Deborah J. Chavez's Blog
August 3, 2026
Now Available: Between Times
Now available on Amazon and Kindle:
Between Times: Warm Story * Wild Places * Unbreakable Bonds
The fun-loving, close-knit Dunn family was having a challenging day. Edward and Edna Dunn left for their usual forest hike, a trail they’d taken dozens of times before, but they didn’t return. Hours later, with a storm headed their way, their stressed, wheelchair-bound grandson reached out for help. He called his brother-by-choice, Sebastian Reynolds, knowing that his expertise in Search and Rescue was exactly what was needed.
Sebastian, however, was too far away to provide that expertise himself. Since the grandparents were on a Forest Service trail, Sebastian knew who he could call for assistance. He called a K-9 team he’d worked with before: Harley Fremont and Gemma.
Harley and Gemma have years of experience locating people lost on forest trails, and sometimes, finding the people hiding there instead. While they’d retired from trail and training work with Forest Service law enforcement a few years earlier, they jumped into action to help Sebastian and the Dunn family.
Later, Wendell Turin, Patrol Commander for Forest Service Law Enforcement, also knew who to call when a tender-aged girl disappeared from a campground on the Los Padres National Forest. He called Harley and Gemma.
Once again, Harley felt the irresistible pull to help. Gemma was equally enthusiastic. Finding out that the girl required daily medication made the hunt feel even more urgent. As a parent herself, Harley could imagine the angst felt by the girl’s parents.
A public tip line, set up to assist in finding the girl, provided endless claims of sightings after an award for her safe return was offered. Wendell sent Harley and Gemma to several tip line locations but they left empty-handed, as the tips just didn’t pan out. Their frustration builds and worry increases over the fate of the little girl.
Then, a phone call from a ranch academy client sends Harley and Gemma on the hunt for the girl to a very large campground, with fancy camp sites and cabins, plus a number of high-end services and amenities. Harley and Gemma begin their search at the first set of cabins they come to. Not finding the girl, they move on to another cluster of cabins. Harley spots a suspect who matches the description she’s been provided, then watches as Gemma runs after the suspect. In turn, Harley runs after Gemma, only to find the man has gone inside the cabin, leaving Gemma on the porch. Harley’s knock on the door is answered by a different man. It takes a moment for her to realize that she’s made a huge mistake.
It’s a mistake that changes everything.
Between Times: Warm Story * Wild Places * Unbreakable Bonds
The fun-loving, close-knit Dunn family was having a challenging day. Edward and Edna Dunn left for their usual forest hike, a trail they’d taken dozens of times before, but they didn’t return. Hours later, with a storm headed their way, their stressed, wheelchair-bound grandson reached out for help. He called his brother-by-choice, Sebastian Reynolds, knowing that his expertise in Search and Rescue was exactly what was needed.
Sebastian, however, was too far away to provide that expertise himself. Since the grandparents were on a Forest Service trail, Sebastian knew who he could call for assistance. He called a K-9 team he’d worked with before: Harley Fremont and Gemma.
Harley and Gemma have years of experience locating people lost on forest trails, and sometimes, finding the people hiding there instead. While they’d retired from trail and training work with Forest Service law enforcement a few years earlier, they jumped into action to help Sebastian and the Dunn family.
Later, Wendell Turin, Patrol Commander for Forest Service Law Enforcement, also knew who to call when a tender-aged girl disappeared from a campground on the Los Padres National Forest. He called Harley and Gemma.
Once again, Harley felt the irresistible pull to help. Gemma was equally enthusiastic. Finding out that the girl required daily medication made the hunt feel even more urgent. As a parent herself, Harley could imagine the angst felt by the girl’s parents.
A public tip line, set up to assist in finding the girl, provided endless claims of sightings after an award for her safe return was offered. Wendell sent Harley and Gemma to several tip line locations but they left empty-handed, as the tips just didn’t pan out. Their frustration builds and worry increases over the fate of the little girl.
Then, a phone call from a ranch academy client sends Harley and Gemma on the hunt for the girl to a very large campground, with fancy camp sites and cabins, plus a number of high-end services and amenities. Harley and Gemma begin their search at the first set of cabins they come to. Not finding the girl, they move on to another cluster of cabins. Harley spots a suspect who matches the description she’s been provided, then watches as Gemma runs after the suspect. In turn, Harley runs after Gemma, only to find the man has gone inside the cabin, leaving Gemma on the porch. Harley’s knock on the door is answered by a different man. It takes a moment for her to realize that she’s made a huge mistake.
It’s a mistake that changes everything.
July 9, 2026
Progress on newest novel
Between Times is now in the hands of the reviewers. I'll let you know when it's getting close to publication time.
June 27, 2026
Between Times
Nope, that's not where I am currently, it's the name of the newest novel in the Gemma's Ranch series. It's more than three-quarters ready for my reading audience to enjoy. You'll see many of the same friends and dogs, s'mores and stories at the fire pit, lots of danger, Harley questioning everything, and more.
Warm Story.
Wild Places.
Unbreakable Bonds.
Warm Story.
Wild Places.
Unbreakable Bonds.
May 2, 2026
New novel out now!
Dear Readers,
You've been waiting and I've been working. The newest novel in the Gemma's Ranch Series is now out. Ranch Hand(ful) is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon and Kindle. Happy reading!
Debbie
p.s. Book 4 in the Gemma's Ranch Series is underway.
You've been waiting and I've been working. The newest novel in the Gemma's Ranch Series is now out. Ranch Hand(ful) is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon and Kindle. Happy reading!
Debbie
p.s. Book 4 in the Gemma's Ranch Series is underway.
February 11, 2026
Another Buckaloo Award
Buckaloo just received an award from Indies Today as a Finalist. That makes four awards for this novel. Be sure you read it.
January 17, 2026
DBT Award for Buckaloo
Very happy to report that Buckaloo has won a third award. This one was awarded by Digital Books Today.
Currently working on the next book in the series.
Currently working on the next book in the series.
October 25, 2025
Pencraft Award 2025
Just got word that Buckaloo has won a 2025 Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence, Runner-Up for the category Fiction - General.
If you haven't read if yet, you should give it a try.
It's very exciting to receive an award, and now Buckaloo has two awards! I owe this success to my reviewers and to the readers who loved the novel and gave it 5 stars. Thank you.
If you haven't read if yet, you should give it a try.
It's very exciting to receive an award, and now Buckaloo has two awards! I owe this success to my reviewers and to the readers who loved the novel and gave it 5 stars. Thank you.
October 8, 2025
Giveaway has ended
Fifty ebook winners have been selected. I hope you enjoy award-winning Buckaloo.
August 9, 2025
Literary Titan Award
Deborah Chavez's twelfth novel, Buckaloo, is the recipient of the Literary Titan Award, 2025.
Buckaloo is available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible.
Buckaloo is available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible.
July 5, 2025
Read Buckaloo now
The newest novel, Buckaloo, the second in the Gemma's Ranch Series, is now available in several formats: ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
