The Carsons in transition

As I pondered possible titles for this book, the third in the Carson Chronicles series, I occasionally considered something flippant and direct. I considered The Siblings Take a Break or The Carsons Take a Breather, because, in many respects, the protagonists do just that.

After fleeing floods, fires, wars, corrupt officials, and vengeful gunmen in 1889 and 1918, the five time travelers, ages 18 to 28, attempt to refresh and regroup in the 1940s. They seek safety and peace of mind in their native Arizona as they continue their search for their missing parents -- college professors they have followed through time for a year.

I went with another title, one with more symbolic meaning, because I quickly realized that the siblings' respite was not a respite at all. In Indian Paintbrush, the Carsons, young adults from the modern day, merely find new trouble. They encounter challenges and change amid the deceptive calm of America's home front during the Second World War.

For Natalie and Caitlin, the two sisters, change means starting romances with wartime airmen. For Cody, the youngest brother, it means fighting injustice at a camp for Japanese Americans. For Adam and Greg, the oldest brothers, it means building new families with wives from other eras. For all, it means burying old ghosts, accepting new realities, and confronting mortal threats in a time when possessing knowledge of the future could get you killed.

Though Indian Paintbrush is much different than most of my earlier works, it offers many of the same trappings. There are car chases, celebrity encounters, coming-of-age moments, and a thorough examination of a day gone by. Fans of The Mine, Mercer Street, and Hannah's Moon, my other World War II books, may appreciate the glimpse of the war at home. Readers who enjoyed The Mine, The Show, and The Mirror may like watching a vibrant family grow.

Set mostly in Phoenix, Arizona, in the winter and spring of 1944, Indian Paintbrush continues a sweeping historical saga that began with River Rising and The Memory Tree and will continue with at least two more books. The novel, available in Kindle format, goes on sale today at Amazon.com and its twelve international sites.