming small town of Jackson's Bridge.
You can read more about my background and writing journey here.
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