Ida Lee

by Michelle L. Rusk

Set against the backdrop of a changing world as the space race
gains steam in the early 1960s, Ida Lee Isley watches other women
in her new life and she begins to learn that life isn’t always what
we plan and sometimes we need to seek new inspiration and
dreams to make come true.

In June 1960, just one day after their wedding, Ida Lee and Elliott Isley left
Ida’s hometown in Ohio to start a new life in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
With dreams of becoming an astronaut, Elliott had landed a job with the
Spencer Clinic researching how space affects the human body, leaving his life
as fighter pilot in the Air Force behind.

Dreams weren’t something Ida knew much about. Her mother had died
tragically when she was young and much of life in her family home was about
survival. If Ida had a dream, it was to be a wife and mother.

But sometimes dreams might not be shattered so much as they dissipate
slowly over time. While Ida and Elliott make friends and build their marriage,
rooting themselves into the growing Southwestern town, Ida doesn’t
understand why there is no baby.

As she wonders, she begins to sew, a skill taught to her by her Aunt Trudy.
Her confidence in her skills as a seamstress and wife grow and Elliott, still
dreaming of leaving earth orbit, encourages her to seek out new things, to
have a life outside of him. Ida works to take tiny steps forward, often not
realizing that she’s creating her own dreams and inspiration.

384 pages, Paperback

Published October 2, 2024

About the author

Michelle L. Rusk has always had a passion for storytelling, a dream she nurtured from
the age of six. Encouraged by her mother, her childhood was rich with creativity —
drawing, sewing, and rearranging the furniture in the room she shared with her sister
Denise. In 1993, her dream was derailed by Denise’s tragic suicide. Michelle began
writing and speaking globally about grief, suicide, and sibling loss, even earning a
doctorate along the way.

In 2015, Michelle returned to her creative roots by launching Chelle Summer, a
lifestyle brand that embraces vibrant colors, nostalgic prints, and a sense of optimism.
Through this brand, Michelle found a way to keep her dreams alive. Writing Ida’s
story is part of her journey, reflecting how our creations can bring purpose and allow
us to revisit times we’ve never personally known. Ida Lee is Michelle’s twelfth book.
Learn more at www.chellesummer.com.