Moose Ridge, Book 1 - Ending to Beginning
Inspirational Fiction / Women's Fiction
Date Published: 08-02-2021
Publisher: Champagne Book Group
Faced with hardship and heartbreak, Jazmine finds solace and hope amidst the hallowed halls of Harvard. Raised in a world of privilege that swiftly crumbled beneath her feet, she emerged from the ashes as a foster child, forever marked by the scars of her past. But fate has a way of weaving unexpected blessings into the tapestry of our lives.
Embarking on a new chapter alongside Michael, a promising medical student, Jazmine is finally poised to seize the idyllic future she has fought so hard for. Leaving behind the familiar streets of Boston and New York, she ventures into uncharted territory - the vast, untamed landscapes of Wyoming - where Michael will complete his rigorous neurosurgical residency. It’s a profound turning point, the culmination of Jazmine’s unwavering dedication and boundless determination. For once, the universe aligns with her dreams, assuring her that this time will be different.
But just as life teeters on the precipice of fulfillment, an unforeseen letter shatters Jazmine’s newfound happiness, thrusting her into a whirlwind of uncertainty. The fates conspire to test her strength once more, as she grapples with overwhelming choices and unstoppable forces that threaten to unravel all of her dreams.
“MOOSE RIDGE: ENDING TO BEGINNING” is a poignant tale of resilience and the indomitable spirit of the human heart. It is a story that will transport you from the towering spires of Harvard to the rugged plains of Wyoming, and ultimately deep into the depths of emotion. Join Jazmine on a transformative journey, as she learns that the true measure of triumph lies not in the fairytale endings we crave, but in the unexpected beginnings that arise from the ashes of our shattered dreams.
Interview with Craig Hastings
Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
Interesting question. It was when I learned that while its still fiction, there can also be a lot of truth and lessons to learn from it. I’ve been a voracious reader for most of my life. I’ve always liked how fiction can take you to far away places, or even just down the road, and time is no issue. It can be long ago, far in the future, or even yesterday or today. Books can take you through experiences you’d never have the chance to have otherwise.
How do you select the names of your characters?
Basically, I search online for names that seem to fit the character. It needs to flow well when used in dialog, and it can take several attempts and might change during the writing. But eventually the character lets me know what works for them.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
I haven’t consciously but that is something to think about for future books.
What was your hardest scene to write?
In this book it was probably the opening chapter and trying to capture how catastrophic everything is for Jazmine. How much despair and helplessness she felt. After this was the weaving of her past history into the story so the reader could feel where she came from and where she’s at.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I would like a book to have its own message even if it is part of a series. This is the first book in this series. I currently have the 2nd book finished and working on getting it published. I’d like to see the series continue as we see where Jazmine’s new beginning takes her.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
I wanted to provide a message of hope and faith to the reader. All of us have hit low points in our lives and maybe even thought we had hit bottom. But just as Jazmine finds, I want to share that there is always a choice we can make. Things can always get better and there is someone who is available and wanting to help.
What inspired you to write Moose Ridge: Ending To Beginning?
I’ve met so many people who are searching for something. Who have so many questions. Who struggle to deal with life and its issues and disappointments. I wanted to share that they don’t have to face everything on their own.
Can you tell us a little bit about the next books in the Moose Ridge series or what you have planned for the future?
In the second book in the series, we find Jazmine a few months later, and she’s settled into her new life and home. But then a surprise comes again out of her past and she has to take what she has learned and is learning about faith to help her deal with this new twist her life takes.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Moose Ridge?
Jazmine was born the only daughter to a very wealthy family. But then her mother dies when she’s 5 and her father goes to prison when she’s 12. She becomes a ward of the state and a foster child, where she is treated like a domestic servant. But she perseveres and graduates from Harvard with MBA and MFS degrees and follows the love of her life to Montana for his residency in a top neurosurgical clinic. Only to find the happiness she envisioned her life was about to become was not to be. She’s a true New York City girl who now finds herself stranded in rural Wyoming.
Jason, a young widower with a four-year-old son who, like his father, became a large animal veterinarian and part owner of the Moose Ridge Animal Clinic. He’s a tried-and-true Wyoming native. His family was one of the originally settlers in the area and grew the Moose Ridge ranch into one of the largest in the state. His strong faith is evident in how he dealt with the untimely death of both his parents in a crash with a drunk driver shortly after his son was born, and then the death of his wife from cancer a year later.
Sadie, Jason’s grandmother is the real stalwart in the story. She’s the last of 8 children, all the others were boys. She returned home when she retired as a Pediatric Cardiologist to care for her brother who had terminal cancer. She took over running the family ranch and is a force to be reconned with in the community. She is quick to point out that God works in mysterious ways, and it's okay, God’s in charge.
There are two other characters that forced their way into the book. Bob, the dachshund puppy that Jason rescues, and Jasons’s bearded dragon, Stanley, that loves Mountain Dew.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Learning about the characters and their stories. It was amazing to me how they came to life as I was writing and how I could envision how they each would react in the different situations they found themselves in. It’s probably what I like best about writing. Letting the characters introduce themselves and then seeing what the get into. But they can also be very demanding and will refuse to cooperate sometimes in what I think is happening. I’ve learned at these times I just have to quit and let them do what they want. It’s not like I can ever stop them.
About the Author
Born in Muncie, IN, Craig is as typical middle-America as they come. He was young when his parents divorced and his grandmother came to live with him, his mother, and two sisters. Seeing his grandmother’s faith in God on a regular basis led him to accept and know everything is okay, God’s in charge.
Craig served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and followed this as a DoD contractor where he had multiple tours overseas and around the U.S. While there were events in his life that tested his faith in God, nothing compared to when his first son was born with major medical issues. As a twenty-one-year-old father with a young devastated wife, his faith had never been tested more. After enduring several surgeries, some considered experimental, his son passed away at six months and two weeks. But even in his brief life, he had a tremendous impact on Craig and others.
Since then, God has blessed Craig with two more sons and has been a constant guidance in his life. Craig’s time in the military and as a contractor afterward included over 20 years overseas, where he was part of local mission churches. On their last return to the states, God led him and his wife to Oklahoma, where he teaches Bible studies and serves in a local church.
The memory of what God did to help him through his parent’s divorce, his son’s illness and death, and many other events in his life, has led him to want to share what impact God had and has with him.
Nowhere are we promised a life without tragedies, setbacks, problems, or devastating events we have no control over, but God’s word does promise, ‘It’s okay, God’s in charge.’
Contact Links
Twitter @ch875299_craig
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