When there’s Smoke
Smoke billowing in the not-so-far distance grabs your attention, no doubt. When you move from one part of the country to another, you quickly realize that the smoke on the horizon can mean very different things. Just because you see something familiar doesn’t mean it means the same thing.
As most of you know, I have a bit of a fascination with disasters. I love a good disaster movie, I’m glued to the news when something big unfolds, and if a storm’s brewing, you can bet I’m checking the radar like it’s my job.
A couple of years ago, we moved from Colorado Springs—nestled right at the base of the Rocky Mountains—down to Alabama to be closer to my husband’s family.
And let me tell you, one of the first things I noticed was how “smoke on the horizon” has a totally different meaning depending on where you are.
When Things Can Turn Smokey – Red Flag Warnings
In Colorado, a Red Flag Warning is very serious business. It means things are dangerously dry, the wind is fierce, and conditions are favorable for wildfires to break out.
If you see smoke on the horizon in Colorado—especially on a Red Flag day—you can just about bet it’s a wildfire. A little grass fire can turn into something massive in no time.
I wrote a blog post a while back about the Waldo Canyon and the Black Forest Fires—two major events we witnessed when we were stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Alabama Wildfires – Smoke, and it Ain’t a BBQ
Now fast-forward to Alabama. This time of year, Alabama tends to hit a dry spell. When the grass gets crunchy, the wind picks up, and the rain stays away, we occassionally get a Red Flag Warning.
The first time we saw a plume of smoke rising in the distance while driving down the interstate, our first reaction was —“Uh oh, fire!”
But then we remembered: down here, it’s common for folks to burn trash or leaves. Developers often burn brush and trees when clearing land.
Wildfires are less common in this part of the country—though this year, with the drought, we have seen a quite few flare up. And yes, we could smell the smoke. Cue flashbacks to fire season in Colorado.
There shall be Smoke – Inspiration for a Romance Novel
That got me thinking… What if I brought that tension, that real-life experience of fire danger, into one of my books?
And that’s how Fire Watch came to be.
I drew from the experiences from our time living at the foot of the Rockies and trips to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Then, for fun, I added in Sean Oakley and his teenage son Grady. They are off on their annual father-son camping trip in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Grady’s grumpy, of course—he’d rather be back home with his girlfriend. All he wants is to pack up and go home.
And then Morgan Winters arrives—a reluctant camper, to say it nicely. She’s an author from Colorado, sent on an “immersion” camping trip by her publisher to make her writing more authentic. She hates camping. But if she doesn’t go? She loses her contract.
So yeah… you can imagine how things go. Let’s just say not everything goes according to plan, especially when there’s smoke on the horizon.
Fire Watch is clean & wholesome romance that’ll take you on an adventure. It’ll make you laugh, bite your nails at times, and maybe even swoon on more than one occasion.
Stay safe and watch the horizon for smoke,
Lexie ☀️🔥📚
