In the shadow of a crumbling world, Ash and Caleb have helped build something rare: a community that thrives against the odds. High in the rugged Beartooth Mountains, they’ve forged a life with those they hold dear, far from the chaos of a society on the brink of collapse. But survival has never been simple.

A volcanic eruption rains ash down on the community, the government’s desperate geoengineering plan threatens untold consequences, and the wilderness teems with predators both animal and human. To make matters worse, their nearest neighbors are an extremist faction whose ideology is as dangerous as their weapons.

Ash and Caleb must make difficult choices and take desperate measures to protect their community and each other. As tensions rise and threats converge, they’ll discover just how far they’re willing to go—and how much they’re willing to sacrifice—to ensure their fragile community endures.

Taut with suspense and driven by unbreakable bonds, Winter Resurgence is a powerful story of survival, love, and the fight to create a future worth living for.

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Available: November 24, 2025
Teen

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Excerpt

Chapter One

An orange glow lit up the sky to the southwest of the small, isolated mountaintop community of Beartooth, Wyoming. After the volcano erupted, the heavens turned the color of worn asphalt, and volcanic ash drifted to the ground like dirty snow from a storm that had stalled overhead. A month later, the sky wasn’t as dark, but ash continued to fall toward Earth.

The massive eruption a month ago, coupled with the government’s release of sulfur particles into the stratosphere just days before the event, had brought winter conditions to Beartooth like no resident had seen before. It hadn’t snowed, but the cold temperatures and biting wind were miserable.

Nearly a month after the eruption began, the volcano was still sending fire and particles high into the sky. The community watched helplessly as the depth of fallout grew to six inches or more in some areas, smothering out much of the fragile winter vegetation they depended on to sustain their livestock and the nearby wild game herds over the colder months.

A faint roar resembling a distant jet engine had become part of the natural soundscape. The land no longer shook as much as it had before the eruption, but the residents still felt the occasional tremor as the earth adjusted to the ongoing volcanic activity.

The air smelled like a wildfire burning out of control, which was likely the case, with a hint of sulfur. Combined with the particulates, the air outside was unhealthy. Everyone stayed in their cabins as much as possible, but many residents had to venture out for food and to tend to the livestock.

Ashley Solomon held her fourteen-month-old baby, Sara Olivia, as she stared out the cabin window.

“What are you looking at?” Caleb asked as he walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and placed a kiss on her cheek.

“Just watching for your siblings and their significant others. Sara and I have been spending so much time inside since the volcano erupted that I’m really looking forward to game night.”

“I know it’s been difficult, but I think we’re wise to keep Sara inside until the air quality improves. Let’s check with Mom and Miranda. I’m sure one of them would come over and watch Sara for a few hours. I’d love to have your help, and I’m sure Graham wouldn’t complain either.”

Caleb’s younger sister, Miranda, took over most of the community nurse’s duties once she graduated from high school less than a year ago. Graham had come to Beartooth with two other geologists, Melora and Fiona, several years back to seek refuge as the rest of the United States descended into chaos.

“I don’t want to ask your mom to come outside until things clear up a bit, but if Miranda is making rounds anyway, maybe she wouldn’t mind spending a little time with her niece.”

“I’m sure she’d love it. And speak of the devil.”

Miranda and her fiancé, Ryan Ferguson, entered the cabin and hung their coats in the mudroom.

“Are Dillon and Evelyn here yet?” Miranda asked as she reached for Sara.

“Nope, you’re first,” Caleb replied.

“Good, that gives me more time with my niece before her aunt Evelyn arrives.”

Caleb’s younger brother, Dillon, married Evelyn Adler last summer, and Miranda and Evelyn had a friendly competition going for the title of Sara’s favorite aunt.

“Is it true that you’re making house calls rather than having people come into the clinic?” Ash asked.

“Most of our patients are dealing with respiratory issues right now, so it seemed to make sense. I’m handling all but the worst cases myself since I don’t want Emily out any more than necessary. She’s really never engaged full-time since recovering from her ankle injury anyway. I think she’s in semi-retirement as the community’s nurse.”

“Would you mind watching Sara for a few hours after your rounds?” Ash asked.

“I’d love to. I think you’re wise to keep Sara inside until the air quality improves. Most of the respiratory issues have been in the babies, toddlers, and older residents. I start my rounds at nine each morning, so I could be here by about ten, unless someone has taken a turn for the worse.”

“I’d really appreciate it.”

“My pleasure. Just don’t tell Evelyn.”

“Tell me what?” Evelyn asked as she and Dillon walked in.

“Miranda is going to watch Sara for a few hours after her rounds so I can get out of here. I’m about to lose my mind being couped up for so long.”

Evelyn chuckled. “In that case hand my niece over so I can have a little time with her before Aunt Miranda bogarts more of her attention.”

Miranda handed the toddler to Evelyn. Ash smiled as she watched her sister-in-law cuddle Sara. Evelyn taught the four to eight-year-olds when school was in session, so Evelyn’s mom, Gretchen, could focus on the older kids.

Evelyn clearly loved children. Ash wondered if the world weren’t so out of whack, would Evelyn and Dillon try to have a baby of their own? She couldn’t imagine how frighting it would be. Evelyn was nearly blind. She had adapted well, but it would make caring for a baby much more difficult, especially when he or she started to crawl and then walk.

“I’ve already fed Sara, but you can help me put her down for the night while the others set up the game,” Ash said to Evelyn.

Evelyn followed Ash into Sara’s room. By the time Sara fell asleep and they joined the rest of the group, everyone was standing around the kitchen table.

“Pick a button,” Caleb said, holding out a cup for Evelyn.

The cup held six buttons, two of each were identical in size and color. After everyone drew, they held up their buttons.

Ash smiled when she saw that she and Caleb had identical buttons. She walked over to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. “Looks like we’re partners.”

“Tonight, and always,” he said as he kissed her again and smiled.

“Well, this isn’t fair,” Ryan stated as he held up the same button as Evelyn.

“I can’t see very well, but I’m not stupid. All you have to do is guess the word on the card that I draw out of the bowl with fewer clues than anyone else.”

Ryan stammered. “I, I didn’t mean you were stupid, it’s just Caleb and Ash practically share a brain, and Dillon and Miranda are about as close as siblings can get. They probably have their own made-up language so we wouldn’t even know if they’re cheating.”

“We’ll just have to work twice as hard so when we beat them, our victory will be all the sweeter,” Evelyn replied.

Dillon put his arm around Evelyn and pulled her close. “Just one of the many reasons why I love her so much. There’s no challenge she won’t tackle head-on, and she plays to win. Don’t let her small size and adorable blonde curls fool you, she’s a beast when it comes to winning.”

They all took seats around the table across from their partner. A bowl filled with worn-out cardboard cards pilfered from other games was placed in the center of the table.

“We’ll go first since apparently my partner thinks we need all the help we can get,” Evelyn said as she grabbed a card from the bowl and held it in front of her face nearly touching her nose in order to see the word.

Evelyn looked up with an unreadable expression on her face. She set the card on the table and stood up.

“What is it?” Dillon asked, concern lacing his voice.

“I don’t hear anything,” she replied.

“So?” Ryan asked.

“I don’t hear anything. The rumble from the volcano has stopped.”

 

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