Hello, Readers and Friends!
I’m thrilled to announce that my second historical novel, THE VIEW FROM HALF DOME, will be published by Black Rose Writing on April 20, 2023 — three years after Waltz in Swing Time released! To date, I have worked on the novel for four years, and it has undergone some major revisions along the way. For example, I expurgated a large chunk of the beginning chapters that took place in San Francisco, and moved up the catalyst - the tragic accident that caused Isabel to flee, grieving and guilt-ridden, to Yosemite.
The climax and ending also underwent major surgery. I upped the ante/stakes for Isabel - i.e. making her decision about whether to return home or continue pursuing a new life at Yosemite all the more difficult. And to avoid wrapping up the ending too easily, I added several chapters with ups and downs. I owe my critique group partners, along with countless fellow writers, plus the Women’s Fiction Writers’ Association, for their excellent feedback, insight, and support/encouragement.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of writing this book was the research - especially about Enid Michael, Yosemite’s first female ranger-naturalist, who is one of the main supporting characters in THE VIEW FROM HALF DOME. This amazing woman climbed mountains without ropes, oversaw Yosemite’s wildflower garden, and published more than 500 articles on Yosemite flora and fauna, including 172 articles for Yosemite Nature Notes. She also stood up to sneering supervisors to remain on Yosemite’s payroll summer after summer, despite resistance from her male colleagues, who believed that women should not serve as ranger-naturalists.
The photo below captures Enid in the nineteen-twenties.
Enid Michael, Yosemite’s first female ranger-naturalist