The Maverick Hummingbird
Set against the backdrop of a road trip across the sweeping landscapes of the Western United States, this 83,400-word contemporary women’s fiction novel explores—through a raw and offbeat lens—love and friendship, loss and self-discovery, and embracing the synergetic force that connects and empowers us, which ultimately leads to the greatest freedom—learning to let go. After a breakup which reveals a devastating secret about her ex, 31-year-old free spirit Siena Oliver descends into a depression hibernation. That is, until a surprise visitor appears in her yard and propels Siena on a journey up the Pacific Northwest, where she meets the diverse and eclectic people of a small Oregon town. They introduce her to a world she’s never known full of backyard shows, bustling rodeos, and secret canyons. But when she begins to fall for a carpenter named Jonas, which triggers the hurts and fears from her past, Siena must choose between fleeing or flying. Featuring factual tidbits about hummingbird anatomy and behavior, The Maverick Hummingbird takes an allegorical look at the human condition as seen through the eyes of a woman in search of herself.
“The sun crept up from behind the sharp canyon, sending rays like beautiful, bright tentacles all sprouting from a central source of immeasurable warmth. The light was so bright it created silhouettes out of everyone present. They all walked to the edge, entering a land of burnt orange as the sun continued to rise, creating a fiery horizon. It was so early that the quiet was almost surreal. It felt to Siena like the canyon itself was just waking, like the sound of their footsteps had slowly signaled to the canyon that activity was imminent. She imagined the slight breeze, which tickled her shoulders, as the canyon’s own breath. And as she looked over the cliff’s edge, she felt the all-encompassing breath revive her. Then, filling her lungs with oxygen, she breathed in the breath of the Ultimate Energy - the invisible vapor connecting all things. And for a brief but blissful moment, she felt connected to every living entity. The concept of time disappeared and eternity was captured in a moment like a bird frozen in perfect flight.”
