Way back in 2020, my agent challenged me to write the book that ultimately won me a publishing contract with Hachette UK's Bookouture ("BOT"): Big Horn. Only my editor wanted me to change it substantially or write a different book. I was happy with Big Horn just how it was. I opted to publish Big Horn myself and write Delaney Pace ("DP") for BOT.
Two things happened. The first is that Big Horn slayed and kept slaying for two solid years while I meanwhile had to write three DP books and one Patrick Flint over the first year after Big Horn came out. And move to Denmark. Then Bakersfield. Then France. Have two foot surgeries. Welcome my first two grandkids.
Ya know—life stuff.
Despite BH have the best release of any book I'd ever written (better than DP did, originally, although she has picked up a lot of steam), I did not get the follow-up book out for 18 months. In indie publishing terms, that's a century. And I had a heck of a time pulling myself out of first Delaney's and then Patrick's worlds and back into Jenn's.
But I'd outline 5 follow-up books at the time I wrote Big Horn. So the book I rolled out next was Walker Prairie. It had the planned plots and subplots and the same gritty-but-kinda-cozy feel which some people love and a few hate ;-)
The big surprise in Walker Prairie was that between when I outlined it in 2021 and when I wrote it in 2024, I had acquired two... Alaskan Malamute sled dogs, Willett and Sibley! They seemed like the perfect lighthearted addition to Jenn and Aaron's world, so I wrote them in, and just like in real life, they proceeded to WOO and HOWL and JUMP AROUND until they'd pretty much hijacked the book. The plot remained the same. But the adventure elements surrounding the climactic scenes changed to feature two beautiful, often-naughty, and occasionally terrifying FLOOFS. (My term for fluffy goofs)
So, whether you pick up Walker Prairie because you're dying to continue with Jenn, Aaron, Kid, and Jeremiah Johnson, or because you love gritty-cozy romantic legal thrillers, or Wyoming mysteries, or just love books with FLOOFS, I am delighted to tell you that the wait is over and Walker Prairie is finally here.
(And I love the book!)
Get your copy here (or anywhere): https://pamelafaganhutchins.com/products/walker-prairie-jenn-herrington-wyoming-mystery-2-ebook