Blackberry Winter

Blackberry Winter is a 'Time Travel' story about Linnie, an eighteen year old who now lives solely with her father Zeke after the untimely loss of Linnie's mom some years before. 

Presently, Linnie is finishing her senior year of high school and busily planning her life with the prospect of graduation only weeks away. On April first, however, it is April Fool's Day when Zeke receives notice of an unexpected inheritance in Virginia.  It happens to be from someone associated with Linnie's mother's side of the family. With curiosity abounding and hopes of discovering what this unexpected surprise is all about, Zeke and Linnie begin a trip to Woodhaven, VA.

  During the trip, howerver, and within a few miles of Woodhaven, they encounter an ever increasing snowstorm (a Blackberry Winter) which soon becomes thunder snow where the skies turn purple, the snow appears lavender and all things electrical are suddenly dead.  The car is stranded in near blizzard conditions, and Zeke, desperate to find help, begins walking toward Woodhaven in the snow and wind. Linnie is told to remain with the car where it is safest, but soon after her father disappears into a curtain of white, she hears bells. Enticed by the possibility of a rescuer, she leaves the car, crosses a timeline and wanders into 1923.

  Linnie is rescued, but taken to the Woodhaven of 1923 and lodged at the Owens Farm with sisters Veronica and Pearl.  Veronica is Linnie's great great grandmother, but neither know their relation. Veronica's beautiful daughter, Anne, who was alienated from Veronica over a dispute ten years ago, and Linnie, since she is secretly related to Anne, has physical appearance exactly the same as Anne when Anne was ten years younger.

  Everyone in Woodhaven immediately mistakes Linnie for Anne until they are told differently. Still the striking resemblence and the compulsion of regret causes them to bestow all their lost love of Anne upon Linnie. Although undeserving of what belongs to Anne, without a mother's love of her own and a deep yearning for that kind of love, how can Linnie reject this gift which is offered so freely.  Moreover, as time draws everyone closer, Linnie begins to genuinely love all her new acquaintances.

Then there is romantic love which develops when Will attempts to help her find her father.  This is the first time Linnie has truly fallen in love .If returning to own her time becomes a choice, part of that choice would be the tragic love affair for the hearts of both Will and Linnie.

From the first panic stricken moment when Linnie realizies she is in another time, her one obsession is to find someway back home. But home is where the heart is and as Linnie's story unfolds it becomes increasingly more difficult to decide her future. What if an opportunity of return to her father occurs? What decision will she have to make and how will that decision affect all the wonderful people, many of whom are ancestral family?  How will those hearts which she has grown to love so dearly, how will that fare with her ultimate decision?