One fall, many years ago, my husband and I took a road trip to southeast Oklahoma to see the autumn colors. Thanks to an Oklahoma travel show on tv, we stumbled upon the Heavener Runestone State Park (now a city park). I have always been fascinated by Vikings and I was hooked. We had to see the runestone they said was carved by Vikings.

We drove to the park and finally found the sign and the road up the hill and walked down the stairs to the stone itself. I was in love. The forest is magical—I knew that from the time my feet hit the asphalt parking lot. And inside the little gift shop was a book, In Plain Sight by Gloria Farley that told the story of the runestone and her similar findings across the United States. While I roamed around the shop, a man came in with his son, a pre-school boy. I overheard him say he was an archeologist and wanted to see the Farley book, too. The shop was out of any to sell, but one could get a copy from Amazon. I ordered the book once I was home, but a story was born. A boy in the magical forest because his archeologist father was studying the stone—and the Glome’s Valley saga became more than just an idea.

I’ve sold that book several times at the Viking Fest and in the gift shop. But lately, I met a new person, Lynn Webster, who is involved with the park, and I was invited to come have a book signing at the park once more. They have a new coloring book by a local artist, Spencer Pierce, dedicated to the park. I look forward to meeting her and sitting at the signing table with her. It will be an honor to meet another fan of the park.

We will be at the park on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 12:00 to 2:00. Come see us and get copies of the books. But mostly come absorb the magic of the valley, because that is Another Story for another Time.

What are you reading/writing/creating this week?