Notes from Ellie · Issue No. 3 · May 1, 2026

Spring in the Blue Ridge

Spring is in full bloom in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the place we writers call home. This month, we’re inviting you into our own backyard and introducing the series that’s set right here.

Hello, Dear Reader

If you could see out our windows right now, you’d understand why it’s hard to get any writing done in May. The dogwoods and redbuds have burst into white and pink, the hillsides have turned that impossible shade of new green, and the mountains roll away in soft blue layers, just like their name promises.

We’ve set stories in Vermont villages and cozy small towns, but this spring we’re especially excited to share a series that lives a little closer to home.

Introducing Dog-Eared: a mystery close to home

Our newest series, Dog-Eared, is set in Charlottesville, Virginia, tucked against the foothills of the Blue Ridge. It’s a town we know and love: brick sidewalks, history around every corner, and mountain views at the end of the street.

Meet Emmaline “Em” Whitmore, a book restorer who left her past behind for a quiet life in Charlottesville, a dog-friendly bookshop, and the careful work of putting broken things back together. She shares it all with an imperious black cat named Boo, who has strong opinions about everyone who walks through the door.

In The Broken Spine, that quiet life ends when Em finds the Downtown Mall’s beloved rare-book dealer dead in his shop. He had just uncovered a hidden document inside an old journal, one with the power to unravel a powerful family’s history. Now it’s missing, and the truth turns out to be stitched deep into the mall’s own past.

Some books hold secrets. But every spine has a breaking point.

Spring in Shenandoah

Just up the mountain from Charlottesville, Shenandoah National Park is putting on its best show of the year. A few things we love about spring in the park:

• Flowers everywhere. The park is home to more than 860 species of wildflowers, and in spring white dogwood and pink redbud line Skyline Drive.
• Wildflower Weekend. The park celebrates the season each year. This year it’s May 2–3, 2026.
• Bring a sweater. It’s often 10–20 degrees cooler up on the ridge than down in the valley, so pack layers (and a raincoat).
• Birdwatchers, take note. Spring is one of the best times to spot birds, before the trees fully leaf out.

Explore our corner of Virginia

Whether you’re planning a trip or just want to daydream, here are two of our favorite places:

• Shenandoah National Park: SpringThe National Park Service’s guide to visiting in spring, from wildflowers and waterfalls to Skyline Drive conditions.
• Charlottesville’s Historic Downtown MallA brick-paved pedestrian street lined with historic buildings, more than 120 shops, 30 restaurants, and live music and theater venues. It’s the very place Em calls home.

On our shelf this season

Until next month, get outside, smell the flowers, and bring a good book along.
With love from the Blue Ridge,
Ellie (all of us)