It is true that we all have a great story to tell.

 

I wrote In Search of Gopher Hollow to share my own life story with the hope of encouraging others who might be experiencing similar trials.

 

Using a blend of humor, sentimentality, and nostalgia, I paint a vivid canvas that draws you right into the copilot seat where together we ride the roller coaster of my life. 

 

I might not have made it through my tumultuous life had it not been for God watching over me, along with an inspiring grandfather who had taught me important life lessons. Indeed, it was at my grandparents’ home called Gopher Hollow that I found refuge at age eight after experiencing much turmoil in my early childhood years.

 

At that impressionable age, like a little sponge I soaked up all the sensory delights I discovered there at Gopher Hollow - the scents of gardenia and eucalyptus, the song of the mourning dove - while also forging a close bond with my grandpa. The result was a blueprint for joy that became deeply engrained in my psyche and propelled me forward over the years (hence the book’s title).

 

In sharing about the losses and challenges I’ve faced, I hope to set a positive example, and to offer readers a sense of hope when things might appear utterly hopeless. In essence, In Search of Gopher Hollow is a real-life example of faith, hope, and joy in action. I hope you’ll pick up a copy and ride along!