MUSE MONDAY
Creating the perfect setting for my stories is one of my favorite things to do. My guest today, Gayle M. Irwin, has a great post to share about setting. Enjoy!
remain endless, including Yellowstone and Glacier national parks and numerous national forests and wildlife refuges and its vast skyline. Colorful sunrises and sunsets in shades of peach, rose, lavender, citrus, and cherry envelope horizons, and daylight brings azure and turquoise with wispy clouds that float on the breeze. Even nightscapes sparkle as millions of twinkling stars dance on the inky floor.
My newest book, released last week in e-book format, is titled “Love Takes Flight.” The setting is western Montana in an area known as the Mission Mountain Valley, which I’ve fictionalized as Merritt Mountain Valley. I patterned the area after the real one, with craggy mountains on both sides, a meandering river, and lush pastures and wetlands, which draws numerous species of wildlife, including sandhill cranes. These birds bring my characters together. Their connection to Ellie’s deceased grandfather also plays a strong role.
I enjoy bringing readers to Montana’s magnificent landscapes with the hope their journey through the pages will captivate them through the larger, overall story.
Blurb
Events from the past could destroy their present and
future.
Nathan
Ford's job as a federal biologist involves behavioral studies of the wildlife
found at two different refuges in the region. He discovers more sandhill cranes
than previously documented in the area during the past 20 years, and that work
brings Ellie into his life. Nathan falls fast for the granddaughter of a friend
whose funeral Nathan could not attend because of something he prefers to leave
in the past. When he learns of Ellie's desires for the farm and the opposition
she faces from her father, Nathan determines to help her fulfill her dream –
but revealing a part of his life he would rather forget is a task he's hesitant
to tackle.
When their
challenging pasts are finally revealed, will Ellie and Nathan's new-found love
shrivel like a prairie flower during a drought or grow, strengthen, and take
flight like a young bird?
A sweet, contemporary romance about forgiveness and healing that weaves pet rescue and family saga into the love story.
Excerpt:
“Cal really loved these
horses,” Nathan commented.
“Yes, he did. Grace in
particular.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Are they adjusting? To
his absence, I mean?”
Ellie shrugged.
“I think so, little by
little. They stayed at the Flannagan place over the winter. Abby is going to
foal in a few months, so I’ll be giving Mr. Flanagan the youngster when it’s
old enough to leave its mother. He’s giving me two bum lambs to start my little
petting zoo. I’m getting chickens for eggs, so I hope a few of them will be
kind enough to tolerate kids.”
Nathan studied her.
“Petting zoo? Kids? I sense
a story there.”
Ellie chuckled.
“Yeah. Variety is the
spice of life, they say, so, in addition to the normal fruit, veggies, and herb
offerings at the Davis Family Farm, we’re going to have naturalist-style
programs for families, including a petting zoo.”
“Wow! Sounds incredible.
And it sounds like you have a lot in the works already.”
Ellie nodded.
“I started working on the
plan in November. I had hoped at Thanksgiving to help my dad see the
opportunity to make this place fun and profitable with the various ways of
bringing in money.”
“No go, uh?”
Ellie shook her head.
“He said my business plan
was a pipe dream and doomed for failure.”
“I’m sorry, Ellie.”
Nathan couldn’t imagine a
father not encouraging his child in her dreams, especially someone like Ellie
who was not only passionate about her goals, but realistic and intelligent
enough to draw up a business plan.
“I’ve come to expect such
things from him. Still, I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed.”
Their eyes met and held for a moment.
Buy Link:
Available on several e-book platforms, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo through this link: https://books2read.com/u/4AADBe
Print version to release on Saturday, August 26, 2023 – National Dog Day!
Gayle M. Irwin is an award-winning Wyoming author and freelance writer who has been recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc. and the Wyoming Press Association. She is a contributing writer in eight Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of many inspirational pet books for children and adults. She writes sweet contemporary, small-town romance set in the Rocky Mountain West, where she has lived for more than 40 years. An animal advocate, she weaves pet rescue and adoption into her stories and donates a percentage of book sales to animal rescue organizations. Gayle enjoys traveling, nature photography, and spending time at her mountain cabin with her husband and their rescued dogs. Learn more about her at her website: gaylemirwin.com.
Social Media Links:
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/GayleMIrwin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wycabinlady/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wyoauthor1
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/gaylemirwin
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/gayleirwin
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