Murfreesboro resident Bonnie Blaylock’s debut novel, Light to the Hills, was released on Dec. 1.

The historical fiction work, set in 1930s eastern Kentucky, tells the stories of mothers and daughters, and demonstrates the power of words and the strength of a community flavored with Appalachian characters.

“Blaylock skillfully weaves a grand story of moonshiners, coal miners, tough people, regional language, a beautiful setting, danger, romance, and more than a little humor,” said John Carenen, an award-winning author in his own right.

The hardscrabble, isolated Kentucky folks in the Appalachians are scraping by. When Amanda Rye, a young widowed mother and traveling pack-horse librarian, comes through a mountain community, she brings with her hope, courage and apple pie . . . and a dangerous secret from her past.

Before publication, Light to the Hills won Nashville’s Porch Prize for Fiction.

“Its characters endeared themselves to me in their pluck and spirit, their attunement to the natural world and their fierce love for one another. I wanted to stay immersed in their world,” said Susannah Felts, writer and co-founder of The Porch Writers’ Collective.

Prior to the release of this book, Blaylock has written pieces that have have been featured on sites like Medium, Grown and Flown, Scary Mommy, Renew and others; essays appearing in Chicken Soup for the Soul; and, in the scientific field, research writing with the Department of Energy.

“Although I’ve done some other writing, this is my first full-length book,” the author said.

When not traveling the world or imagining stories, Blaylock spends time with her husband wrangling donkeys and bees on their small farm in Murfreesboro.

Find the book, and more information about the author, at bonnieblaylock.com.