A new novel coming soon! My new novel, Shed Girl, will be out January 18, 2024. This novel has been a long time coming. I used to drive 40 miles up the West Shore of Flathead Lake every day for work. Flathead Lake is in Northwest Montana and it is beautiful in any season.

Each morning, on the way to work, I listened to Montana Public Radio. One day, I heard a piece about a group of teens living in sheds in Anacortes, Washington. The story intrigued me. I worked at a psychiatric day treatment for teens and children at the time. I wondered what it would be like if one of them found themselves living in a shed in a coastal town. I didn’t think many of them would fare well.

Several weeks later, I tried to find that radio piece and failed. But I never forgot that story. It inspired this novel in me.

I camped out in Anacortes for a couple weeks, trying to get the feel of the town. I had a tent trailer at the time. That tent trailer was my favorite place to write and I wrote the kernel of this novel. I fictionalized the town where Shed Girl is set, but it was wonderful to have such a good roll model for it. Like all of my books, Shed Girl took me a long time to write. But finally, it is here. And I am happy with it.

Here is what Susan Sage, author of Dancing in the Ring, has to say about it:

“This fast paced, character driven crime novel will keep you turning pages. A suspenseful and riveting read!”

Here is the description from the back of the book:

Annie’s Court has a runaway problem. Runaways arrive and then they disappear. Juliet French, an old runaway herself, does tarot readings for petty cash at the Farmer’s Market. Across the Market, Tony LeCrosse sells toys. Juliet notices the runaways flock to LeCrosse. Just before they go missing.

After witnessing the abduction of a young boy, Detective Benson Picard solicits Juliet’s help. Already determined to find the boy, she agrees to Benson’s terms. Juliet, a strong female lead, feels the danger in the cards when Tony LeCrosse invites her to a party. He wants her to entertain his guests with tarot readings. Juliet balks at the word “entertain” but agrees anyway. When Kyle shows up at LeCrosse’s party, Juliet’s spine “turns to stardust and fairies rush in.” The two team up to find the missing kids. But Kyle has secrets of his own.

If you like amatuer slueth novels, and if you like my writing, watch for this novel to come out early next year. I usually write historical fiction, so this contemporary crime novel is different than what I usually write. But it is still written in my style, with a bit of humor thrown in. I think you will enjoy it.

You can preorder Shed Girl here: https://www.blackrosewriting.com/mystery/shedgirl