inspirational fiction – Faith & Reason

Today I finally get to share something I’ve been working toward for a long time: the official cover reveals for Mourning Ellyn. This story has lived with me for years—through drafts, rewrites, and the quiet hours where Jaymes and Ellyn’s world kept tugging at me to finish what I started. Seeing the cover come together feels like watching the emotional heart of the book step into the light.

The artwork captures the soul of the story: grief, love, memory, and the fragile hope that rises even in the darkest places. Jaymes sits in the rain, surrounded by the weight of loss, embodying the struggle that many face when confronted with the grief of losing someone dear. His expression conveys a depth of emotion that resonates with anyone who has experienced similar heartache, reminding us of the complexities of love that often-come hand in hand with sorrow.

Ellyn lingers in the shadows of the back cover—present, watching, guiding. Her role as a soothing presence, even in absence, symbolizes the enduring impact of relationships that persist despite physical distance. The cover design serves as a poignant visual echo of the journey they share across the pages, highlighting the intertwining of their lives and the lessons learned through their shared experiences.

This reveal is not just a moment of pride for me as the author, but also a celebration of the story itself and the themes that it embodies. I hope that when readers see the cover, they feel a connection to the journey before them, one that is deeply layered and reflective of the human experience. It is my wish that Mourning Ellyn resonates as much with you as it has with me throughout this creative process. Your support means everything, and I can’t wait for you to join Jaymes and Ellyn on this emotional expedition.

The journey to bring Mourning Ellyn into the world is nearly complete. After months of writing, revising, restructuring, and rediscovering the emotional heart of this story, I’m excited to announce that the Kindle and Print Editions will officially launch on February 28, 2026.

This novel has grown into something deeper and more resonant than I first imagined — a story about grief, connection, redemption, and the quiet ways love continues even after loss.

Below is a full summary for readers who want to understand the heart of the book before launch.

Story Summary

Jaymes Sprague’s life shatters in an instant when his wife, Ellyn, dies unexpectedly. Only days after her passing, he finds himself slipping back into old destructive habits — the very ones he fought so hard to overcome. Grief becomes a storm he can’t outrun, and the world around him feels dimmer, heavier, and unbearably quiet.

But Jaymes isn’t as alone as he believes.

As detectives investigate the circumstances surrounding Ellyn’s death, Jaymes begins to sense her presence in the quiet spaces of his life — in memory, in intuition, in the pulse of something beyond the veil. Her love lingers, urging him forward even as he struggles to stand.

Everything changes when Jaymes finally realizes Ellyn is there, in the pulse, guiding him, anchoring him. Jaymes is forced to confront the man he became… and the man he still has the chance to be.

With the help of two detectives — Shania, steady and intuitive, and Chandler, a man quietly unraveling under the weight of his own ghosts — Jaymes begins to uncover the truth behind Ellyn’s final moments. What he finds is not just closure, but a path toward healing, forgiveness, and rediscovery.

Mourning Ellyn is a story about the fragile beauty of second chances, the power of family, and the enduring presence of love that refuses to fade — even beyond the grave.