Author Kristy McCaffrey's Blog ~ Pathways: Kristy McCaffrey

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Wednesday, July 17, 2024

The Nighthawk has landed!

By Kristy McCaffrey

The newest Wings of the West book is here!

Arizona Territory
September 1899

Sophie Ryan’s dream of working for a newspaper has come true. Accompanied by her cousin, Lucas Blackmore, a newly appointed U.S. Deputy Marshal, she arrives in Jerome, one of the richest mining towns in America. And one of the most remote. Although she’s been hired to report for the Jerome Mining News on education and cultural issues, she soon finds herself immersed in something more serious when she finds an enigmatic injured man in the Black Hills claiming to be an ornithologist.

U.S. Deputy Marshal Benton McKay is undercover tracking the notorious train robbing Weaver gang, and the trail ends in Jerome. When he’s injured in the Black Hills and found by a determined and beautiful young woman, he must gain her trust to keep his identity a secret. But keeping her out of trouble proves a challenge, especially with her cousin assigned to assist him. As they track down the band of outlaws, another agenda emerges—the renegades are searching for lost gold believed to have been left behind by the Spanish Conquistadors. And Sophie Ryan is determined to report on it.

The Nighthawk is a fast-paced romantic adventure filled with humor, treasure hunting, a tenacious heroine, and a hero harboring a secret. It has light steam, a happily-for-now ending, and can be read as a standalone.

Sophie is the daughter of Logan and Claire from THE DOVE.

Available in digital and paperback. Find more info here.

Read an excerpt

Sophie pulled free. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.

“I could ask you the same, but I don’t have time.”

McKay went to the barn door as Bromley’s light disappeared around the house. He stepped into the storm, searching the ground for Xander’s path. It became futile quickly, the ground a muddy slop. And he couldn’t keep lurking around the Bromley house. The man might see him.

When he stopped abruptly, Sophie slammed into his backside. He grabbed her shoulders before she fell, her duster slick with rain. “We need to go,” he said.

Grabbing her hand, he dragged her behind him, not stopping until they got to her horse.

“Were you following me?” she demanded.

He ignored her, grabbing her waist and hoisting her onto Roger. He took the horse’s reins from her.

“I can ride on my own,” Sophie said loudly above the din of rain.

McKay walked Roger to his own horse. Once mounted, he continued to hold Roger’s reins, not wanting to lose Sophie in the storm. It was slow going, but he finally got them to the livery where they left the animals for the night. Then McKay took her hand again and led her to his hotel.

“Where are we going?” Her voice was exasperated.

“We need privacy,” he said, taking a back way, entering the Connor Hotel through a rear entrance.

When the way was clear of employees, they went through the kitchen and took the stairs. He unlocked his door but when he stepped inside, Sophie refused.

“I’m not going into your room,” she whispered. She was dripping water all over the carpeted floor.

“Now’s not the time to play hard to get, Sophie.”

He pulled her inside and shut the door.

Connect with Kristy

Website: https://kmccaffrey.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristyMcCaffrey

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristymccaffreybooks/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristymccaffrey

Newsletter: https://kmccaffrey.com/subscribe/

Monday, February 5, 2024

The Wren - A 20th Anniversary Special Hardcover Edition

By Kristy McCaffrey

In 2023 I celebrated a milestone - the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Wren. It was the first book I wrote and published (in 2003), and I've been so grateful over the years for how readers have loved and embraced the story of Molly Hart and her return home after a childhood spent with the Comanche. I knew I wanted to do something special to commemorate the event and so this hardcover edition was borne.

I published the new edition at the end of 2023 but am only now announcing it because it took weeks for my author copies to arrive, and I wanted to make sure everything was perfect before I shared the news. And I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out!

Su at Earthly Charms did an absolutely amazing job on the cover (which includes a dust jacket - squee!!). My daughter-in-law, Alex, did the interior illustrations, and she brought to life elements of the story so beautifully. My many thanks for her fabulous contributions. When I finally held a copy in my hands, I cried because a huge dream of mine had been achieved.

There are other fun additions - two short stories featuring Matt and Molly that until now were only available in digital to my newsletter subscribers, a new forward by me, and three essays previously published on my blog about the making of the Wings of the West series (The Wren is Book 1).

Copies are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart.com, and Booktopia. Autographed editions can be ordered on my Etsy shop and will include a new bookmark, a sticker of Molly's slingshot, and a cup coaster. I'll drop the links at the end of this post.

A 20th Anniversary Special Hardcover Edition

(Includes two bonus stories not published anywhere else - The Shiny Penny and Song of the Wren)

Captured by Comanche as a child, Molly Hart was assumed dead. Ten years later, Texas Ranger Matt Ryan finds a woman with the same blue eyes.

Such a little sprite she’d once been, stirring up emotions within him he’d never expected—affection, fondness, protectiveness. Such a resolute woman she’d become, stirring … he really didn’t want to dwell on that. Nothing good would come of it.

“A rousing, spicy story of long lost love in the gritty Old West. The Wren will make your pulse flutter and your heart sing.” —Ann Charles, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Award-winning Deadwood Mystery Series

Ten years have passed since Molly Hart’s ranch was attacked, her folks murdered, and she was abducted. Now, at nineteen, she’s finally returning home to North Texas after spending the remainder of her childhood with a tribe of Kwahadi Comanche. What she finds is a deserted home coated with dust and the passage of time, the chilling discovery of her own gravesite, and the presence of a man she thought never to see again.

Matt Ryan is pushed by a restless wind to the broken-down remains of the Hart ranch. Recently recovered from an imprisonment that nearly ended his life, the drive for truth and fairness has all but abandoned him. For ten years he faithfully served the U.S. Army and the Texas Rangers, seeking justice for the brutal murder of a little girl, only to find closure and healing beyond his grasp. Returning to the place where it all began, he’s stunned to encounter a woman with the same blue eyes as the child he can’t put out of his mind.

A sensuous historical western romance set in 1877 Texas.

Bonus Content

THE SHINY PENNY - A Short Story
Christmas Eve 1878
Molly Hart Ryan and her sister, Emma Blackmore, return to the abandoned Hart Ranch to visit the gravesites of their folks. While confronting the past revives a deep heartache and sadness that has long been buried, it also offers an unexpected gift.

SONG OF THE WREN - A Novella
October 1879
Matt Ryan finds more than rustlers when his cattle begin disappearing. Forced to confront an enemy he thought long gone, he must ready for a fight, but he’s never faced a battlefield like this before, and only his wife, Molly, can save him this time.

Also included are three essays by the author about creating the series:
Naming A Series After Birds
The Psychology Behind the Wings of the West Series
Fun Facts about the Wings of the West Series

Reading order of the Wings of the West Series:

The Wren (Book 1)
The Dove (Book 2)
The Sparrow (Book 3)
The Blackbird (Book 4)
The Shiny Penny (Short Story 4.1)
Song of the Wren (Novella 4.2)
The Bluebird (Book 5)
The Songbird (Book 6) - Novella
Echo of the Plains (Book 7) - Short Story
The Starling (Book 8)
The Canary (Book 9)
The Nighthawk (Book 10) - Preorder Now

Now Available

Monday, January 1, 2024

Jerome, Arizona

By Kristy McCaffrey

Happy 2024! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your family and friends. This year brings a new addition to my Wings of the West series. THE NIGHTHAWK is Book Ten and will be released July 17, 2024. You can pre-order a digital copy today. The story takes place in Jerome, Arizona Territory, in 1899. It’s a lovely little town with great views of the red rocks of Sedona in the distance.

Today Jerome is known for its art scene and wineries, but in the 1800’s it was called the “Wickedest Town in the West.” Built on Cleopatra Hill, it sat on a vast deposit of copper.

Jerome 1897

Prehistoric Native Americans were the first miners. Later, the Spaniards came seeking gold, followed by an influx of Americans, Mexicans, Croatians, Irish, Italians, and Chinese. It was a raucous town filled with miners, freighters, gamblers, bootleggers, saloons, prostitutes, and preachers. The copper deposits discovered here are among some of the richest ever found.

The Nighthawk

Come along with Sophie and McKay as they find adventure, mystery, and love.

Sophie is the daughter of Logan and Claire from THE DOVE.

Pre-order The Nighthawk

Kobo, Google Play and Paperbacks will be coming.

Monday, November 6, 2023

Don't Miss This Christmas Story Collection

By Kristy McCaffrey

I'm excited to be part of a multi-author holiday project this year. While each book will begin releasing in December, we have a special treat for readers - a collection of prequel short stories you can download now for FREE!

In this limited-edition Christmas romance collection love blooms underneath the mistletoe as holiday wishes of the heart come true. Get snowed in with these stories where anything can happen through the magic of Christmas—and love.

This multi-author holiday romance collection features these stories by the following authors:

A Gingerbread Wish by Kari Shuey

I’ll Be Home for Christmas by PG Forte

Christmas Hero by Quinn Marlowe

Home for the Honeymoon by Sharon Wray

A Christmas Cowboy Crush by Megan Ryder

The Best present Ever by Debra Deasey

Magda’s Gift by TK Eldridge

Spelled In Wonder by Jaelle Keyes

Someone Like Him for Christmas by Susanna Eastman

Tinseltown Dreams by Kristen Fray

The Reindeer That Got Away by Kristy McCaffrey

The Buck Eye Cowboy by Jamie K. Schmidt

Holly’s Christmas Miracle by Pandora Snow

It includes my short story THE REINDEER THAT GOT AWAY

The Thatcher-Adler feud goes back several generations and is well known in Reindeer Pass, Colorado. When a teenaged Liam Adler befriends young Ellie Thatcher, he’s amused by her tenacious curiosity to find the white reindeer rumored to be living in the nearby mountains. As they continue to cross paths through the years, Liam’s fondness turns to something more. But there’s still the issue of the family feud …

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY HERE.

The story will continue in A MIRTHFUL WISH, available December 14, 2023!

The Thatcher-Adler feud goes back generations. Despite this, Ellie Thatcher befriended Liam Adler when she was a girl. She even managed to get a job at the Adler Reindeer Farm while in high school, the very farm that had once belonged to her family. Now, with college and a stint working overseas behind her, she’s returning home to Reindeer Pass to open a photography studio. But the feud has been reignited and Ellie and Liam are about to get dragged into the middle of it.

Liam Adler has returned to the Colorado town where he grew up to take over the family business after the sudden death of his father. It wasn’t the life path he’d planned, and now he must convince old Eustace who lives in the Buckley Cabin to sell his adjacent land to the Adlers and not the Thatchers. And his opponent is none other than Ellie Thatcher—no longer the sweet and funny little girl he remembers, but all grown-up and strikingly beautiful.

Years ago, Eustace told a young Ellie and Liam about the Legend of Reindeer Pass, where a rare Arctic reindeer herd is rumored to have lived since the first Thatcher and Adler men settled in the valley in the 1800’s. When Ellie and Liam appear before the old man, Eustace tells them he will sell to the first to see the Vaadin, the largest of the elusive female reindeer. But there is more to the legend … only the pure of heart are presented with such a gift. And to a special few, true love is granted.

When Christmas comes around, everyone has their own special wish. For some, those wishes are as simple as getting the perfect gift for that special someone. For others, those wishes are much bigger. Especially, when they wish for love.

Everyone deserves the gift of love, but sometimes that's more complicated than it should be.

This year is different.

For those pure of heart, their wishes, even their wishes for true love, just might be granted.

Wishing for Love is a heartwarming series about Christmas wishes of love coming true for those who have the purest of hearts. If you're looking for a feel-good read this holiday season, pick up A MIRTHFUL WISH to meet the authors of this heartwarming holiday romance series and find your next happy ever after.

Pre-order your copy now!

Read the first three chapters of A MIRTHFUL WISH.

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Holbrook, Arizona

By Kristy McCaffrey

Holbrook is the perfect place to launch a visit to the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park, the Grand Canyon, and the Navajo Nation in general.

Holbrook, Arizona

Located on the banks of the Little Colorado River, Holbrook was founded in 1881 when the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad was built. The town was named after chief engineer Henry Randolph Holbrook and the railroad sold a million acres to a Boston investment group which established the Aztec Land and Cattle Company—known as the Hashknife Outfit—making Holbrook its headquarters.

Historic Holbrook, Arizona Territory

The constant presence of outlaws along with endless cattle and horse rustling made the area quite lawless. Holbrook was known as “the town too tough for women and churches.” The Pleasant Valley War was a long, bloody skirmish that took place in the 1880’s, with many of the confrontations in and around Holbrook. However, in 1895 the town became the county seat of Navajo County. By 1902 the Hashknife was bankrupt, and the land was sold to the Babbitt brothers.

Petrified Forest

President Theodore Roosevelt named the Petrified Forest a National Monument in 1906. In 1926, the Beale Wagon Road became Route 66, passing through both the Petrified Forest and Holbrook, and tourism began taking over the economy.

In my upcoming book, THE CANARY, Sarah Ryan arrives in Holbrook in 1899 to meet with esteemed paleontologist Dr. Allan Brenner. But instead, she finds herself in the company of his son, Jack.

Excerpt

(Sarah initially confuses Jack with his father, Allan, whom she's never met.)

Sarah hadn’t expected Dr. Brenner to be so young. Or tall, his stance beneath his hat and duster exuding self-assurance. She had never met the esteemed paleontologist in person, but he was … different than she had imagined. Her smile slipped a bit. Could he have possibly written all those papers in the last four or five years he was credited with? He appeared to be around thirty years old, and that would mean he’d been doing extensive field work while earning his doctorate. It stretched credibility.

Dr. Brenner was looking at her as if he didn’t know who she was. Well, obviously he didn’t, since they had never met, but it appeared he hadn’t been expecting her.

“Did you get the letter from Mrs. Parks?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Oh, good. Then you knew I was coming.” He was here, so he was awaiting someone. She relaxed a little. Traveling alone from Boston had a been a bit nerve-wracking, but she had kept reminding herself that she was made of sterner stock than most. She was a Ryan after all. A daughter and niece of the well-known Texas Ryans, Blackmores, and Walkers.

“You’re a woman,” Dr. Brenner stated, his brows furrowed in a way that reminded her of her favorite horse, Chip, when he wanted another carrot, but she wouldn’t give him one.

“Last time I looked,” she replied cheerfully. She’d been given the break of a lifetime when Mrs. Parks had hired her for this dig. She wasn’t going to let anything get her down.

When consternation remained on his quite-handsome face, she added, “Is that a problem?”

“I was told to meet an S. Ryan. I’d assumed you were ….”

When he paused, she waited, but when he didn’t finish the sentence, it became clear what he was going to say. “A man,” she said.

He sighed and looked away. “Yes.”

The Canary release July 25, 2023! Pre-order the eBook here.

Monday, June 5, 2023

Coelophysis: Dinosaur of the Old West

By Kristy McCaffrey

When you think of dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex comes to mind but there were many types of theropod that came before it. Coelophysis was a small bipedal carnivore and was one of the earliest dinosaurs to walk the earth. It was also an ancestor of T. rex.

Coelophysis, a small dinosaur from the
Triassic Period (considered to be
the Dawn of the Dinosaurs)

Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic Era (sometimes called “the Age of Reptiles”), which spanned from 252 million years ago to 66 million years ago. It was comprised of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods. Early dinosaurs (such as Coelophysis) emerged in the Triassic, but they were quite small. Giants such as T. rex and enormous sauropods such as Brontosaurus and Diplodocus lived during the late Jurassic and Cretaceous.

A Coelophysis fossil at the
Museum of Northern Arizona

In 1889, Edward Drinker Cope was the first to identify and name Coelophysis. The first remains were found by David Baldwin, an amateur fossil collector working for Cope, in 1881 in northwestern New Mexico. These first finds were too poorly preserved to give a full picture of the dinosaur, but in 1947 a massive graveyard of fossils was found in New Mexico containing many well-preserved and fully articulated specimens.

It is theorized that Coelophysis may have
run in packs, although no direct
evidence supports this

There is wide consensus today that birds descended from theropods such as Coelophysis. (T. rex has more in common with the modern-day chicken than to a crocodile.) Both birds and theropods shared wishbones, likely incubated their eggs, had hollow bones, and were covered in feathers.

In my upcoming book, THE CANARY, Dr. Jack Brenner and Sarah Ryan are on the hunt in the Arizona desert for Jack’s father, the esteemed paleontologist Dr. Allan Brenner. And Allan is on the hunt for Coelophysis.

Coming July 25, 2023. Pre-order a copy today!!

Read an excerpt

Jack and Sarah have entered a marriage of convenience for various reasons, one being her difficult relationship with one of her professors, Dr. Everett Pierce. Isaac is a Comanche friend and paleontology assistant of Jack’s father.

“And why are you here, Dr. Pierce?” Sarah asked, sitting up straight and looking him in the eye. Either she was a very good actress, or her animosity was real. Jack at least had to concede that it was likely the latter.

“I’ve been contracted to explore the area,” he said.

“By whom?” Isaac cut in.

“Roderick Melton.”

That Pierce was still tied to Melton shouldn’t have surprised Jack, but it did, despite that it was no secret Pierce’s father pulled strings wherever he could for his son. It had been a topic of gossip in paleontological circles that the elder Pierce had been trying to establish business relations with Roderick Melton. And then there’d been the business with Betsy. Unbeknownst to Jack, he’d been in a romantic triangle with her and Pierce, and while he blamed Pierce wholeheartedly for being an unethical ass, Betsy had decisively left Jack despite that he’d protected her from possibly going to jail, which probably wouldn’t have happened considering Roderick’s wealth.

But Pierce had never won Betsy’s hand—she had later married someone else—and it had been the one bright spot in an otherwise painful period of Jack’s life.

He kept his reaction to himself by raising his glass—the whiskey this time and not the beer—and nursing a long drink.

Isaac folded his hands together on the table. “Selling out, are you?”

“Don’t give me the holier than thou speech,” Pierce replied with a smirk. “We’re all in it for the money. Private collectors have as much right to house collections as museums.”

“At least we know now for certain,” Isaac said.

Pierce raised a brow. “What’s that?”

“You have zero ethics.”

Unethical ass echoed in Jack’s head.

“Ethics don’t pay the bills,” Everett said. “And what about Allan Brenner? Who’s paying his bills?”

Jack and Isaac didn’t respond, so Sarah filled the empty space. “Yale University,” she said. “And Helen Parks, I would assume.”

“Yes, of course,” Pierce said conversationally, leaning forward. “And she’s the one who hired you, right Sarah?”

Jack didn’t like the proprietary tone in Pierce’s voice as he said her first name.

“You know,” Pierce continued. “If you’d wanted a dig, you could have come to me. I could’ve introduced you to Melton.”

“Like you did with Jane?” she countered.

Pierce’s eyes narrowed and he swallowed nervously, his Adam’s apple bobbing noticeably. “Jane quit school, a reminder that women really don’t have what it takes to be out here.”

“I’ve heard that could be said of some men, as well.” Sarah offered a polite smile while sipping her drink.

Jack tried not to laugh, but his lips twitched anyway.

Pierce rose to his feet. “I look forward to seeing you in class in the fall, Mrs. Brenner. I’m sure you’ll have much to share with the other students after your summer here.” He adjusted his jacket. “Gentlemen. I expect I’ll see you out there.”

“Not if I can help it,” Jack said plainly.

Pierce snatched the bottle of whiskey, clearly unwilling to leave the remainder with them. “Allan Brenner thinks he’s some sort of god out here. He’s not.

“I get it now,” Isaac said with a knowing nod. “You’re here to outshine him. How exactly do you propose to do that?”

“He’s pinned so many of his theories on Coelophysis,” Pierce said, “but he’s yet to find a full skeleton. And when I find one, I’ll debunk every hypothesis he’s put forward.”

Learn more about Kristy's books at kristymccaffrey.com

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

The Pathway Series has new covers!!

By Kristy McCaffrey

I'm so excited to share BRAND NEW covers for my Pathway series!! They better convey the tone of the books - romance and high adventure - and I couldn't be more pleased with how they turned out.

You can find more info about each story here.

Thursday, December 22, 2022

My Best of 2022

By Kristy McCaffrey

It was a hard year. My father-in-law passed away in May. He was a man of charisma and charity, tough yet always there for his family. My beloved chocolate lab, Lily, passed in July after fifteen years. I won’t lie - this one wrecked me most of all. I’d raised her from a puppy, and she was embedded in my soul more than I’d realized until she was gone. But there were bright spots—my younger son got engaged and we’re looking forward to a 2023 wedding. And my first grandchild blessed us with an early appearance—little Scarlett was born five weeks premature, but she’s doing well, getting big and doing all the baby things, which is mostly to make you fall hopelessly in love with her.

Here’s my Best of 2022 list:

Best Life Hack
Live in the Moment

It sounds cliché but when my sweet Lily was in hospice the last six months of her life (she started having seizures and slowly lost her ability to walk), my husband and I cared for her around the clock. We took turns sleeping on a mattress in the living room so she was never alone. Every two to three hours we would carry her outside to do her business. She often couldn’t sleep and would pace and pant, or despite medication, she would seize for hours. It was a physically draining time. But I stayed in the moment, taking care with my thoughts (keeping a positive mindset and not wallowing in despair). I wasn’t naïve, I knew what was coming, but it allowed me to fully love her with no regrets. I changed my writing schedule so that my daily goals were very small (write 500 words or edit one page) because my brain was fuzzy from lack of sleep most days. I managed to finish a novel while not beating myself up for not being more accomplished. I learned the immense power we have in the NOW. It gave me the strength to keep going each day, to give Lily her best life until the very end.

Best drink
Hot Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks

I drink it with oat milk, no water, and three pumps of brown sugar syrup (or apple brown sugar syrup during the Christmas holiday). This sugary-caffeine drink has been my indulgence this year, a pick-me-up when I feel low.

Best challenge
My rescue dog, Jeb

A year ago, we went to the pound and brought home the saddest dog there. We wanted a companion for Lily, and Jeb needed a chance. He’s an American Bulldog, a breed I wasn’t familiar with, so I got to work educating myself. He’s been a handful! In addition to chronic health issues (environmental allergies that require lifelong medication - it’s so bad his toes periodically swell - and a low thyroid that now treated has given him more energy), he’s the most reactive dog I’ve ever had. While he was good with Lily (she always welcomed any new dog into her home with open paws), he hasn’t been good with any other pet. He grabbed the tail of my vet’s office cat and yanked it to the ground, attacked my daughter’s puppy after we accidentally left a door open (Dipsy was ok, thankfully, with only an abscess on his cheek), fought and tried to kill a large rattlesnake (Jeb was bitten in the face), bit my mom’s purse two different times when she entered my house, and well, you get the picture. We’ve been working on training him but he’s very emotional and it’s clear he wasn’t properly socialized as a puppy. He’s always leashed and in control for his evening walks (which he loves) but having people just “stop by” doesn’t work. He’s very loving, but he needs strong boundaries. We won’t give up on him!

Best Show
1883

Honorable mention: The English

Both shows had complex and emotional stories, and the acting was top-notch. Get your tissues handy.

Best Movie
Top Gun: Maverick

An entertaining big cinema experience - just the thing after a long pandemic.

Best shoes
Lined Crocs

So comfy!

Best Music
Lost Hits of the ’80s on iHeart Radio

My high school and college years, so … nostalgia.

Best Restaurant
Islands

Burgers and tacos but the best part is the tv screens that showcase surfing on a loop. It makes you feel like you’re at the beach.

Best Beauty Hack
A Beauty Oil

I learned that using essential oils on the back of my arms can get rid of those pesky dermatitis bumps. My favorite is Leahlani’s Pua Lei Oil. It smells so good.

Best Body Hack
A Theragun

I only recently learned of this amazing device that can break up the knots in your muscles. I use it on my neck and my feet (I developed plantar fasciitis this year). They can be quite expensive, but my husband found one at Lowe’s (generic name: muscle massager) for $40 and it works great.

Best Book
I can’t pick a favorite!

As many of you know, I’m an author so choosing a best book of the year is like favoring one of my children over the other. Impossible! So here’s a “best of” list of what I read in 2022, all excellent.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

A Cold Montana Christmas by Mina Beckett

Hunter by Julie Lence

Twisty Tortoise Tussles by Ann Charles

The Backside of Hades by Ann Charles and Sam Lucky

Shiver by Allie Reynolds

Following Faith by Jacqui Nelson

Continuum by G.S. Jennsen

Inversion by G.S. Jennsen

Echo Rift by G.S. Jennsen

A Lady’s Formula For Love by Elizabeth Everett

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

Book of Night by Holly Black

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Love On The Brain by Ali Hazelwood

Ocean Wolves by Theresa Beachman

The Queen’s Huntsman by Tanya Anne Crosby

The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow

What are your “Best Of for 2022?” Let me know in the comments!

Wishing you all a blessed holiday and a Happy 2023!!

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

National Novel Writing Month and The Canary

By Kristy McCaffrey

Last month was National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short. During November, writers from around the world try to write a 50,000-word novel. I signed up to punch out a first draft of my next Wings of the West book, The Canary, and I’m happy to report that I made it to 50k. Is the manuscript readable? Well, kinda ….

This is the fourth time I’ve participated in NaNo, and after much revising I’m happy to say the previous three projects all went to publication (The Blackbird, Deep Blue, and The Starling). The Canary will also need some work, but I’m pleased with what I have.

For previous NaNo’s, my goal was to get to some version of the end of the story, because it often helps to know the ending in order to fine-tune the beginning. This means skipping interior scenes, since my books usually fall between 75-85k.

For this NaNo, however, I changed my method. When I hit 40k, I realized I didn’t like my first chapter. I was working with a fake marriage trope between the main characters, Sarah Ryan and paleontologist Dr. Jack Brenner, but the initial setup left me feeling lackluster. In the first one, Sarah pretends to be married to Jack because she’s run into one of her professors who’s been harassing her, and she’s frightened to be in the Arizona desert with this man. But as I kept writing this premise, I felt it weakened Sarah’s character.

So, for the last 10k of NaNo, I rewrote the first five chapters from scratch, using a different approach to get Sarah and Jack “hitched,” and I like this one much better. I’ll have to tear apart the rest of what I have and repurpose it, but this is how I generally work anyway.

I have a few other projects I must return to, so I’ll start revising The Canary in February. This will allow me time to do more research, which is challenging when trying to write 2,000 words every day. (If you write each day of November during NaNo, you only need 1667 words, but I overwrote so that I could take time off around Thanksgiving).

I will say, though, that the more I read about the dinosaur fossils in the Painted Desert in the late 1800’s, the more intrigued I become.

I’m very excited for this book, and I hope the readers will love it too.

You can pre-order The Canary now at Amazon, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble. (It will also be available at Google Play Books and Kobo but closer to the release date of July 25, 2023.)