Below you’ll find the updated first chapters of my debut novel, the first in the series of Women of the Canyon. The book will be available February 2026.
Fiction about contemporary adventures of women 55+, where friendship, courage, and second chances open the door to our next chapters
This is not the beginning, but the first whisper of what’s to come. It’s a nod to the quiet beginnings of change — how a story starts before you even realize you are living it. Before the action, there’s always a whisper, soft yet persistent, calling you to pay attention. This is the beginning of Marylee’s debut fiction.
The Road Home - Chapter 1
Raven considered arguing, then saw the truth in his eyes. She had carried miles in her bones and dust in her lungs.
The Lost Whisper - Chapter 2
Her knees wobbled and she sat hard on the cabin floor. Dust rose around her and she didn’t care. The letter trembled in her hands or her hands trembled. She couldn’t tell anymore.
Life’s real second act begins after the applause fades. Val, Riley, Skylar, Quinn, and Raven didn’t find purpose in trophies or titles. They found it in the simplest, most dangerous thing: Sitting still. Listening. Choosing each other — again and again.
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I like the backstory on Riley, because I lived through this decision making. I, too, made the decision to start saying yes. The only thing is, a big decision just doesn't open the door and the door stays open. There are times when there is regression and then I become angry with myself. It's like trying to kick a habit that's not productive or usefull, a recording in your brain where there's this deep rut. And sometimes that leads to a sliding backward.