In the summer of 2023, I was invited to teach writing to a group of teenage girls while living on a remote island on Rainy Lake in Northern Minnesota. While teaching on this island - sleeping alone in a tiny, ramshackle cabin, with one of my dogs for company - I wrote the first ten chapters of this novel.
Immersing myself in this rugged and natural setting helped kick off a writing journey that was so intense, so powerful, and - at times - so painful. I have never been more proud of a book than I am of WHAT HAPPENED THEN. This book is so much better than anything I ever could have imagined myself capable of writing. It's taught me to believe in myself, trust myself, and build confidence as a writer.
I can't wait to take you all to Crooked Lake for an unforgettable family summer.