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Days of Sun and Shadow by India Hayford - “Owl is always with me. Even when my human feet are planted firmly in the ground, and her pale wings shine against the burning blue sky, our hearts beat together.” This is how the story of Emilie McCain begins… and it takes off, fast-paced and soaring, in a way that… Read More »
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This is @indiahayfordbooks second novel, and I was honestly a bit scared to read it. We read her debut novel, “The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree” for our Prairie Wife Book Club in April of last year, and I loved it! Then I had the opportunity to meet India in person at an event where I was a speaker, and I absolutely fangirled. India and I have since become friends, and I felt the pressure when I cracked open her latest novel, “Days of Sun and Shadow.” I wanted to love the book, but knew I would have to be honest if I didn’t.
I needn’t have worried.
I fell in love with ALL of India’s characters…well, other than the ones that were decidedly and purposefully awful. Emilie is born amid tragedy, and her mother never stops blaming her for her losses. As she grows up in the wilds of Alabama in the early 1800’s, the love of her Granny and father and her passion for horses become her saving grace. As she gets older, her family changes, and they make the move to Washington, Arkansas. As new characters are introduced, India allows us to see the tale told from their perspectives, which wonderfully rounds out Emilie’s narrative. I was captivated by the character of Madeleine, whose tale is brutal yet authentic to what I imagine life was like for our young nation’s mixed-race citizens at the time. Emilie deals with her own heartbreak, but as angry as it made me, I feel that her treatment is accurate to life as a woman living in the mid-1800’s.
India’s writing is lyrical and smooth, carrying you swiftly along and immersing you completely in her tale. She tells the stories of strong women with grit and grace. Interwoven throughout the novel is Emilie’s generational gift of the sight from Owl, which makes the story all the more captivating.
This novel does cover some incredibly sensitive topics like physical abuse, infant loss, and rape, so I wouldn’t recommend it for our younger readers.
Get your copy today from wherever you purchase books like my local fav @windcitybooks
🙌 ONLY 9 SPOTS LEFT FOR THE RETREAT 👏 AND OUR LIMITED EDITION PRAIRIE WIFE RETREAT GEAR IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER 🥰 Enjoy a weekend of inspiration and rejuvenation of your mind and body at the Historic Elk Mountain Hotel with Wyoming’s own Prairie Wife at the 2026 Prairie Wife Retreat!
The @elk_mountain_hotel was built in 1905 and has been proudly serving its guests for over 120 years. The Elk Mountain Hotel is situated along the banks of the peaceful Medicine Bow River and sits among the cottonwoods at the gateway to the Medicine Bow National Forest in the quaint little town of Elk Mountain, Wyoming.
Join Prairie Wife (Cathy Holman) and other like-minded women for a weekend focused on creating a life you love…and getting out of your comfort zone! This year, we’ve added the option of participating in an 11-mile hike along the Rock Creek Trail on Friday morning. Then, enjoy a meet-and-greet and dinner on the first evening, and spend the rest of the night relaxing, stargazing, making new friends, and attending a book club discussion. Saturday begins with a full-service breakfast followed by a 3-mile-long moderate hike led by Prairie Wife. This hike will take you into the Medicine Bow National Forest and will offer just the right amount of movement and beautiful views.
Enjoy lunch with @elkmountainllamas back at the Elk Mountain Hotel and then take some time to freshen up and rest after your hike before you sit down for a one-and-a-half-hour workshop led by Prairie Wife. This year’s topic is “Confidence, Aging, and Owning Your Power” After the workshop, you’ll create custom jewelry with jewelry designer Laura Hunter of @pureimpressions Design.
Dinner will be followed by community time under the stars while staying warm next to a beautiful Fire Pit. End your weekend on Sunday morning with breakfast surrounded by new friends, and the option to have our event photographer, Amanda Henderson of AmandaJoPhotography, take professional headshots for you. Amanda will be along for the entire weekend, helping us capture all the special moments to ensure it’s an adventure you’ll never forget.
Put “retreat” in the comments and I’ll message you the link! #wyomingwomen
From the trails to the corrals…it has been a full day!
Deer Creek Days Street Dance 👏🙌
Date night at Glenrock’s Town Square #greatwhite 🥰
22 years of marriage. This morning The Cowboy and I sat and talked about how our newly wed selves wouldn’t believe where we are now. The life we’re living is beyond anything that those two kids (22 and 24) would have even dared to dream of. Our lives are filled with blessings that are both a gift from God and a result of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. Over and over we chose eachother and the future we dreamed of. I’m grateful for our love, for the people that have stood beside us through the years encouraging us, and for the future we have ahead of us.
Our humble beginnings…an outdoor wedding in the wilds of Wyoming with guests sitting on hay bales we later fed to our horses, and a reception held in a burned out basement (oh the story behind that 😂)…it just goes to show it’s not what you have…but what you do with it! Love ya babe. Always grateful for you! XOXOXO
Nothing fancy. Just two moms relaxing and chatting while the kids scream and yell and play outside. Thankful we had this time together, and that we got some sunshine before the storms hit! #friendship #dontmakeitcomplicated
Freedom to shine ✨ the new summer line from @fashioncrossroadsinc 🙌 Find it in store in downtown Casper or online at FashionCrossroadsInc.com #supportlocal
It’s move up day! If you have extensions this is a vital part of your up keep and something you do every 6-8 weeks. YES @authentichair.byevan is booking new extensions clients. So call Rootz salon today to book your consultation.
