Exciting News

 I’m proud to announce that last night I finished writing my latest novel. The story is told from the perspective of three very different women who have one thing in common – a one-room schoolhouse built in 1860.

Emma Thomas, fresh out of high school, becomes the schoolmarm in the small town of Prior Gulch. Not only is she committed to the students that she teaches, but she has also been entrusted with keeping a secret about her schoolhouse.  

Sarah Ford is in her thirties and recently divorced. Decades after the school has closed, she moves into the house next door and soon learns of its secret.

Ellen Jenkins, who is pushing sixty, has been working for the federal government for ten years. She and her team are sent to the school building to destroy it because of its secret, but she will do anything to save it.

What is the secret of this small, brick building? And will these three women, who are committed to it, be able to save it?

When I started writing this book over two years ago, I gave it the working title of “Save Our School.” Pretty lame. At the end of chapter 11, one of Ellen’s partners says, “we can’t rewrite history, but we can rewrite the now.” At that point, I changed the title to “Rewrite the Now.”

Now, however, I’m not so sure that title is as catchy as I first thought. I am racking my brain to think of a new one. So far, the only other thing I’ve come up with is: “Where We Were Prior” (as the town is Prior Gulch and the whole premise is preserving our history);

If you would like to read the rough draft, I’d be happy to email you a copy. Just remember, it still needs a lot of editing, but I’d like to know what people think of the premise, the people, and their problems. And, of course, what you think an appropriate title might be.

Thanks so much. Chris 

Once I have a title, I next need to work on the cover. This picture of my great-grandmother was taken around 1910. A bit later than when Emma was teaching at the school, but I still imagine this is what she might have looked like. Do you think I could incorporate it into the cover?