Kristy McCaffrey's Blog: Author Kristy McCaffrey
March 8, 2025
Why I Write
By Kristy McCaffrey
I was thinking the other day about why I do what I do (writing), because the truth is that publishing is an exceedingly hard business to be in.
Sometime last year I hit burnout, not with the writing itself but with always trying to claw my way up the discoverability bowl, only to slide to the bottom again and again. I’ve become weary.
Sometimes when I get like this, my husband will say, “Then quit. Move on to something else.” Except … excavating characters and stories is my happy place.
So when this happens I’ll pause, take a breath, and then get back to work, adding music in the background to improve my mood (it works) and making a point to dance a little when I complete a tough writing session.
I came across this quote recently, and it really speaks to the gypsy in my soul. (And some of you may know that Women Who Run With The Wolves is one of my favorite books that I turn to often when I need a soul pick-me-up.)
“Modern storytellers are the descendants of an immense and ancient community of holy people, troubadours, bards, griots, cantadoras, cantors, traveling poets, bums, hags, and crazy people.”
~Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run With The Wolves
So, from me to you I want to say thanks for reading! We’re all in this life thing together. (And I’m only a little crazy …)
I was thinking the other day about why I do what I do (writing), because the truth is that publishing is an exceedingly hard business to be in.
Sometime last year I hit burnout, not with the writing itself but with always trying to claw my way up the discoverability bowl, only to slide to the bottom again and again. I’ve become weary.
Sometimes when I get like this, my husband will say, “Then quit. Move on to something else.” Except … excavating characters and stories is my happy place.
So when this happens I’ll pause, take a breath, and then get back to work, adding music in the background to improve my mood (it works) and making a point to dance a little when I complete a tough writing session.
I came across this quote recently, and it really speaks to the gypsy in my soul. (And some of you may know that Women Who Run With The Wolves is one of my favorite books that I turn to often when I need a soul pick-me-up.)
“Modern storytellers are the descendants of an immense and ancient community of holy people, troubadours, bards, griots, cantadoras, cantors, traveling poets, bums, hags, and crazy people.”
~Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run With The Wolves
So, from me to you I want to say thanks for reading! We’re all in this life thing together. (And I’m only a little crazy …)
February 17, 2025
Heaviest Themed Book I've Written
By Kristy McCaffrey
The heaviest themed book I’ve written is hands down The Blackbird.
If you’ve read the first four Wings novels, then you might be aware of the overarching theme of healing in each one. (The Wren is about finding your way back home, physically and metaphorically, and honoring your truest self. The Dove is about outward healing using medicine. The Sparrow is about spiritual healing. And The Blackbird is all about soul healing.)
The heroine, Tess, has experienced trauma, and with it lingering PTSD (but it wasn’t called that in the 1800’s). Full disclosure—in her backstory she was raped by one of her pa’s gang members. This is not on page. My goal wasn’t to focus on such a heinous act, but to follow Tess’s path back to a place of love. And for that I knew my hero, Cale Walker, would need to be very special.
Cale’s backstory includes a brush with violence (he rode with Tess’s father’s gang years prior), but he managed to extricate himself knowing the broken morality such a path carried. This insight allows him to straddle both worlds (good and evil) so he can lead Tess through it and ultimately help her find the peace she needs.
As a writer myself, I’m fascinated by the magic of storytelling, and so I developed Tess’s character into a cuentista, a kind of professional storyteller. It becomes a way for her to help others and also herself with mythical narratives. Finding the tales I used in the book was a big challenge, but I included local Hispanic lore alongside Apache stories as well as Irish ones (Tess is part-Mexican, part-Irish).
The alchemy that a storyteller practices is as real as a blacksmith’s hammer and anvil. I hope that I was able to show through Cale and Tess’s love story that pain can be transformed into something better and more beautiful.
While The Blackbird carries a heavy theme, it’s a book I’m deeply proud of, and I was thrilled it won the 2015 Laramie for Best in Romantic Western Fiction.
Cale and Tess’s eldest daughter, Dolores, will appear as a side character in the next Wings of the West book. The Swan will release July 10, 2025.
*****
If you missed any of my other posts about my books, here are the links.
The Most Challenging Books I’ve Written
My Most Favorite Books I’ve Written
Books That Were The Most Fun To Write
Favorite Scene I’ve Written
The heaviest themed book I’ve written is hands down The Blackbird.
If you’ve read the first four Wings novels, then you might be aware of the overarching theme of healing in each one. (The Wren is about finding your way back home, physically and metaphorically, and honoring your truest self. The Dove is about outward healing using medicine. The Sparrow is about spiritual healing. And The Blackbird is all about soul healing.)
The heroine, Tess, has experienced trauma, and with it lingering PTSD (but it wasn’t called that in the 1800’s). Full disclosure—in her backstory she was raped by one of her pa’s gang members. This is not on page. My goal wasn’t to focus on such a heinous act, but to follow Tess’s path back to a place of love. And for that I knew my hero, Cale Walker, would need to be very special.
Cale’s backstory includes a brush with violence (he rode with Tess’s father’s gang years prior), but he managed to extricate himself knowing the broken morality such a path carried. This insight allows him to straddle both worlds (good and evil) so he can lead Tess through it and ultimately help her find the peace she needs.
As a writer myself, I’m fascinated by the magic of storytelling, and so I developed Tess’s character into a cuentista, a kind of professional storyteller. It becomes a way for her to help others and also herself with mythical narratives. Finding the tales I used in the book was a big challenge, but I included local Hispanic lore alongside Apache stories as well as Irish ones (Tess is part-Mexican, part-Irish).
The alchemy that a storyteller practices is as real as a blacksmith’s hammer and anvil. I hope that I was able to show through Cale and Tess’s love story that pain can be transformed into something better and more beautiful.
While The Blackbird carries a heavy theme, it’s a book I’m deeply proud of, and I was thrilled it won the 2015 Laramie for Best in Romantic Western Fiction.
Cale and Tess’s eldest daughter, Dolores, will appear as a side character in the next Wings of the West book. The Swan will release July 10, 2025.
*****
If you missed any of my other posts about my books, here are the links.
The Most Challenging Books I’ve Written
My Most Favorite Books I’ve Written
Books That Were The Most Fun To Write
Favorite Scene I’ve Written
December 28, 2024
Books That Were The Most Fun To Write
By Kristy McCaffrey
There are three books that have been the most fun for me to write.
Into the Land of Shadows
At the beginning of my writing career, I wrote THE WREN followed by THE DOVE. I knew I had a series on my hands, but instead of continuing I went and wrote SHADOWS because it was a story that jumped in my head and wouldn’t let me go. It was initially titled HER TOUCH, and I infused a lot of humor in the book, something I hadn’t before attempted.
I modeled the heroine, Kate, after my own daughter Kate, giving her the same sass, curiosity, and maddening habits (e.g. sleeping late). I set the story in Northern Arizona, a favorite location in my home state, and I gave the hero a pet wolf (based on my parent’s wolf hybrid from my childhood). I also didn’t hold back in terms of plot, and I pushed a paranormal angle (an exorcism) that has likely affected sales, but this book is still a favorite of mine, combining humor, a brooding hero, a sassy heroine, Bart the wolf, Navajo lore, and spiritual possession. It’s also one of my steamier novels.
Ancient Winds
I’ve long been fascinated by ancient alien theories. I wanted to play with those ideas in a book, and ANCIENT WINDS was the result. It’s a contemporary adventure romance set in the wilds of Bolivia, because I’d always wanted to do a jungle romance. My heroine, Brynn, is a Sumerian cuneiform scholar, and it took some doing plot-wise to get a cuneiform tablet into the jungle, but I was determined. The hero, Dr. Tristan Magee, is a rogue physicist because I’m a huge science geek. I even managed to add time travel. My brain cells were really firing for this one. What a fun playground this was for me to write each day.
The Canary
This more recent book is centered around paleontology in 1899. That alone made this story great fun to research. I thought I knew dinosaurs, but I was regularly wowed by what I unearthed each day. I also loved giving the heroine, Sarah, a lot of agency (the scene where she has to convince the hero’s father that she’s got the grit to be on his dig site was written in one sitting—that doesn’t happen too often).
I was really pleased by this quote from InD’tale Magazine – “Strong female characters dominated this book although most of the characters are male.” That’s a score in my book!
There are three books that have been the most fun for me to write.
Into the Land of Shadows
At the beginning of my writing career, I wrote THE WREN followed by THE DOVE. I knew I had a series on my hands, but instead of continuing I went and wrote SHADOWS because it was a story that jumped in my head and wouldn’t let me go. It was initially titled HER TOUCH, and I infused a lot of humor in the book, something I hadn’t before attempted.
I modeled the heroine, Kate, after my own daughter Kate, giving her the same sass, curiosity, and maddening habits (e.g. sleeping late). I set the story in Northern Arizona, a favorite location in my home state, and I gave the hero a pet wolf (based on my parent’s wolf hybrid from my childhood). I also didn’t hold back in terms of plot, and I pushed a paranormal angle (an exorcism) that has likely affected sales, but this book is still a favorite of mine, combining humor, a brooding hero, a sassy heroine, Bart the wolf, Navajo lore, and spiritual possession. It’s also one of my steamier novels.
Ancient Winds
I’ve long been fascinated by ancient alien theories. I wanted to play with those ideas in a book, and ANCIENT WINDS was the result. It’s a contemporary adventure romance set in the wilds of Bolivia, because I’d always wanted to do a jungle romance. My heroine, Brynn, is a Sumerian cuneiform scholar, and it took some doing plot-wise to get a cuneiform tablet into the jungle, but I was determined. The hero, Dr. Tristan Magee, is a rogue physicist because I’m a huge science geek. I even managed to add time travel. My brain cells were really firing for this one. What a fun playground this was for me to write each day.
The Canary
This more recent book is centered around paleontology in 1899. That alone made this story great fun to research. I thought I knew dinosaurs, but I was regularly wowed by what I unearthed each day. I also loved giving the heroine, Sarah, a lot of agency (the scene where she has to convince the hero’s father that she’s got the grit to be on his dig site was written in one sitting—that doesn’t happen too often).
I was really pleased by this quote from InD’tale Magazine – “Strong female characters dominated this book although most of the characters are male.” That’s a score in my book!
October 4, 2024
The Most Favorite Books I've Written
By Kristy McCaffrey
THE WREN and DEEP BLUE
Both of these books were “firsts.”
THE WREN was the first book I ever wrote, along with being the first book I published. The story was inspired by a vision I'd had at the age of fifteen of a girl and two young men.
This was in high school, when my creative impulses were pushing me to write but I didn’t have a clear direction for what that meant. I didn’t come back to this idea until I was thirty-three years old and a young mother feeling very frazzled raising four young children.
Writing THE WREN became an escape from the long but very rewarding days of taking care of my babies. The vision turned into Molly, Matt, and his brother Logan. While I’d always been a big reader, I’d never studied the craft of writing, so THE WREN was a true seat-of-my-pants endeavor, and I wrote a story that I wanted to read.
DEEP BLUE was the first book in a new series that I wrote six years ago. Until then, I’d been writing western romances, but I’ve always loved marine science along with high adventure and wanted to try my hand at this kind of story.
I also loved contemporary romances where the heroine was quite capable but found her match in an equally capable hero. Inspiration for this project ran the gamut of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” to “Jaws 3-D” (I really liked the love story between Bess Armstrong and Dennis Quaid).
Both books are favorites because they represent my attempts at doing something I’d never done before, which was not only to write a book but tackle subject matter I wasn’t entirely familiar with.
(For THE WREN it was the Comanche abduction storyline, and in DEEP BLUE it was understanding great white sharks beyond their reputations as man-eaters.)
Thanks so much for reading!! Kristy xx
THE WREN and DEEP BLUE
Both of these books were “firsts.”
THE WREN was the first book I ever wrote, along with being the first book I published. The story was inspired by a vision I'd had at the age of fifteen of a girl and two young men.
This was in high school, when my creative impulses were pushing me to write but I didn’t have a clear direction for what that meant. I didn’t come back to this idea until I was thirty-three years old and a young mother feeling very frazzled raising four young children.
Writing THE WREN became an escape from the long but very rewarding days of taking care of my babies. The vision turned into Molly, Matt, and his brother Logan. While I’d always been a big reader, I’d never studied the craft of writing, so THE WREN was a true seat-of-my-pants endeavor, and I wrote a story that I wanted to read.
DEEP BLUE was the first book in a new series that I wrote six years ago. Until then, I’d been writing western romances, but I’ve always loved marine science along with high adventure and wanted to try my hand at this kind of story.
I also loved contemporary romances where the heroine was quite capable but found her match in an equally capable hero. Inspiration for this project ran the gamut of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” to “Jaws 3-D” (I really liked the love story between Bess Armstrong and Dennis Quaid).
Both books are favorites because they represent my attempts at doing something I’d never done before, which was not only to write a book but tackle subject matter I wasn’t entirely familiar with.
(For THE WREN it was the Comanche abduction storyline, and in DEEP BLUE it was understanding great white sharks beyond their reputations as man-eaters.)
Thanks so much for reading!! Kristy xx
September 11, 2024
The Most Challenging Books I've Written
By Kristy McCaffrey
The most challenging books I've written - there are three.
First is THE DOVE.
THE DOVE was my sophomore effort after writing THE WREN (in which I was oblivious to writing rules, marketing, and publishing in general). So while THE WREN was exciting and fun, THE DOVE filled me with trepidation and worry. It was also when I became aware of my general lack of experience in crafting a novel. I'd gotten lucky with THE WREN, but now it was time to deliberately hone my skills (my education was in engineering not creative writing). I had an excellent editor on the first edition of THE DOVE and I'll always be forever grateful for the help and tough-love she gave me. And so began my steep learning curve into story structure, point-of-view, and theme.
The second most difficult book I wrote was THE SPARROW.
While this was the third book I ever drafted (and I was still in craft deep-learning mode), the bigger challenge was the plot itself. I've come to realize after years of writing that I have a strong need for information. I'm at heart "a learner." So when I set out to write about the heroine's shamanic journey through the Grand Canyon, I was dismayed by my own lack of knowledge on the subject. So I stopped writing while I pursued my own shamanic education. (I should also add that my children's lives were very active at this time, so I also set my writing aside to focus on their needs.) It was six years before I returned to this manuscript.
And finally, I found THE STARLING extremely challenging to complete.
At this point, I'd penned nine novels and numerous shorter works, so it was less about my writing ability and more about my state-of-mind. During the creation of this book, I was in the process of losing both my father-in-law and my heart dog, Lily. Despite this deeply sad passage in my life, I learned that consistency could be maintained with the tiniest of steps (some days I could only write 500 words) and kindness toward myself. I was also forced to dig deep in my faith as a storyteller.
The most challenging books I've written - there are three.
First is THE DOVE.
THE DOVE was my sophomore effort after writing THE WREN (in which I was oblivious to writing rules, marketing, and publishing in general). So while THE WREN was exciting and fun, THE DOVE filled me with trepidation and worry. It was also when I became aware of my general lack of experience in crafting a novel. I'd gotten lucky with THE WREN, but now it was time to deliberately hone my skills (my education was in engineering not creative writing). I had an excellent editor on the first edition of THE DOVE and I'll always be forever grateful for the help and tough-love she gave me. And so began my steep learning curve into story structure, point-of-view, and theme.
The second most difficult book I wrote was THE SPARROW.
While this was the third book I ever drafted (and I was still in craft deep-learning mode), the bigger challenge was the plot itself. I've come to realize after years of writing that I have a strong need for information. I'm at heart "a learner." So when I set out to write about the heroine's shamanic journey through the Grand Canyon, I was dismayed by my own lack of knowledge on the subject. So I stopped writing while I pursued my own shamanic education. (I should also add that my children's lives were very active at this time, so I also set my writing aside to focus on their needs.) It was six years before I returned to this manuscript.
And finally, I found THE STARLING extremely challenging to complete.
At this point, I'd penned nine novels and numerous shorter works, so it was less about my writing ability and more about my state-of-mind. During the creation of this book, I was in the process of losing both my father-in-law and my heart dog, Lily. Despite this deeply sad passage in my life, I learned that consistency could be maintained with the tiniest of steps (some days I could only write 500 words) and kindness toward myself. I was also forced to dig deep in my faith as a storyteller.
July 17, 2024
The Nighthawk has landed!
By Kristy McCaffrey
The newest Wings of the West book is here!
Arizona Territory
September 1899
Sophie Ryan’s dream of working for a newspaper has come true. Accompanied by her cousin, Lucas Blackmore, a newly appointed U.S. Deputy Marshal, she arrives in Jerome, one of the richest mining towns in America. And one of the most remote. Although she’s been hired to report for the Jerome Mining News on education and cultural issues, she soon finds herself immersed in something more serious when she finds an enigmatic injured man in the Black Hills claiming to be an ornithologist.
U.S. Deputy Marshal Benton McKay is undercover tracking the notorious train robbing Weaver gang, and the trail ends in Jerome. When he’s injured in the Black Hills and found by a determined and beautiful young woman, he must gain her trust to keep his identity a secret. But keeping her out of trouble proves a challenge, especially with her cousin assigned to assist him. As they track down the band of outlaws, another agenda emerges—the renegades are searching for lost gold believed to have been left behind by the Spanish Conquistadors. And Sophie Ryan is determined to report on it.
The Nighthawk is a fast-paced romantic adventure filled with humor, treasure hunting, a tenacious heroine, and a hero harboring a secret. It has light steam, a happily-for-now ending, and can be read as a standalone.
Sophie is the daughter of Logan and Claire from THE DOVE.
Available in digital and paperback. Find more info here.
The Wings of the West Series Reading Order
Book One: The Wren
Book Two: The Dove
Book Three: The Sparrow
Book Four: The Blackbird
Book Five: The Bluebird
Book Six: The Songbird (Novella)
Book Seven: Echo of the Plains (Short Story)
Book Eight: The Starling
Book Nine: The Canary
Book Ten: The Nighthawk
Book Eleven: The Swan (Coming Soon)
Read an excerpt
Sophie pulled free. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“I could ask you the same, but I don’t have time.”
McKay went to the barn door as Bromley’s light disappeared around the house. He stepped into the storm, searching the ground for Xander’s path. It became futile quickly, the ground a muddy slop. And he couldn’t keep lurking around the Bromley house. The man might see him.
When he stopped abruptly, Sophie slammed into his backside. He grabbed her shoulders before she fell, her duster slick with rain. “We need to go,” he said.
Grabbing her hand, he dragged her behind him, not stopping until they got to her horse.
“Were you following me?” she demanded.
He ignored her, grabbing her waist and hoisting her onto Roger. He took the horse’s reins from her.
“I can ride on my own,” Sophie said loudly above the din of rain.
McKay walked Roger to his own horse. Once mounted, he continued to hold Roger’s reins, not wanting to lose Sophie in the storm. It was slow going, but he finally got them to the livery where they left the animals for the night. Then McKay took her hand again and led her to his hotel.
“Where are we going?” Her voice was exasperated.
“We need privacy,” he said, taking a back way, entering the Connor Hotel through a rear entrance.
When the way was clear of employees, they went through the kitchen and took the stairs. He unlocked his door but when he stepped inside, Sophie refused.
“I’m not going into your room,” she whispered. She was dripping water all over the carpeted floor.
“Now’s not the time to play hard to get, Sophie.”
He pulled her inside and shut the door.
Connect with Kristy
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The newest Wings of the West book is here!
Arizona Territory
September 1899
Sophie Ryan’s dream of working for a newspaper has come true. Accompanied by her cousin, Lucas Blackmore, a newly appointed U.S. Deputy Marshal, she arrives in Jerome, one of the richest mining towns in America. And one of the most remote. Although she’s been hired to report for the Jerome Mining News on education and cultural issues, she soon finds herself immersed in something more serious when she finds an enigmatic injured man in the Black Hills claiming to be an ornithologist.
U.S. Deputy Marshal Benton McKay is undercover tracking the notorious train robbing Weaver gang, and the trail ends in Jerome. When he’s injured in the Black Hills and found by a determined and beautiful young woman, he must gain her trust to keep his identity a secret. But keeping her out of trouble proves a challenge, especially with her cousin assigned to assist him. As they track down the band of outlaws, another agenda emerges—the renegades are searching for lost gold believed to have been left behind by the Spanish Conquistadors. And Sophie Ryan is determined to report on it.
The Nighthawk is a fast-paced romantic adventure filled with humor, treasure hunting, a tenacious heroine, and a hero harboring a secret. It has light steam, a happily-for-now ending, and can be read as a standalone.
Sophie is the daughter of Logan and Claire from THE DOVE.
Available in digital and paperback. Find more info here.
The Wings of the West Series Reading Order
Book One: The Wren
Book Two: The Dove
Book Three: The Sparrow
Book Four: The Blackbird
Book Five: The Bluebird
Book Six: The Songbird (Novella)
Book Seven: Echo of the Plains (Short Story)
Book Eight: The Starling
Book Nine: The Canary
Book Ten: The Nighthawk
Book Eleven: The Swan (Coming Soon)
Read an excerpt
Sophie pulled free. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“I could ask you the same, but I don’t have time.”
McKay went to the barn door as Bromley’s light disappeared around the house. He stepped into the storm, searching the ground for Xander’s path. It became futile quickly, the ground a muddy slop. And he couldn’t keep lurking around the Bromley house. The man might see him.
When he stopped abruptly, Sophie slammed into his backside. He grabbed her shoulders before she fell, her duster slick with rain. “We need to go,” he said.
Grabbing her hand, he dragged her behind him, not stopping until they got to her horse.
“Were you following me?” she demanded.
He ignored her, grabbing her waist and hoisting her onto Roger. He took the horse’s reins from her.
“I can ride on my own,” Sophie said loudly above the din of rain.
McKay walked Roger to his own horse. Once mounted, he continued to hold Roger’s reins, not wanting to lose Sophie in the storm. It was slow going, but he finally got them to the livery where they left the animals for the night. Then McKay took her hand again and led her to his hotel.
“Where are we going?” Her voice was exasperated.
“We need privacy,” he said, taking a back way, entering the Connor Hotel through a rear entrance.
When the way was clear of employees, they went through the kitchen and took the stairs. He unlocked his door but when he stepped inside, Sophie refused.
“I’m not going into your room,” she whispered. She was dripping water all over the carpeted floor.
“Now’s not the time to play hard to get, Sophie.”
He pulled her inside and shut the door.
Connect with Kristy
Website
TikTok
Newsletter
February 16, 2024
The Wren - A 20th Anniversary Special Hardcover Edition
By Kristy McCaffrey
In 2023 I celebrated a milestone - the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Wren. It was the first book I wrote and published (in 2003), and I've been so grateful over the years for how readers have loved and embraced the story of Molly Hart and her return home after a childhood spent with the Comanche. I knew I wanted to do something special to commemorate the event and so this hardcover edition was borne.
I published the new edition at the end of 2023 but am only now announcing it because it took weeks for my author copies to arrive, and I wanted to make sure everything was perfect before I shared the news. And I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out!
Su at Earthly Charms did an absolutely amazing job on the cover (which includes a dust jacket - squee!!). My daughter-in-law, Alex, did the interior illustrations, and she brought to life elements of the story so beautifully. My many thanks for her fabulous contributions. When I finally held a copy in my hands, I cried because a huge dream of mine had been achieved.
There are other fun additions - two short stories featuring Matt and Molly that until now were only available in digital to my newsletter subscribers, a new forward by me, and three essays previously published on my blog about the making of the Wings of the West series (The Wren is Book 1).
Copyright Alexandra McCaffrey
Copies are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart.com, and Booktopia. Autographed editions can be ordered on my Etsy shop and will include a new bookmark, a sticker of Molly's slingshot, and a cup coaster. I'll drop the links at the end of this post.
Copyright Alexandra McCaffrey
A 20th Anniversary Special Hardcover Edition
(Includes two bonus stories not published anywhere else - The Shiny Penny and Song of the Wren)
Captured by Comanche as a child, Molly Hart was assumed dead. Ten years later, Texas Ranger Matt Ryan finds a woman with the same blue eyes.
Such a little sprite she’d once been, stirring up emotions within him he’d never expected—affection, fondness, protectiveness. Such a resolute woman she’d become, stirring … he really didn’t want to dwell on that. Nothing good would come of it.
“A rousing, spicy story of long lost love in the gritty Old West. The Wren will make your pulse flutter and your heart sing.” —Ann Charles, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Award-winning Deadwood Mystery Series
Ten years have passed since Molly Hart’s ranch was attacked, her folks murdered, and she was abducted. Now, at nineteen, she’s finally returning home to North Texas after spending the remainder of her childhood with a tribe of Kwahadi Comanche. What she finds is a deserted home coated with dust and the passage of time, the chilling discovery of her own gravesite, and the presence of a man she thought never to see again.
Matt Ryan is pushed by a restless wind to the broken-down remains of the Hart ranch. Recently recovered from an imprisonment that nearly ended his life, the drive for truth and fairness has all but abandoned him. For ten years he faithfully served the U.S. Army and the Texas Rangers, seeking justice for the brutal murder of a little girl, only to find closure and healing beyond his grasp. Returning to the place where it all began, he’s stunned to encounter a woman with the same blue eyes as the child he can’t put out of his mind.
A sensuous historical western romance set in 1877 Texas.
Bonus Content
THE SHINY PENNY - A Short Story
Christmas Eve 1878
Molly Hart Ryan and her sister, Emma Blackmore, return to the abandoned Hart Ranch to visit the gravesites of their folks. While confronting the past revives a deep heartache and sadness that has long been buried, it also offers an unexpected gift.
SONG OF THE WREN - A Novella
October 1879
Matt Ryan finds more than rustlers when his cattle begin disappearing. Forced to confront an enemy he thought long gone, he must ready for a fight, but he’s never faced a battlefield like this before, and only his wife, Molly, can save him this time.
Also included are three essays by the author about creating the series:
Naming A Series After Birds
The Psychology Behind the Wings of the West Series
Fun Facts about the Wings of the West Series
Reading order of the Wings of the West Series:
The Wren (Book 1)
The Dove (Book 2)
The Sparrow (Book 3)
The Blackbird (Book 4)
The Shiny Penny (Short Story 4.1)
Song of the Wren (Novella 4.2)
The Bluebird (Book 5)
The Songbird (Book 6) - Novella
Echo of the Plains (Book 7) - Short Story
The Starling (Book 8)
The Canary (Book 9)
The Nighthawk (Book 10) - Preorder Now
Now Available
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Amazon AU
Barnes and Noble
Walmart
Booktopia
Kristy's Etsy Shop
In 2023 I celebrated a milestone - the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Wren. It was the first book I wrote and published (in 2003), and I've been so grateful over the years for how readers have loved and embraced the story of Molly Hart and her return home after a childhood spent with the Comanche. I knew I wanted to do something special to commemorate the event and so this hardcover edition was borne.
I published the new edition at the end of 2023 but am only now announcing it because it took weeks for my author copies to arrive, and I wanted to make sure everything was perfect before I shared the news. And I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out!
Su at Earthly Charms did an absolutely amazing job on the cover (which includes a dust jacket - squee!!). My daughter-in-law, Alex, did the interior illustrations, and she brought to life elements of the story so beautifully. My many thanks for her fabulous contributions. When I finally held a copy in my hands, I cried because a huge dream of mine had been achieved.
There are other fun additions - two short stories featuring Matt and Molly that until now were only available in digital to my newsletter subscribers, a new forward by me, and three essays previously published on my blog about the making of the Wings of the West series (The Wren is Book 1).
Copyright Alexandra McCaffrey
Copies are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart.com, and Booktopia. Autographed editions can be ordered on my Etsy shop and will include a new bookmark, a sticker of Molly's slingshot, and a cup coaster. I'll drop the links at the end of this post.
Copyright Alexandra McCaffrey
A 20th Anniversary Special Hardcover Edition
(Includes two bonus stories not published anywhere else - The Shiny Penny and Song of the Wren)
Captured by Comanche as a child, Molly Hart was assumed dead. Ten years later, Texas Ranger Matt Ryan finds a woman with the same blue eyes.
Such a little sprite she’d once been, stirring up emotions within him he’d never expected—affection, fondness, protectiveness. Such a resolute woman she’d become, stirring … he really didn’t want to dwell on that. Nothing good would come of it.
“A rousing, spicy story of long lost love in the gritty Old West. The Wren will make your pulse flutter and your heart sing.” —Ann Charles, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Award-winning Deadwood Mystery Series
Ten years have passed since Molly Hart’s ranch was attacked, her folks murdered, and she was abducted. Now, at nineteen, she’s finally returning home to North Texas after spending the remainder of her childhood with a tribe of Kwahadi Comanche. What she finds is a deserted home coated with dust and the passage of time, the chilling discovery of her own gravesite, and the presence of a man she thought never to see again.
Matt Ryan is pushed by a restless wind to the broken-down remains of the Hart ranch. Recently recovered from an imprisonment that nearly ended his life, the drive for truth and fairness has all but abandoned him. For ten years he faithfully served the U.S. Army and the Texas Rangers, seeking justice for the brutal murder of a little girl, only to find closure and healing beyond his grasp. Returning to the place where it all began, he’s stunned to encounter a woman with the same blue eyes as the child he can’t put out of his mind.
A sensuous historical western romance set in 1877 Texas.
Bonus Content
THE SHINY PENNY - A Short Story
Christmas Eve 1878
Molly Hart Ryan and her sister, Emma Blackmore, return to the abandoned Hart Ranch to visit the gravesites of their folks. While confronting the past revives a deep heartache and sadness that has long been buried, it also offers an unexpected gift.
SONG OF THE WREN - A Novella
October 1879
Matt Ryan finds more than rustlers when his cattle begin disappearing. Forced to confront an enemy he thought long gone, he must ready for a fight, but he’s never faced a battlefield like this before, and only his wife, Molly, can save him this time.
Also included are three essays by the author about creating the series:
Naming A Series After Birds
The Psychology Behind the Wings of the West Series
Fun Facts about the Wings of the West Series
Reading order of the Wings of the West Series:
The Wren (Book 1)
The Dove (Book 2)
The Sparrow (Book 3)
The Blackbird (Book 4)
The Shiny Penny (Short Story 4.1)
Song of the Wren (Novella 4.2)
The Bluebird (Book 5)
The Songbird (Book 6) - Novella
Echo of the Plains (Book 7) - Short Story
The Starling (Book 8)
The Canary (Book 9)
The Nighthawk (Book 10) - Preorder Now
Now Available
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Amazon AU
Barnes and Noble
Walmart
Booktopia
Kristy's Etsy Shop
December 17, 2023
A Mirthful Wish is out!
By Kristy McCaffrey
Long before Santa and his magical reindeer, there were tales of a female reindeer who drew the sleigh of the sun goddess at the winter solstice. Unlike male reindeer who shed their antlers in the winter, it is the larger and stronger doe who retains hers to help forage for food for her young. And it's she who leads the herds throughout the winter months.
Santa Claus is a Christianized version of the pagan traditions of winter, which included stories of the ancient Deer Mother. She flew through the winter's darkest night with the life-giving light of the sun in her horns. There are many winter goddesses in the Nordic countries. In one tale, Saule, the Lithuanian and Latvian goddess of the sun, flew across the heavens in a sleigh pulled by a horned reindeer and threw pebbles of amber—symbolizing the sun—into chimneys.
In Finnish lore there exists the story of the Vaadin, a female reindeer crafted from bones of stone, a flesh of moss, and skin made of birch bark. She was used by shamans in journeys of knowledge to create magical items.
In my new Christmas romance release, I play with the mythology of the Vaadin. If a couple sees her, they're granted true love.
A Mirthful Wish is now available in eBook and paperback.
The Thatcher-Adler feud goes back generations. Despite this, Ellie Thatcher befriended Liam Adler when she was a girl. She even managed to get a job at the Adler Reindeer Farm while in high school, the very farm that had once belonged to her family. Now, with college and a stint working overseas behind her, she’s returning home to Reindeer Pass to open a photography studio. But the feud has been reignited and Ellie and Liam are about to get dragged into the middle of it.
Liam Adler has returned to the Colorado town where he grew up to take over the family business after the sudden death of his father. It wasn’t the life path he’d planned, and now he must convince old Eustace Hapgood to sell his land to the Adlers and not the Thatchers. And his opponent is none other than Ellie Thatcher—no longer the sweet and funny little girl he remembers, but all grown-up and strikingly beautiful.
Years ago, Eustace told a young Ellie and Liam about the Legend of Reindeer Pass, where a rare Arctic reindeer herd is rumored to have lived since the first Thatcher and Adler men settled in the valley in the 1800’s. When Ellie and Liam appear before the old man, Eustace tells them he will sell to the first to see the Vaadin, the largest of the elusive female reindeer. But there is more to the legend … only the pure of heart are presented with such a gift. And to a special few, true love is granted.
When Christmas comes around, everyone has their own special wish. For some, those wishes are as simple as getting the perfect gift for that special someone. For others, those wishes are much bigger. Especially, when they wish for love.
Everyone deserves the gift of love, but sometimes that's more complicated than it should be.
This year is different.
For those pure of heart, their wishes, even their wishes for true love, just might be granted.
Wishing for Love is a heartwarming series about Christmas wishes of love coming true for those who have the purest of hearts. If you're looking for a feel-good read this holiday season, pick up A MIRTHFUL WISH to meet the authors of this heartwarming holiday romance series and find your next happy ever after.
Don't miss more books in the Wishing for Love series. Check them all out here.
Read a prequel to A MIRTHFUL WISH in the FREE anthology, Stocking Up For Christmas.
Download your copy here.
Excerpt from A Mirthful Wish
Without warning, Ellie kissed him, bold and hungry. Wrapping his arms around her, Liam shifted her out of sight. There was nothing soft and chaste about them finally coming together, the contact escalating quickly to a heat level he was unprepared for.
He’d anticipated this going differently—slower and more private—but nothing with Ellie ever seemed to go to plan.
Ellie broke contact first, her breath fast and hot against his lips. A lingering taste of marinara sauce and sexy Ellie remained.
He didn’t know what to say.
“There was mistletoe,” she whispered, looking as stunned as he felt.
Her eyes flicked upward. A green sprig hung from a hook above their table.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, then left him standing alone in the nook, too shocked to speak, a cold wave engulfing him after the loss of her heat.
Liam scrubbed a hand down his face, waiting for his heartbeat to slow to a reasonable rate.
When Ryan joined him, his brother frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I’ve underestimated Ellie Thatcher.”
A Mirthful Wish is now available in eBook and paperback.
Find more info at Kristy's website
Long before Santa and his magical reindeer, there were tales of a female reindeer who drew the sleigh of the sun goddess at the winter solstice. Unlike male reindeer who shed their antlers in the winter, it is the larger and stronger doe who retains hers to help forage for food for her young. And it's she who leads the herds throughout the winter months.
Santa Claus is a Christianized version of the pagan traditions of winter, which included stories of the ancient Deer Mother. She flew through the winter's darkest night with the life-giving light of the sun in her horns. There are many winter goddesses in the Nordic countries. In one tale, Saule, the Lithuanian and Latvian goddess of the sun, flew across the heavens in a sleigh pulled by a horned reindeer and threw pebbles of amber—symbolizing the sun—into chimneys.
In Finnish lore there exists the story of the Vaadin, a female reindeer crafted from bones of stone, a flesh of moss, and skin made of birch bark. She was used by shamans in journeys of knowledge to create magical items.
In my new Christmas romance release, I play with the mythology of the Vaadin. If a couple sees her, they're granted true love.
A Mirthful Wish is now available in eBook and paperback.
The Thatcher-Adler feud goes back generations. Despite this, Ellie Thatcher befriended Liam Adler when she was a girl. She even managed to get a job at the Adler Reindeer Farm while in high school, the very farm that had once belonged to her family. Now, with college and a stint working overseas behind her, she’s returning home to Reindeer Pass to open a photography studio. But the feud has been reignited and Ellie and Liam are about to get dragged into the middle of it.
Liam Adler has returned to the Colorado town where he grew up to take over the family business after the sudden death of his father. It wasn’t the life path he’d planned, and now he must convince old Eustace Hapgood to sell his land to the Adlers and not the Thatchers. And his opponent is none other than Ellie Thatcher—no longer the sweet and funny little girl he remembers, but all grown-up and strikingly beautiful.
Years ago, Eustace told a young Ellie and Liam about the Legend of Reindeer Pass, where a rare Arctic reindeer herd is rumored to have lived since the first Thatcher and Adler men settled in the valley in the 1800’s. When Ellie and Liam appear before the old man, Eustace tells them he will sell to the first to see the Vaadin, the largest of the elusive female reindeer. But there is more to the legend … only the pure of heart are presented with such a gift. And to a special few, true love is granted.
When Christmas comes around, everyone has their own special wish. For some, those wishes are as simple as getting the perfect gift for that special someone. For others, those wishes are much bigger. Especially, when they wish for love.
Everyone deserves the gift of love, but sometimes that's more complicated than it should be.
This year is different.
For those pure of heart, their wishes, even their wishes for true love, just might be granted.
Wishing for Love is a heartwarming series about Christmas wishes of love coming true for those who have the purest of hearts. If you're looking for a feel-good read this holiday season, pick up A MIRTHFUL WISH to meet the authors of this heartwarming holiday romance series and find your next happy ever after.
Don't miss more books in the Wishing for Love series. Check them all out here.
Read a prequel to A MIRTHFUL WISH in the FREE anthology, Stocking Up For Christmas.
Download your copy here.
Excerpt from A Mirthful Wish
Without warning, Ellie kissed him, bold and hungry. Wrapping his arms around her, Liam shifted her out of sight. There was nothing soft and chaste about them finally coming together, the contact escalating quickly to a heat level he was unprepared for.
He’d anticipated this going differently—slower and more private—but nothing with Ellie ever seemed to go to plan.
Ellie broke contact first, her breath fast and hot against his lips. A lingering taste of marinara sauce and sexy Ellie remained.
He didn’t know what to say.
“There was mistletoe,” she whispered, looking as stunned as he felt.
Her eyes flicked upward. A green sprig hung from a hook above their table.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, then left him standing alone in the nook, too shocked to speak, a cold wave engulfing him after the loss of her heat.
Liam scrubbed a hand down his face, waiting for his heartbeat to slow to a reasonable rate.
When Ryan joined him, his brother frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I’ve underestimated Ellie Thatcher.”
A Mirthful Wish is now available in eBook and paperback.
Find more info at Kristy's website
July 25, 2023
The Canary is now available!
Paleontologist Jack Brenner enters a fake marriage with Sarah Ryan to protect her in the Arizona wilderness ...
Arizona Territory
1899
Sarah Ryan grew up in Texas digging up animal bones and potsherds, but she always dreamed of searching for the extraordinary dinosaur fossils in the American West. When a wealthy benefactress gives her the opportunity to join the team of esteemed paleontologist Dr. Allan Brenner, she eagerly accepts. But when she arrives in the wild and wooly town of Holbrook, Arizona Territory, ready to start digging, she’s faced with the very real obstacle of being a female in a world dominated by men.
Dr. Jack Brenner is looking for his father who disappeared into the Painted Desert two months ago. Mounting an expedition to find him, Jack is suddenly saddled with Sarah Ryan, a young paleontology student hired as an intern to his father. When Jack’s guide refuses to let Sarah accompany them into the wilderness without a chaperone—and a colleague threatens her—he finds himself in a pretend marriage to protect the determined woman whose passion for paleontology was something he once possessed. But he has bigger problems than his beautiful new wife—his father is pursuing a controversial theory about the origin of birds, and it’s attracted the attention of men who would rather destroy evidence than excavate it.
Sarah is the daughter of Logan and Claire from THE DOVE.
The Wings of the West Series Reading Order
Book One: The Wren
Book Two: The Dove
Book Three: The Sparrow
Book Four: The Blackbird
Book Five: The Bluebird
Book Six: The Songbird (Novella)
Book Seven: Echo of the Plains (Short Story)
Book Eight: The Starling
Book Nine: The Canary
Book Ten: The Nighthawk (Coming Soon)
Read now in eBook or paperback at Amazon, Apple Books, Nook, Kobo, and Google Play Books.
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Amazon AU
Apple Books
Nook
Kobo
Google Play Books
Paperbacks
Read Chapter One
Read an excerpt
(Jack and Sarah are searching for Jack's father, Dr. Allan Brenner. Isaac Dearborn was Allan's assistant for many years.)
“Allan thinks the birds can be traced back to the theropods,” Isaac said.
Sarah’s mind raced with the possibilities, and Jack’s silence signaled the same.
Finally, she spoke. “Because of Archaeopteryx?”
“Yes,” Isaac said, his face its usual somber self.
She knew that fossils of Archaeopteryx, found over thirty years ago in Germany, were of a primitive bird-like dinosaur with evidence of feathers.
“But not everyone believes that birds were dinosaurs,” she said. “Some say Archaeopteryx is a missing link between the two but that doesn’t mean it’s true.”
Jack said, “Dinosauria is divided into two clades: Ornithischia and Saurischia. And everyone has always believed the birds to have evolved from the first, not the theropods of the second. But if it’s true ….”
“Archaeopteryx was a theropod that lived during the Jurassic,” Isaac said, “so Allan kept thinking … what came before? Could he prove a connection to something in the Triassic?”
“Has my father spoken about this?” Jack asked.
“Not publicly, no. He wanted to find proof. But I’m guessing he has in private, which is how Dr. Pierce no doubt heard about it.”
Sarah was a bit stunned, and for the first time since arriving she wondered if she was in the wrong place. She had admired Dr. Allan Brenner and the work he’d done in the quarries in Wyoming and the fossils he’d excavated from this area, but was she now to be associated with a man who might be committing career suicide?
Copyright © 2023 K. McCaffrey LLC
Arizona Territory
1899
Sarah Ryan grew up in Texas digging up animal bones and potsherds, but she always dreamed of searching for the extraordinary dinosaur fossils in the American West. When a wealthy benefactress gives her the opportunity to join the team of esteemed paleontologist Dr. Allan Brenner, she eagerly accepts. But when she arrives in the wild and wooly town of Holbrook, Arizona Territory, ready to start digging, she’s faced with the very real obstacle of being a female in a world dominated by men.
Dr. Jack Brenner is looking for his father who disappeared into the Painted Desert two months ago. Mounting an expedition to find him, Jack is suddenly saddled with Sarah Ryan, a young paleontology student hired as an intern to his father. When Jack’s guide refuses to let Sarah accompany them into the wilderness without a chaperone—and a colleague threatens her—he finds himself in a pretend marriage to protect the determined woman whose passion for paleontology was something he once possessed. But he has bigger problems than his beautiful new wife—his father is pursuing a controversial theory about the origin of birds, and it’s attracted the attention of men who would rather destroy evidence than excavate it.
Sarah is the daughter of Logan and Claire from THE DOVE.
The Wings of the West Series Reading Order
Book One: The Wren
Book Two: The Dove
Book Three: The Sparrow
Book Four: The Blackbird
Book Five: The Bluebird
Book Six: The Songbird (Novella)
Book Seven: Echo of the Plains (Short Story)
Book Eight: The Starling
Book Nine: The Canary
Book Ten: The Nighthawk (Coming Soon)
Read now in eBook or paperback at Amazon, Apple Books, Nook, Kobo, and Google Play Books.
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Amazon AU
Apple Books
Nook
Kobo
Google Play Books
Paperbacks
Read Chapter One
Read an excerpt
(Jack and Sarah are searching for Jack's father, Dr. Allan Brenner. Isaac Dearborn was Allan's assistant for many years.)
“Allan thinks the birds can be traced back to the theropods,” Isaac said.
Sarah’s mind raced with the possibilities, and Jack’s silence signaled the same.
Finally, she spoke. “Because of Archaeopteryx?”
“Yes,” Isaac said, his face its usual somber self.
She knew that fossils of Archaeopteryx, found over thirty years ago in Germany, were of a primitive bird-like dinosaur with evidence of feathers.
“But not everyone believes that birds were dinosaurs,” she said. “Some say Archaeopteryx is a missing link between the two but that doesn’t mean it’s true.”
Jack said, “Dinosauria is divided into two clades: Ornithischia and Saurischia. And everyone has always believed the birds to have evolved from the first, not the theropods of the second. But if it’s true ….”
“Archaeopteryx was a theropod that lived during the Jurassic,” Isaac said, “so Allan kept thinking … what came before? Could he prove a connection to something in the Triassic?”
“Has my father spoken about this?” Jack asked.
“Not publicly, no. He wanted to find proof. But I’m guessing he has in private, which is how Dr. Pierce no doubt heard about it.”
Sarah was a bit stunned, and for the first time since arriving she wondered if she was in the wrong place. She had admired Dr. Allan Brenner and the work he’d done in the quarries in Wyoming and the fossils he’d excavated from this area, but was she now to be associated with a man who might be committing career suicide?
Copyright © 2023 K. McCaffrey LLC
July 20, 2023
The Canary releases next week!
THE CANARY is almost here. Five more days!
I'm so thrilled to get this one out there. I've been working like a dog the past few months on this, and I hope you guys will love it as much as I do.
Paleontologist Jack Brenner enters a fake marriage with Sarah Ryan to protect her in the Arizona wilderness …
+ Marriage of Convenience
+ Medium Spice
+ Painted Desert Expedition
+ Dinosaur fossils
+ Walnuts
+ Bees
The Canary is Book 9 in the Wings of the West series but can absolutely be read as a standalone novel.
Pre-Order Now
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Amazon AU
Apple Books
Nook
Kobo
Google Play Books
Paperbacks are coming.
Read Chapter One
Here's an excerpt
“Dr. Brenner,” Ralph said. “This woman is looking for you.”
Jack turned and gave a slight nod, trying to ignore the jolt to his senses when he met her gaze.
“Dr. Brenner?” she said, her green eyes shiny with excitement. She extended a hand. “I’m Sarah.”
He was glad the white glove she wore kept their skin from touching. It had been a long time since a beautiful woman had caught his eye. Not since Betsy, really. And he didn’t need a repeat of that.
“I’m so pleased to meet you, sir,” she added, a big smile lighting up her face.
The “sir” caught his attention, and it all began to click into place. She thought Jack was his father. S. Ryan had been hired by Mrs. Parks for the dig.
But maybe he was wrong. Maybe this woman was here for another reason.
He cleared his throat and said, “Sarah …?”
“Sarah Ryan.”
I'm so thrilled to get this one out there. I've been working like a dog the past few months on this, and I hope you guys will love it as much as I do.
Paleontologist Jack Brenner enters a fake marriage with Sarah Ryan to protect her in the Arizona wilderness …
+ Marriage of Convenience
+ Medium Spice
+ Painted Desert Expedition
+ Dinosaur fossils
+ Walnuts
+ Bees
The Canary is Book 9 in the Wings of the West series but can absolutely be read as a standalone novel.
Pre-Order Now
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Amazon AU
Apple Books
Nook
Kobo
Google Play Books
Paperbacks are coming.
Read Chapter One
Here's an excerpt
“Dr. Brenner,” Ralph said. “This woman is looking for you.”
Jack turned and gave a slight nod, trying to ignore the jolt to his senses when he met her gaze.
“Dr. Brenner?” she said, her green eyes shiny with excitement. She extended a hand. “I’m Sarah.”
He was glad the white glove she wore kept their skin from touching. It had been a long time since a beautiful woman had caught his eye. Not since Betsy, really. And he didn’t need a repeat of that.
“I’m so pleased to meet you, sir,” she added, a big smile lighting up her face.
The “sir” caught his attention, and it all began to click into place. She thought Jack was his father. S. Ryan had been hired by Mrs. Parks for the dig.
But maybe he was wrong. Maybe this woman was here for another reason.
He cleared his throat and said, “Sarah …?”
“Sarah Ryan.”
Author Kristy McCaffrey
Kristy McCaffrey writes western historical and contemporary romances. She and her husband live in Arizona with their two dogs. Visit her online at kristymccaffrey.com.
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