Manuscript
The Cost of Big Sky
It’s the kind of story that reminds you some places never let go.
If you’ve ever wanted to start over and were willing to risk everything for it, this is for you.
Synopsis
Once upon a time: A newlywed couple expecting their first baby left behind everything they knew and everyone they loved to move out west to build a legacy for their growing family.
Every day: They learned how to live off the land. They worked hard, built the structures, and survived the punishing seasons.
Until one day: A single spark turned everything they worked so hard for into ash, and when the fire died down, the real nightmare began.
Because of that: A family was ripped apart. They carried life-long secrets that threatened their freedom and destroyed them from the inside out.
Until finally: They were forced to face what they’d buried long ago and reckon with the cost of keeping it hidden.
The lodgepole pine cone only opens in fire.
A reminder that sometimes, what we lose is what frees the seeds to grow.
Meet the Characters
See yourself in their choices—courageous, reckless, and devastating—that bind generations together through love and loss.
Clara
Root for Clara. A mother fighting to keep her children safe and provided for in the remote, unforgiving wilds of Northwest Montana.
Lenora
Fall in love with Lenora. A young woman chasing freedom and love while guarding secrets that could take it all away.
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
Q: Are rights available?
A: Yes, all rights are available, including film and foreign rights.
Q: Do you have a synopsis or sample chapters?
A: Yes. Please contact me directly for more information.
Q: Has the manuscript been edited?
A: The manuscript is currently in revisions.
Q: Is there potential for a series?
A: This is a standalone story, though it features complex characters and themes that could expand into adjacent works.
Q: Do you include content notes?
A: No content warnings necessary.
Q: How soon are materials available?
A: The full manuscript will be available for agency and editorial consideration in Spring 2026.
Q: Is The Cost of Big Sky your final title?
A: It’s my current working title. I’m open to suggestions if a publisher or agent feels something else might resonate more. The story matters most.
Q: What is the status of this book?
A: The Cost of Big Sky is a work in progress, [~90,000 words]. It is a standalone novel.
Q: What is the genre and tone?
A: Dual timeline historical fiction novel with intimate, character- and setting-driven stakes.
Q: What is the hook?
A: A Norwegian family risks everything they have to stake their claim on a piece of land in remote Northwest Montana, and discover the precious cost of carving a future from unforgiving ground.
Q: Who is the intended audience?
A: Adult readers who enjoy dual timelines, historical fiction, family secrets, morally complex characters, and emotional depth.
Q: Who are your comps?
A: For readers of The Great Alone and The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah and The Lake House by Kate Morton—with a story inspired by the real-life secrets behind a more than century-old homesteader’s cabin.
Author Perspective
Born from Glacier air and campfire stories.
Raised on trails, tents, and the ghosts of the frontier. I write from the land that made me, and the stories it can’t forget.
