fantasy

What’s up Orise? – And continued editing of my second book of the River Fork series.

/ jmorise / Leave a comment

HEY YOU GUYS out there! I Googled my book and found it advertised at Walmart!

As non-fiction?

It is fiction—every bit of it—says so on the Copyright page, “This is a work of fiction.”

That's me with my new notebook PC. My Muse is whispering in my ear.

However, it is a nice surprise on my part to see it promoted on Walmart’s website.

I often wondered how an author got featured in Walmart. Do you, or anyone you know have a book featured in Walmart’s book section?

I am editing my second book. Polishing it up as book two of The River Fork series.

Genre: YA, Historical, Fantasy, and Romance.

It has the same characters found in River Fork: The Bear in the Storm, but two years later, in 1959.

Yeah, the kids have grown up some, and things are becoming obvious to these New Hampshire characters…life is not the same wherever they go. Travel south and things change. A lot!

There is more to life than than they suspected—secrets, suspicion, hate, love, healing, faith, trust, and…magic?

And Roach? Oh, she is a handful. Ask Gram. She’ll tell you.

Read Roach’s story when it is published. Let me know if you like her better now than before.

I highly recommend you read book 1 first—River Fork: The Bear in the Storm. Then you will understand book 2.

Do you want to keep hearing from me?

Not daily or weekly. Only when I need to share.

If you want to hear from me, please subscribe AND write in the comments section, “What’s up Orise?”

When you are a Subscribed “What’s up Orise” patron, you will be one of the first to know what I’m up to.

If you offer helpful comments that I decide to employ in my writing, I’ll mention your name in the acknowledgements page of my next novel.

Now, how do I tell Walmart River Fork: The Bear in the Storm it is a work of “fiction?” Any ideas on your part?

Order your copy today!!!

/ jmorise / Leave a comment

“River Fork: The Bear in the Storm”

Hubby is doing better! His red blood count has improved.

It’s a heart problem. He is scheduled for a June procedure to correct his aortic valve. If all goes well, he will breathe normally again. Yes!
My heart is now at ease again. And we thank the Lord and all who wished him good health along with those who prayed for him.

I’ll let you know how his procedure went. It will be all good!

____________________

Back to my book:
The new proof, and manipulated graphic produced a clearer image as black line art for the map of the River Fork neighborhood. It came out much better this time!

J. M. Orise
Author

Comments below are always welcome!

Oh, go ahead. Leave a comment 🙂

Feb. 16, 2026 – Update! – River Fork: The Bear in the Storm, uploading to a publisher service soon!

/ jmorise / Leave a comment

River Fork: The Bear in the Storm was reviewed last April. The reviewer loved the story and concurred it needed to be published for Young Adults as well as Adults.

Happy to hear that, I re-read the story to check for typos, awkward sentences, etc., just in case.

Since then, I have re-read and edited it seven times. It is amazing how one does not see what is in front of them when reading their own work. This phenomenon is known as expectation. You see what you expect. Very easy to do in a manuscript. That’s why another pair of eyes is helpful.

Am presently formatting the manuscript, making it ready to upload to a publisher.

The novel is Young Adult, Historical Fantasy. The setting is 1956-1957 in a fictitious farming and logging town in the New Hampshire mountains.

The theme deals with loss, grief, belief, acceptance, self-discovery, and coming of age.

Though a Young Adult novel, it is suitable for children and parents dealing with loss.

Please keep in touch to learn more about the River Fork series, and to purchase it when available.

Thanks for following.

Keep following for my updates!

Please tell others about it.

Contact me below to: reserve your copy ahead of time OR leave comments and questions.

I’ll keep you informed when River Fork: The Bear in the Storm is available, and where to purchase.

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July 22, 2025 – Update! – River Fork: The Bear in the Storm

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My research focused on the frequently neglected subject of childhood grief, incorporating my own experiences growing up in the 1950s and living for twenty years in a rural New Hampshire community shaped by logging, farming, and the towering presence of Mount Washington.

The research included indigenous Native Americans of the Algonquin Nation, namely the Abenaki tribe and the Pequawket band.

Later I explored the process of novel creation, encompassing manuscript writing, cover design, assembly, and publication. Even though I trembled at the enormity of this self-imposed task, luckily, friends—authors and other writers—urged me to persevere.

A story had initially brewed in my head for over two years. Then I jotted down scenes for a young audience—a children’s book with lots of graphics. I’d do my own artwork, of course.


Years ago, I had purchased Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein and read it to my son many times. My son was around 6 or 7. It was rollicking fun to read. Son, and I nearly fell off the sofa from laughing so hard. Silverstein provided great humor, timing, and storytelling. The artwork was hilarious and beautiful. I had hoped to emulate his style of writing stories for children or adults.

Well, back to my update! I decided that this novel would not suffice as a “children’s” book, for loss and grief affect not just the little ones; everyone in a family, or any relationship, is affected in different ways.

Therefore, it is not a Silverstein-style book. But it is a story I feel strongly about. Some of the scenes are based on my own experience at suddenly losing my mom when I was five.

The novel is a Young Adult, historical fantasy. The setting is 1956-1957 in a fictitious farming and logging town in the New Hampshire mountains. The theme deals with loss, grief, belief, acceptance, self-discovery, and the coming of age.

I am currently refining the manuscript and artwork I plan to incorporate for the publication of River Fork: The Bear in the Storm, the first of two novels. The sequel involves the same characters, but two years later, in 1959, which I plan to publish after River Fork: The Bear in the Storm.

Though this is a Young Adult novel, I consider it suitable for children and parents dealing with loss.

The plan is to have River Fork: The Bear in the Storm available on the Internet and at bookstores.

Please keep in touch to learn more about the River Fork series, and to purchase it when it is available.

Follow my updates!

Please tell others about it.

Contact me below to reserve your copy ahead of time, to leave comments or ask questions.

I’ll post when River Fork: The Bear in the Storm is available.

J. M. Orise

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Thank you for your response. ✨