It all began with a title.
Before the characters, before the plot, before the world of Hope even had a name, I had this phrase lodged in my mind: Five Miles from Hope.
It wouldn’t let go. It felt whimsical, but it also felt profound. It perfectly captured the feeling of being so close to your destination—so close to safety, to love, to a new life—but knowing that the last few miles would be the hardest you’ll ever have to travel.
That title was the seed from which the entire story, and in fact the entire Testaments of Hope series, grew. I knew right away that I wanted to explore the toughness and the romance of that journey.
I have always been a deep admirer of the romance genre. For me, the heart of a great romance isn't just the attraction between two people; it's the partnership. It’s the story of two individuals, each capable in their own right, who find they are immeasurably stronger together. It’s a theme you see in the great historical and western romances, where the sheer act of survival becomes the crucible in which a relationship is forged. While I have a broad interest in all aspects of humanity, I was drawn to begin this series in what I think of as a fundamental environment. I wanted to create a raw, elemental world, stripping away the complexities of modern life to get to the core of human connection. In a place where men and women have to work together against a common adversary—be it the unforgiving land, a brutal winter, or the threat of human violence—romance becomes an act of ultimate trust. It’s an alliance of skill, spirit, and heart.
Five Miles from Hope is my answer to that initial spark. It’s a story about people thrown into just such an environment. It’s about how they survive, how they clash, and how they find a way to build something new, not just for themselves but for each other.
Writing is one of the great joys of my life, and bringing the world of Hope to the page has been an incredible adventure. This book is a labor of love, and it’s a cornerstone of a much larger project that is dear to my heart: The Testaments of Hope series. Each story lays another stone in the foundation of the town and its people, exploring how that initial spark of hope is passed down and tested through generations.
I’m so thrilled to finally be able to share it with you. The journey to publication can sometimes feel like its own long and winding road, but today, it feels like I’ve finally arrived.
I invite you to take that journey, to travel those last five miles. I can't wait for you to step into this world.
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