The People We Meet

Well, hello there! It has been quite some time since I sat down to put Pen to Paper on the blog, because I have been using every spare minute to get this little beauty ready for publication! Six Beta Readers read her pages between January 1 and April 13. I then spent a month or so making edits based on their notes, including four brand new chapters! Once that was complete, I read the book cover to cover on my own and made a few more tweaks. Now, she is in the hands of my final reader! She has an ARC copy to review with zero background knowledge of the story, so I'm very excited to hear her notes.

Most reviewers have said it feels wholesome and like it could easily be on the screen as a Hallmark movie. One could only hope! :)

Synopsis: Louise Hartman has lost everything she once held dear. Loss seems to have followed her, and now, reeling from the sudden death of her fiancé, she’s adrift in a sea of grief. With nothing left tying her to the life she once knew, Louise makes a bold decision to upheave her life and move to a sleepy Oklahoma town where the only thing waiting for her is a crumbling Queen Anne-style house on Sawyer Creek Lane—her last, fragile chance at a fresh start.

But the house, with its sagging porch and gaping roof, has a story of its own—a story of love, resilience, and second chances. As Louise begins the painstaking task of restoring it, the house slowly begins to restore her as well. Brick by brick, garden by garden, she finds herself pulled into the fabric of the town, where quirky neighbors, small-town traditions, and unexpected friendships begin to soften her hardened heart.

From the charming elderly handyman with a past as bruised as her own, to the wise and warm-hearted owner of the town’s café, Louise discovers that healing doesn’t mean forgetting—it means growing roots in new soil. And as she brings new life to the old house, she begins to rediscover the pieces of herself she thought were lost forever.

The People We Meet is a heartwarming tale of loss, resilience, and the quiet magic of starting over. With unforgettable characters and a town that feels like home, it’s a celebration of the healing power of community, the beauty in rebuilding, and the courage it takes to live again. Perfect for fans of Forever, Interrupted and A Man Called Ove, this is the book that will linger in your heart long after the final page.

Tentative Publish Date: July 1, 2025