Reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, a recluse and a young woman discover that the scars of life are no match against an act of love.

Iowa, 1903. All of Monticello believes Otis Taylor has been away fostering his musical genius. But the truth is that his father exiled him long ago, rejecting Otis's appearance and the scars that came with it. Now that he is the last living Taylor, Otis has covertly returned to settle his family's affairs and rid himself of his past for good. However, he soon discovers that he may not have been the only abandoned Taylor and begins a tireless search for his missing toddler niece.

At twenty-three years old, Sadie West left her family farm and found employment at the Hoag feather duster factory. It isn't a romantic job, but she's hardly had a glimmer of romance since her beau went off to college, leaving her with no promise of a future together. Desperate to save money and help her family make ends meet, she trespasses and finds shelter in an abandoned building--and is thrown in the path of the town's mysterious bachelor.

Otis's wounds are deep, but as Sadie's friendship with him grows, she begins to fall for the man beneath the mask. Locating his long-lost niece, however, is more difficult than either could have imagined, and Sadie West may be the key to Otis Taylor finally finding his way home.

What is something interesting readers would enjoy learning about you?

Beyond Ivy Walls, like all my other books has a little bit of me woven into it. I’ll tell you a few! 

When I wrote this book a couple years ago, I named my main male character Otis. It was a name I’d found in my family history and fell in love with. Since writing this book we adopted a baby through foster care and his name is now Otis. I thought about changing the characters name, but decided it was okay to have two really cool Otis’s out in the world.

Otis Taylor in the book deals with alopecia (although back then it didn’t have a name and there were superstitions about it). I have a son that had a patch of alopecia. It wasn’t as extensive as my fictional character, but it was enough that I learned about the condition and was excited to weave it into a story.

Probably the biggest piece of myself in this storyline has to do with the theme of belonging. Being a foster parent has changed my perspective on family, belonging and what it means to do the right thing. I’d tell you more, but no spoilers! 

What does a day in the life of your characters look like?

Sadie West (at the beginning of this story) is working at the Hoag factory in order to help her family pay their bills. She sorts smelly turkey feathers so they can be used to make feather dusters and then she sleeps in an abandoned building in order to save even more money. The days are long and tiring, and the nights are equally long. But those monotonous days change pretty quickly when she meets the owner of the abandoned building.

Otis Taylor’s days are spent like a true recluse. He plays music, mutters to his dog and is completely lost in life. But then his dog discovers a woman on his property and everything changes.

What was the inspiration behind your story?

Beauty and the Beast, Jane Eyre, The Light Between Oceans … all mashed up in early 1900’s Iowa. 

Old newspaper articles led me to the Hoag Factory, miracle cures and roller skating. The inspiration for this one came from outside sources and my own experiences. The ingredients all came together to create something I’m really proud of. 

What encouragement do you hope readers will take away from your story?

I hope that they finish the book with a happy sigh and feel like the rime they spent with Otis and Sadie was a pure delight. I also hope that readers feel more compassionate toward the trauma others have gone through and are slower to judge. I hope they recognize sacrificial love and will be brave enough to do the hardest right thing!