New work in progress

Hi,

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.  We had a quiet, peaceful Christmas surrounded by family.  All in all it was nice.  Our solitude was only disturbed by our rambunctious pups who have taken up wandering all over the mountain and terrorizing the chickens.  They keep us on our toes.

I have been busy this season and unfortunately haven't had a lot of time to write.  I did manage to start a new novel and I'm excited to get it uploaded to Amazon.  I don't have a name for it yet, and I am open to suggestions.  This is another young adult novel about Paige, who is searching for a treasure with half of a map left by her grandfather.  The hero, Ace, has the other half of the map--so the hunt is on. 

May everyone's New Year be a celebration for renewal and hope.

Take care,
Hillary Bergeron


 

The more things stay the same, the more things change.

As I study American history, I am seeing patterns in human behavior that seem to mirror events happening in today's world.  Over and over through the pages of history I've discovered the fight between aristocrats wanting to expand their portfolios versus the battle for religious, as well as personal freedom.  Early immigrants weren't too different from us today.  We just want to raise a family on a decent wage.  They wanted the same thing.  When I see how desperate people feel today about not being able to make the wages they once earned and the dawning realization that if things in their lives don't change, they may be assigned to a life of poverty, it reminds me of the German immigrants in the 18th century who moved to the Philadelphia area.  It must have taken a lot of courage to pack up their belongings and family and head for an unfamiliar world.  I often wonder if I'd have that kind of courage...or will I be like the frog in the pot of water, being slowly heated until in my demise I realize I'm being cooked.  I want to say that I will have the courage and fortitude to make necessary sacrifices and changes for the good of my family, but in the end it comes down to sacrificing comfort for an idealistic plan of what could be.  In the end, many of the immigrants prospered, as well as the generations that went afterwards.  Their example gives me hope.       

Hello

Hello,

Here it goes--my first blog.  Well, not my first blog, but the first one dedicated to writing and the creative mojo that goes with it.  First, I thought I'd tell you a little about myself. 

I spent my formative years in Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula.  When it came time to go to college, I opted to head toward Idaho and then Utah.  I received a commission in the United States Army while in Utah.  After the military, my life's journey took me across the expanse of the United States to the southeast.  I now live along the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in a solar home with compost toilets and rainwater collection.  When I'm not writing, I spend my time running my small farm, painting and sculpting.    


After many years of wondering what to do with my manuscripts, I finally decided to put them up on Kindle.  I have to say, it was a great experience.  I had no idea the reception would be so good.  Gypsy Gold, my first book, was originally started as an adult novel.  As time went on, I realized the story needed to be told by Amanda, my protagonist, and that young adult was the better fit.  It took me a long time to write because of all the rewrites and changes from adult to young adult. 

I enjoy reading young adult novels from Philip Pullman, Nancy Farmer, Suzanne Collins and of course the infamous J.K. Rowling.  I'm intrigued by novels that introduce me to a brand new world, make me love their characters and then when I finish the book, leave me wondering how the characters are doing long after the book has ended.   

Take care, All.