This week’s other featured book, “Childless Mother,” by Tracy Mayo, can be found by scrolling down below this post, or by clicking the author’s name on our Authors page.
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THE BOOK: The Valley of Sage and Juniper
PUBLISHED IN: 2023
THE AUTHOR: Shay Galloway
THE EDITOR: Laura Huie
THE PUBLISHER: Running Wild Press
SUMMARY: Steadfast Genesis and defiant Isaiah are content on their famed grandfather’s ranch nestled against the Rocky Mountains. When a mysterious new preacher arrives, called Leader by his congregation, the foundation of their legacy is shaken. Their pious mother, wooed by Leader’s commanding presence, becomes a devout member of his fold, pulling the sisters into Leader’s reach. While the Depression puts pressure on the ranch, Leader’s prosperity only grows. But his “church” is more than it appears. Once Genesis discovers his true intentions, she must fight to keep her ranch—and her sister—out of Leader’s grasp.
THE BACK STORY: This started out as a short story for a fiction writing class during my MFA and eventually morphed into my MFA thesis. I was always interested in the Great Depression as a kid, and grew up listening to my grandparents’ stories of their childhood in the depths of the Rocky Mountains, so I merged the two together.
WHY THIS TITLE: One of the biggest characteristics of the setting where the novel takes place is sagebrush, tall mountains, and various coniferous trees (like juniper). It’s an iconic Rocky Mountain scene.
WHY SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO READ IT: Sage and Juniper is a gritty, female-led historical fiction with a good balance of literary language and progressive plot.
REVIEW COMMENTS:
“You’ll love every second you soak up these characters and their beautiful, white-knuckled world. The story will sweep you along with all the love and pain and hope in these sisters’ lives as they carve out a space for themselves–with shotgun and knives, if necessary–in a world that doesn’t know what to do with them.The land is as much of a character as the people, and the whole world Galloway creates leaps off the pages.” (G. Phillips)
This was overall a very enjoyable read. I appreciate the chance to read it early. I am definitely going to be recommending it as one of my westerns-of-the-month on my blog, although I don’t think you need to enjoy westerns to enjoy this story!” (V.T. Dorchester)
“What an impressive debut novel. Author Galloway has it all in this gripping tale of two sisters staking their claim to independence in a harsh and unforgiving landscape. Her relatable characters, sensory details, and vivid descriptions all signal a major talent has arrived.” (Jean Moore)
AUTHOR PROFILE: Shay Galloway studied creative writing at Utah State University and received her Bachelor’s degree in 2012. She received her MFA from Roosevelt University in 2017. Her work has been featured in several journals and mags. Her debut novel, The Valley of Sage and Juniper was released March 2023 with Running Wild/RIZE Press. She hosts The Bitch Moms Book Club podcast, and #MomsWritersClub social media chats.She currently teaches college English and resides in Washington with her husband and son.
SAMPLE CHAPTER: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSR4JP2Y?asin=B0BSR4JP2Y&revisionId=4ed0d6bd&format=1&depth=1
LOCAL OUTLETS:
Browser’s Bookshop, Olympia WA
WHERE ELSE TO BUY IT:
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Barnes & Noble
PRICE: $19.99USD
CONTACT THE AUTHOR:
Follow on all socials @TheGallowCat
Snowflakes in a Blizzard 