When I first sat down to write Timepath, I had no idea it would become my most popular novel—or that it would take me on an unexpected journey of its own.
Unlike my other historical fiction works, Timepath isn’t set in the American West. Instead, the story unfolds in Virginia, blending real history with one of my favorite “what ifs”: time travel.
Now, I’ll admit something—I love the idea of time travel, but I’m not convinced it’s actually possible. Still, the concept is endlessly fascinating. What would we do if we could step into another era? Could we change history? Should we? Those questions became the foundation of Timepath.
I began writing with only a broad plot in mind, fully expecting the story to follow a straight line. But as the characters and events developed in my head, the plot kept shifting. My original concept didn’t even include any women in the main storyline. Before long, though, I realized the novel was… well… a little dull without them. When I introduced female characters, something surprising happened: the plot took a strong romantic turn.
At first, I nearly abandoned the project. I had never considered myself capable of writing romance, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to try. But instead of backing away, I embraced the challenge—and in doing so, I think the story became much richer. This romantic element has resurfaced in my other novels, especially Viking Princess and, more recently, Red-Haired Distraction.
One element of Timepath that sometimes raises eyebrows is my use of the same name for different people in different eras. This wasn’t laziness—it was intentional. In my own genealogy research, I discovered that families often reused names across generations, and I wanted to reflect that reality in the novel. Yes, it can be a little confusing at times, but it’s also authentic to the way family histories unfold.
Researching the early 1800s was one of the most rewarding (and demanding) parts of writing Timepath. I wanted the story’s historical and technological details to feel accurate, even as my characters were bending the rules of time. That meant studying real events, trades, and daily life from the period. In a few places, I had to take slight artistic liberties—but always with the goal of serving the story.
If you enjoy history, adventure, romance, and a dash of scientific speculation, I hope you’ll give Timepath a read. It’s a novel that surprised me while I was writing it, and I think it just might surprise you too.
After all, in Timepath, anything can happen when the past and present meet.