My debut novel, “Catalyntje Trico: A Life in New Amsterdam,” has now been out for just over one year. I have appreciated all of the positive comments and encouragement I’ve received from all of you as you’ve read this novel. I have discovered that writing and promoting a novel is an all-consuming task, and one that I have enjoyed. I continue to attend events and give presentations about Catalyntje, but I still want to take time to write more, which I am doing.

Consistently, I am asked: What is your next book about? When is it coming out?  And, can you write more about Catalyntje? Let me briefly answer these questions.

I struggled with this for some time and began writing three different books; however, I wasn’t obsessed with the characters as I was with Catalynje. I think these stories will eventually make wonderful short stories or novellas, so they will eventually be available. 

Currently, I am writing two books, which I am incredibly excited about. One of them is set in New Amsterdam. It will be about Trijn, the midwife in my previous novel, who was friends with Catalyntje. Their lives are different enough that this upcoming historical novel will broaden the world of New Amsterdam as well as Catalyntje’s life for my readers. I am writing the first draft, and it is going much more quickly than my novel about Catalyntje. 

I live in the Pacific Northwest and enjoy learning about the history here, too. There are countless stories of courage, traditions, and exploration along the Oregon Trail, the West Coast, and the small towns that were established here in the mid-1800s. So, the second book I am writing is a collection of short historical fiction stories from the Pacific Northwest. I have already entirely written about nine of these stories. 

I plan to take a different approach to releasing the Pacific Northwest stories. I will soon offer a paid subscription on this website to read my Pacific Northwest stories before they are published. I will release one or two each month that you can enjoy before the book is released. Then, if you are a paid subscriber, I will send you a free copy of the book upon publication. 

Thank you again for your support and encouragement. I am excited to share more stories with you about remarkable people from the past.