Writing in Montana

A Substack with “coffee” in the title, really should start with good coffee tips! I tend to dive into a subject (a cup of coffee next to me) and forget to focus on the caffeine first! Starting now, I’ll try to be conscious of giving coffee recommendations! :)

I spent a long weekend in Livingston, Montana, which has an array of excellent coffee shops. All that caffeine was helpful because I was working on finishing a rough draft sequel to What Lies We Keep (2024). Unfortunately, Faye’s Cafe, which came highly recommended, was closed while I was there. Two coffee shops I came to love on my trip and may use in the novel are:

• Perk on Park

• Tru North. Their fluffy egg breakfast sandwich and homemade maple rolls are amazing.

Thinking…..drinking….caffeinated.

True to my nature and love of Ireland, I gravitated to the only Irish Pub in town, The Fainting Goat, and was thrilled to see they carried Harp on tap and Shepard’s pie. I went for dinner two nights in a row and sat drinking Harp and texting my friends in EU and Ireland (who were probably trying to sleep and thought I’d had a few too many!)

Let’s move on.

I love mountains. Specifically driving along the road with mountains in front of me and all around me, lush and green or covered with fall leaves. I even love them in the winter (when Pennsylvania’s tics and mosquitoes are gone).

As a child, my favorite part of the trip from Erie to Grandma’s house - in a small town outside Pittsburgh - was seeing the mountains increase in size until we crossed the Neville Island Bridge and the Allegheny Mountains exploded into view around us. Everywhere I drive in Pittsburgh, I’m between mountains or driving in a tunnel through a mountain or winding along roads coming down off a mountain to cross one of many bridges to the other side, and then driving up a mountain on my way home.

Much as I love the mountains of my home, nothing has surpassed the first time my plane touched down in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in 2017, and I felt as if I’d entered a painting or post card. The Grand Tetons surrounded me with an alluring, majestic beauty. I’ve flown over the Alps and spent time in a chalet with friends there, so when I tell you the Grand Tetons still sit as my all time favorite, I’m serious.

But this week as my plane touched down in Bozeman, Montana, the Rocky Mountains below and then around me, I was reminded that I love the Rockies too. It brought back memories of driving from Jackson Hole to Bozeman through Yellowstone National Park, simply in awe. I will never live, again, where I can’t see an impressive mountain range. One of many reasons living in the Midwest didn’t work for me. ‘Nuff said. The 30 minute drive to Livingston, Montana was gorgeous.

An Almighty presence exists for me most clearly and prominently in the face of a rolling canvas of mountains at sunset or endless water with white capped waves rolling in to shore.

And so my research/writing retreat began.

Some really wonderful book clubs read my novel What Lies We Keep, set in Pittsburgh and Montana, and asked me to speak to them about the book. Each book club asked the same two questions:

“Are you going to write a sequel?” and

“What happens to Leah?”

[Spoiler Alert if you haven’t read What Lies We Keep] Leah was not a “good” or “ethical” character!

I’ve never written a sequel before. Usually, I’m fairly tired of the characters, much as I loved creating them, after years of writing, revisions, re-writing, and publishing. Initially, I was resistant to the idea but I decided to try outlining and see what rolled forward from my Muse. I don’t create structured, hard outlines. I write and keep a list of ideas and tension points nearby for reference, along with a character chart. If I outline the whole book, I won’t finish writing it. I’ll be bored! I’m in for the archeological dig, the surprise of building a twist I didn’t see coming, and the journey of discovery. Thanks to Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin, I found a type of semi-outlining called “W” that works for me.

But I digress. For this sequel, I did a little more pre-work, felt a storyline for Leah roll up in me, and realized that the book would be three-fourths in Montana and one-fourth in Pittsburgh — the opposite of What Lies We Keep. I spent over a year writing a very rough draft. During that time, I also took back the rights to What Lies We Keep and re-published it in 2025 with a new book jacket that featured its many awards. And then I published my new novel, Wired For Magic, in March 2026. It was clear to me, once I neared the end of the rough draft for this sequel, that I needed to return to Montana, immerse myself in the culture, and scout out a few locations. I rented the Blue Cottage on Airbnb as my writing retreat and spent a day driving to Bridger Falls, Big Timber, Pine Creek Falls, as well as walking through downtown Livingston.

The trip has been well worth it! I forgot how loooonnngg it takes to drive anywhere in Montana, something I need to factor into the timing of scenes in the book. And I discovered that Pine Creek Falls wouldn’t work, as I’d imagined from internet pictures, for key scenes. Also, at this time of year, it’s recommended people do not hike there solo or without bear spray. I had neither a group to hike with nor bear spray so I did my best assessment from the parking area. Bridger Falls looks like it will work better, but is a longer distance from Livingston. Lots of immersion, lots to consider and work through in the first revision.

Second Chances.

I call my sequel “Second Chances”. Don’t hold me to this working title because I think it might have been used a bit too much by others. If you haven’t read What Lies We Keep yet, please note where I mark “spoiler alert” to allow you to read or skip as you choose.

[Spoiler Alert if you haven’t read What Lies We Keep] While plotting a book that answers the question “What happens to Leah?” I asked myself what happens when a successful person is sent to prison, loses their career, and then is set free hoping for redemption and a fresh start? Who will hire them? Where will they live? Who will accept them back into society?

Leah was an expert in international banking transactions. As such, she opened off-shore accounts for herself and was smart enough to add her brother’s name after she was arrested. She left prison with both family support from her brother and enough money to get settled. But with a criminal record, that money would quickly evaporate if she didn’t find gainful employment. I decided she could start a podcast from her home with limited investment. Leah names her podcast “Second Chances” and through it she initially interviews people like herself. The podcast introduces her to a man who she evolves into a romantic relationship with, and who motivates her to go to Montana.

[Spoiler Alert if you haven’t read What Lies We Keep] Charlotte and Ted worked things out and live in Montana.

The book is told through the points of view of Charlotte and Leah as they work to save a young girl from making a mistake that will ruin her life and, in the process, must determine if they will rebuild their friendship. Ted hates Leah and that will not change, creating a dilemma for Charlotte.

Second Chances - or whatever the final title turns out to be - will be lighter on cyber security topics, heavier on true love and female friendships, and will look at abandonment, redemption, forgiveness, and giving people second chances rather than permanent labels.

Will Charlotte give Leah a Second Chance?

Will Leah get a Second Chance at love? If so, will she move to Montana?

Will Charlotte and Ted’s Second Chance life in Montana work out?

Stay tuned….

Next month we’ll talk about a new book that is slowly leaving my head and making its way onto the page. I call it Anna & Callie.

And for new fans of Wired For Magic, I’m doing a lot of research on specific cyber topics to begin writing Rowan’s next adventure!