ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Salt Lake City, Sue Simonich grew up exploring Utah. Her ancestors pioneered the state in 1847. Her writing is inspired by the majestic mountains and red rock country where an ever changing palette of color and culture imprints itself on the soul. She attended the University of Utah and earned a BA in Art History. An avid historian and student of horticulture, she is interested in a wide range of subjects. Currently, she is working on several projects, both fiction and non-fiction. She has designed and published web sites, blogs and books on family history.
SYNOPSIS
Accustomed to observing the moments between the silences, Nova Denver's intuitive nature often divined messages neither perceived nor understood by those around her. Suffering through the sudden death of her mother, Nova recovered her balance only to come face to face with the secret of her adoption and lies invented to conceal it. Her relatively comfortable life is thrown into chaos.
With her best friend Jake Elliot, and her only living relative, Rue Murdock, they travel into the past seeking Nova's lost family. Providence leads her into the rugged mountains of Utah, and to the bustling streets of London to reveal the heartbreaking story of a family consumed by Victorian morality.
Out of nowhere, a stranger begins shadowing Nova. Vulnerable and overwhelmed, she is disturbed by a murder in the foothills skirting her home. Summoned by an unlikely invitation, she travels to Great Britain where she meets with pre-eminent historian and psychic, Sir Godfrey Wilton. Shaking the last wrinkle from the family saga, she discovers a surprising legacy along the road to Painted Skies.
SOME REVIEWS
"The twists and turns that kept cropping up had me glued to my seat from start to finish. The vivid description of Nova's beloved mountains, characters, flora and fauna were rich in detail and beautifully written. I hope there is a sequel to this book in the near future. Nova's story isn't finished yet."
"Love, love, love this novel! Painted Skies is one of the best books I've ever read. The reader is led through an adventure of a lifetime. If you enjoy Barbara Kingsolver and Sena Jeter Naslund, read this book. I savored every minute and didn't want to be finished. Looking forward to more from this author."
"This is a beautiful mystery with a well-conceived plot and vivid descriptive passages. Intriguing interactions occur psychically between characters still alive and supernaturally with some who have gone before."
"This is one amazing book! The images it presents to the reader are truly wonderful. I felt as if I were in the middle of the action all the time. As well, the plot is unusual, winding around so you're not sure what will happen next!! Well worth the read. Hats off to the author!!"
"I enjoyed this book very much, even though it was somewhat out of my "comfort zone." I didn't know what to expect, and was very pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed something far from the Civil War history and run-of-the-mill mysteries that I normally read."
"This tale has a more twists and turns than the beautiful canyons she describes. The book is exceptionally written and having lived in and around Salt Lake City, I can testify to the accuracy of the depictions regarding the surrounding mountains. I know you will find that the authors photo like narration will illuminate a vivid picture in your mind. The story is marvelous in a number of areas regarding the human spirit and emotion. I alsolove the ethereal ties that we all experience at one time or another. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good story that leaves you with warmth and a little ponderous about those things we know and yet cannot see. You will not be disappointed. I look forward to more stories from the author."
"Although this is Sue Simonich's first published novel, she is by no means a stranger to the literary world, having previously written articles and full histories on a wide range of subjects. `Painted Skies' is a delightful and unusual story, with a slightly darker thread running through it. The author keeps the suspense going until almost the bitter end - no mean feat - and the twists and turns of the plot are often unexpected. Her descriptions of the mountain country are beautiful and such that one has a lasting image of the scenery throughout the book; it is so easy to `return' there."
Born in Salt Lake City, Sue Simonich grew up exploring Utah. Her ancestors pioneered the state in 1847. Her writing is inspired by the majestic mountains and red rock country where an ever changing palette of color and culture imprints itself on the soul. She attended the University of Utah and earned a BA in Art History. An avid historian and student of horticulture, she is interested in a wide range of subjects. Currently, she is working on several projects, both fiction and non-fiction. She has designed and published web sites, blogs and books on family history.
SYNOPSIS
Accustomed to observing the moments between the silences, Nova Denver's intuitive nature often divined messages neither perceived nor understood by those around her. Suffering through the sudden death of her mother, Nova recovered her balance only to come face to face with the secret of her adoption and lies invented to conceal it. Her relatively comfortable life is thrown into chaos.
With her best friend Jake Elliot, and her only living relative, Rue Murdock, they travel into the past seeking Nova's lost family. Providence leads her into the rugged mountains of Utah, and to the bustling streets of London to reveal the heartbreaking story of a family consumed by Victorian morality.
Out of nowhere, a stranger begins shadowing Nova. Vulnerable and overwhelmed, she is disturbed by a murder in the foothills skirting her home. Summoned by an unlikely invitation, she travels to Great Britain where she meets with pre-eminent historian and psychic, Sir Godfrey Wilton. Shaking the last wrinkle from the family saga, she discovers a surprising legacy along the road to Painted Skies.
SOME REVIEWS
"The twists and turns that kept cropping up had me glued to my seat from start to finish. The vivid description of Nova's beloved mountains, characters, flora and fauna were rich in detail and beautifully written. I hope there is a sequel to this book in the near future. Nova's story isn't finished yet."
"Love, love, love this novel! Painted Skies is one of the best books I've ever read. The reader is led through an adventure of a lifetime. If you enjoy Barbara Kingsolver and Sena Jeter Naslund, read this book. I savored every minute and didn't want to be finished. Looking forward to more from this author."
"This is a beautiful mystery with a well-conceived plot and vivid descriptive passages. Intriguing interactions occur psychically between characters still alive and supernaturally with some who have gone before."
"This is one amazing book! The images it presents to the reader are truly wonderful. I felt as if I were in the middle of the action all the time. As well, the plot is unusual, winding around so you're not sure what will happen next!! Well worth the read. Hats off to the author!!"
"I enjoyed this book very much, even though it was somewhat out of my "comfort zone." I didn't know what to expect, and was very pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed something far from the Civil War history and run-of-the-mill mysteries that I normally read."
"This tale has a more twists and turns than the beautiful canyons she describes. The book is exceptionally written and having lived in and around Salt Lake City, I can testify to the accuracy of the depictions regarding the surrounding mountains. I know you will find that the authors photo like narration will illuminate a vivid picture in your mind. The story is marvelous in a number of areas regarding the human spirit and emotion. I alsolove the ethereal ties that we all experience at one time or another. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good story that leaves you with warmth and a little ponderous about those things we know and yet cannot see. You will not be disappointed. I look forward to more stories from the author."
"Although this is Sue Simonich's first published novel, she is by no means a stranger to the literary world, having previously written articles and full histories on a wide range of subjects. `Painted Skies' is a delightful and unusual story, with a slightly darker thread running through it. The author keeps the suspense going until almost the bitter end - no mean feat - and the twists and turns of the plot are often unexpected. Her descriptions of the mountain country are beautiful and such that one has a lasting image of the scenery throughout the book; it is so easy to `return' there."
