September on
Echo Creek
A single ethical concession, requested by her fiancé, forces Gaylynn
Nelson to take a trip that ignites a series of dizzying events changing the
lives of friends and family in her Manhattan home and in the rural mountains of
western North Carolina. In September on Echo Creek, a character driven novel,
the affluent socialite protagonist is confronted by her conscience and her life
style in this story of cultural clash and betrayal. During a period of thirty
days she is forced to accept the fact her future is threatened, not by an
acknowledged adversary, but by those who profess love for her. With the help of
friends, old and new, Gaylynn faces redefining whom she is—and survives an
attempt on her life.
A story of a woman who breaks her family-imposed bonds to become her own
person, September on Echo Creek is a novel that illustrates how everyday
events lead people to become enmeshed in circumstances that rock their worlds.
It empowers those how struggle similarly by showing how new friends, a change of
environment, even lyrics to a song can liberate them.
The following excerpt portrays how Gaylynn comes to grips with
changing her life and
makes her bargain with it, even though she knows she has major trials left to
face:
Her
paints mixed and lodged on the pallet, Gaylynn set upon the task of making each
stroke, each daub of paint a perfect reproduction of what her eyes saw.
Her feelings for the spot would not allow her to do otherwise.
She wanted to remember every rock, every fern, the exact structure of the
rock formation creating the falls, the way the water cascaded down to the clear
pool below. These objects, stable as
the streambed Echo Creek’s waters flowed through, were dear to her, reverent
parts of a new life she hoped for. The
place and its people were fresh and honest—symbolic of the life she sought.
In
attempting to make the painting precisely what she saw, the scene on the canvas
and the murmuring waters revealed another truth.
As there had been changes within Gaylynn during her September on Echo
Creek, there were subtle changes to the stream’s surroundings.
Summer’s lush green was evolving into fall’s old olive with the first
hints of gold, tan, red and orange soon to follow, appearing in the foliage.
The best she could do was catch a fleeting image and record it, for Echo
Creek was a never-ending work in progress. These
changes would continue until time ceased to exist for this magical spot.
The falling waters told Gaylynn she must understand life is the same.
And content in that knowledge, Gaylynn resumed painting, her heart
holding the brush.
This novel features the original lyrics to It's Only Love by Melissa Wade and Wild Blue Yonder
and is incorporated in the plot line at a critical point in this tale of human
resurection. The book is available with a CD containing It's Only Love and 10 other
original Wild Blue Yonder songs recorded on this CD especially for the publication of September On Echo
Creek.
September On Echo
Creek has won several awards including a mainstream literary novel award from POW
(Promoting Outstanding Writers) and a "book of the month" award from a
Knoxville news network. Get a copy for your reading and listening enjoyment.
"Open
Minds, Open Books"
Keana-eno-pa-watchee 
