I’m so excited to share with you my book cover for When the Forest Dreams. Let me know what you think of it. Make sure you spot the ivory billed woodpecker!
The book is coming out on May 26, 2026, a few short months from now. Here is the description of the book.
A contemporary retelling of the beloved romance, L. M. Montgomery’s The Blue Castle. The story follows a sheltered young woman’s quest for love in New York City—and her search for a rare and elusive bird in the deep Arkansas forest.
What if the life you were meant to live was waiting just outside your door?
New York City, 2013. Emma Jablonski’s life is as dry as the day-old bread at her family’s bakery. Living with her parents and grandmother, she clings to the only escape she knows: a recurring dream that feels more real than her waking world. But when Emma’s eyes are open, she’s reminded of what’s out of reach—Jake, the enigmatic boy-next-door.
After a life-changing medical diagnosis forces her to face her fears, Emma decides it’s time to truly live—before it’s too late. With Jake and his vibrant friend Vee, she dives into a whirlwind of experiences: a fake engagement, dazzling parties, and an obsession with the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker, a bird that may now be extinct.
But as her daring adventure is coming to an end, Emma begins to embrace a future she never thought possible. Dreams and reality aren’t supposed to mix . . . are they?
You certainly don’t need to be a fan of The Blue Castle—or even to have read it—to enjoy my retelling. I have yet to meet anyone who has read The Blue Castle. Please respond in comments if you have ever heard of The Blue Castle? And if so, have you read it? Hoping a larger sample will show a different picture.
I will be sharing more as May gets closer and providing specifics on how you can support my upcoming release. This time around is a little less terrifying than the first, but in some ways it is more challenging because I know what to expect and what I need to do to give this book a similar chance of success as Again and Again Back To You.
And more to follow on this, but I’m presenting at the L.M. Montgomery Institute’s biennial conference this June in Prince Edward Island(yikes!). I was selected because of the connection my book has to L.M. Montgomery, which carries real weight with this particular audience of devoted Canadian fans.
Upcoming Events
I’ll be at Crystal Ridge Winery in South Glastonbury for a Valentine Author event on 2/6 from 4-6 PM.
Then I’ll be at my favorite brewery, Connecticut Valley Brewhouse, in South Windsor, CT, on 2/7 from 10-4. I’d love to see you.
