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Melody Balthaser  

Historical Fiction Author ~ Inspirational Speaker

I'm blessed to live on my family’s farm, nestled between the Catskill and Pocono Mountains, in the scenic Upper Delaware River Valley. My husband and I have been married for thirty-three years and have three children and four grandchildren.

Having been an avid novel reader all my life, I especially enjoyed historical romances that took me on a time-traveling, emotional  rollercoaster of page-turning compulsion. My family would attest, citing the periodic pile up of dishes in the sink or laundry on the floor. They may also remember an occasional morning where they were greeted by bleary-eyed Mommy clutching coffee, after a couldn't-put-the-book-down night. 

I'd never aspired to write my own plot-twisting historical novel until I was nearly forty. My debut novel, Seeking Sophie, wriggled its way into my heart through the awe and wonder of ancestral life. The struggles of mid-nineteenth century society became the foundation for a colorful cast of characters navigating their way through a myriad of challenges. The story unfolded with twist and turn, murder and mystery, and a healthy dose of romance and lighthouse allure.
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An important aspect of my writing is the spiritual. Like Eve, Jacob, David or Paul, we all have some proverbial conversation with the serpent, wrestling match with God, kingdom compromising temptation or blinding fall from our horse. This part of life and good fiction, in my opinion, is gripping and pivotal. 

I hope my novels entertain you and inspire you to dig deeper into your own process at those crucial moments.



 

Come to Light Series

 

She wants to belong. He wants solitude.

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In 1858 New England, orphaned, indentured servant Sophie Stalz stabs her master to protect herself from his attack. Now she must rely on her brother and his friends to protect her. Escaping through the Underground Railroad, Sophie finds herself stranded on an island in the hands of a stranger.

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   Surrounded by the sea and occupied with the duties of a lighthouse keeper, Jackson Scott just wants to be left alone with his memories. His fortress is about to crumble when his friend deposits Sophie on his doorstep. An old debt needs to be paid and the cost is dear.

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   As her master is Seeking Sophie, will Sophie and Jackson find a life together free from their past?

 

 

  

 

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She wants to be an independent woman.

He wants revenge.
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1850s are coming to a close. A new decade promises more change.
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  Clare O'Malley is now unemployed and at the mercy of her mother's matchmaking. Seems like the perfect time to leave Boston for Maine to visit her best friend and resident lighthouse keeper, Sophie Stalz Scott, on Eagle Head Island. Clare hopes to gain clarity, instead she loses all focus.

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   Bringing down Damien Sherman will take proof and a plan. Erik Stalz has neither. He needs to confer with his brother-in-law, Jackson Scott. Erik finds a pleasant distraction on the island until two guests arrive with a surprise that changes everything.

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Clare's chasing her future. Erik's stuck in the past. Their attraction is undeniable and volatile. Will their impact always propel them in opposite directions? 

 

 

  

 

Watch Your Step

Watch Your Step

Imagine taking these steps multiple times every day.

Fresnel Lens

Fresnel Lens

Sheds a lot of light on the subject...

Sophie

Sophie

She seeks her independence, yet desires to belong...

Maine Maritime Museum

Maine Maritime Museum

Worth a visit.

My Crew

My Crew

On my Maine book-release adventure.

The Gallery

The Gallery

View from Pemaquid Point Lighthouse.

View from gallery.

View from gallery.

Pemaquid Lighthouse, Maine

Owl's Head

Owl's Head

The view is worth the climb.

Outdoor Adventure

Outdoor Adventure

White water rafting in Colorado. YeeHaw!

Now THIS is flying!

Now THIS is flying!

Skydiving over the Shawangunk Mountains.

The Greatest Gift

The Greatest Gift

If I have not love...

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