Author publishes first in Carson Valley saga

by Sharlene Irete

sirete@recordcourier.com

Soozie Lewis, author of "The Bloomingsons of the Nevada Sage, Haley Roo," will be featured in a book signing event, noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, at Borders books on Topsy Lane in Carson City.

Lewis said her first novel started as a collection of little stories she wrote and kept revisiting over the years. She described "Haley Roo" as a teen romance and adventure story with the flavor of what it's like to live in Carson Valley.

"It's about life out here," said Lewis, who has lived in the Johnson Lane area for 26 years. "The 'Haley Roo' book is set in 1967. It's good for home schoolers and is something parents won't be concerned about their kids reading."

Soozie and her husband Al have a horse, miniature mule and other pets at their home. Soozie Lewis said she rode horses when she was a young girl.

"Kids and especially girls like horses," she said. "Haley is a horse and is a significant character because she's a brat."

"Haley Roo" is the first in Lewis' Bloomingsons saga, with the second novel, "Excuse my Buffalo," due out soon.

The books are illustrated by Wendy Hoag and was published in 2008 by Trafford Publishing.

"The Bloomingsons of the Nevada Sage, Haley Roo," is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble and at the Douglas County Museum & Cultural Center and Genoa Courthouse Museum book stores.

Information at www.soozie-l.com/index.html

About "The Bloomingsons of the Nevada Sage, Haley Roo," by Soozie Lewis

Get ready for an unforgettable family saga in 1967 Carson Valley, Nevada, as seen through the eyes of 16-year-old Lissy Bloomingson. She reluctantly moves to the Valley with her parents and younger brother Roger.

Lissy and Roger come to the high desert at the foot of the Sierra as grumpy complainers and long for their cozy suburban lives back in California. Why would God send them out to such a strange place? Would they have the right stuff to become real Nevadans?

Their faith in God would be tested and twirled like a dust devil throws around dead sage and Russian thistles, and yet, as always, there was hope in God. They had no idea about the romance and adventure that lay ahead - the paint horse and the wild herd, the very stuck-up neighbor girl and best of all, the guy named Buck.