There is a funny thing that happens when you finish writing a novel.
For years, it belongs almost entirely to you. You live with the characters. You wrestle with chapters. You chase elusive historical details down winding research paths. You celebrate breakthroughs in complete silence and agonize over scenes that refuse to cooperate.
Then one day, you release the book into the world. And suddenly, it belongs to everyone.
That has been my life these past few weeks with the launch of Bargains of Fate, and I can honestly say it has been one of the most joyful (and exhausting) seasons of my writing career.
People often imagine that an author's work ends when the manuscript is finished. In truth, that's when a completely different adventure begins.
I've had the privilege of joining wonderful conversations on podcasts including Plot Twist Radio, The Curious Man's Podcast, Storybeat, and History Explorers Club. I've spoken with readers through interviews in The Historic Traveler Magazine and with broadcasters from WOAY-TV, WHCP's Between the Covers, WBJC's Booknotes, along with several local radio programs.
Every interview has reminded me that readers are endlessly curious about what happened in early nineteenth-century Virginia and about how history becomes fiction. They want to know where the characters came from, how I uncover forgotten stories, why certain scenes matter, and what surprised me most during my research. Those conversations have become some of my favorite moments because they allow me to share the passion behind the pages.
Nothing, however, compares to meeting readers face-to-face.
Our Bargains of Fate launch celebration at Selma Mansion was everything I hoped it would be. Seeing so many readers gathered in the gardens, talking about Jack, Lucy, Fanny, Dennis, and the many lives that intersect throughout the story was incredibly moving. Watching complete strangers become friends over a shared love of history reminded me exactly why I write.
Check out more photos from the launch party <HERE>
The Heritage Bus Tour was another unforgettable experience. Traveling together through the very places that inspired the novel—standing inside historic homes and seeing the landscapes where these remarkable people once lived—allowed history to step off the page. There is something magical about watching readers realize that these stories didn't happen in some distant, imaginary world. They happened right here.
Check out more photos from the launch party <HERE>
One of the greatest gifts of this launch has been hearing your stories as well. So many of you have shared family connections to Loudoun County, ancestors who lived during this remarkable era, getting married at Selma, or simply your own love of discovering America's past.
As wonderful as this whirlwind has been, I haven't forgotten that Jack's journey is far from over.
While Bargains of Fate is now finding its place on bookshelves across the country, my desk is already covered with research notes, timelines, and drafts for the next installment in the Fields of Honor series. The characters are still talking to me, the archives continue to reveal new surprises, and there are many more stories waiting to be told.
Thank you for making this launch so memorable. Whether you've attended an event, listened to an interview, shared a photograph, recommended the book to a friend, or simply turned the first page, you've become part of this journey with me.