Launch month is finally here! I’m excited to see Where the Fire Falls heading out into the world for people to read. Of course, I’m always a little anxious, too, but mostly excited. I know everyone has their own treasured memories of visits to national parks, and many people have told me that Yosemite is their favorite.
As some of you are picking up the novel for the first time this week, here’s a spoiler-free insider’s glimpse at a few of characters, and why I loved them.
Olivia Rutherford is an aspiring watercolor artist, but she comes from an impoverished background and is hiding a shameful family secret. Her art dealer and long-time friend, Frank Robinson, convinces her that the trick to appealing to the wealthy art crowd in California is to pretend to be one of them. So she reinvents herself as a sophisticated socialite, complete with beaded flapper gowns, coal-black hair, and attitude to match. This masquerade wears thin as the story progresses, especially when she is faced with the generous honesty of the hero, Clark. For her style, I was sort of picturing 1920s actress, Louise Brooks.
Clark Johnson: Taking care of privileged tourists at Yosemite is a long way from his ministry past, but Clark finds it gives him time to recover from his disastrous failure as a pastor and space to seek God’s calling on his life. Readers area already labeling him a “swoony” hero, partially because of his gentle but rugged personality, but also because of the kindness he shows to others. Not only does he reach out to Olivia (in time), but he’s befriended the local transient, and shows extra care for his mule team and horse.
Fun side characters
I don’t know about you, but sometimes it’s the side characters that I love best. Do you ever find yourself enchanted by the sidekick or the mentor? I am. Here are a few of the bit players in Where the Fire Falls.
- Marcus and Sophie Vanderbilt: I threw most of my 1920s-style pizazz into writing this couple. A wealthy art-collector needs a young trophy wife, right? Sophie is a delightful young flapper with golden Marcel waves and personality to match. Her husband’s wealth has bought them both respect, but his roving eyes might get him in trouble. As the author, it was fun to bump this man down a few notches once in a while, and I had plenty of opportunities once I got them away from the park’s luxurious hotel and out onto the trail. As Clark puts it, Marcus is “a pith helmet short of an African safari.”
- Filbert: The park hermit, Filbert may be “little more than a wisp of smoke from a dying ember,” but the old man reminds Clark how important it is to stay connected to others.
- Ranger John Edwards and his wife, Melba: Sometimes when I’m writing, I bump into other characters who start whispering their own stories into my heart. The Edwards are the perfect example. How does a Yosemite park ranger end up married to a vaudeville star? These two need their own book! They are Clark’s best friends and mentors, and they immediately take Olivia under their wings as well. For those of you who like behind-the-scenes author tidbits, here’s a good one for you: When I first planned out the Vintage National Parks novels, I originally thought it would be an ongoing series, not three stand alone novels. So when I scribbled down ideas for Where the Fire Falls, this couple was intended to be Ford and Margie from The Road to Paradise. I’m glad my editor suggested making each novel stand alone, because I didn’t like the idea of uprooting them from Mount Rainier. Even still, tiny bits of Ford and Margie still carry on into John and Melba’s personalities, if you look carefully.
- The General, Bess (Queen Elizabeth), Goldie, and the other mules: I can’t resist working animals into my stories. Sometimes when you see how a person interacts with an animal, you can get a pretty good sense of who they are. Olivia’s kindness to Goldie, the “old yellow mule,” was one of Clark’s first clues that Olivia was a nicer person than she originally let on.
So let’s do a GIVEAWAY!
How would you like to win this fun prize bundle? It includes a copy of Where the Fire Falls plus a ceramic campfire mug and a tote bag decorated with the series name and logo. Enter by filling out the form below. Contest ends July 2, 2018, 12 pm Pacific, and is open to those 18 years and old with a US address. Happy reading!
