A little about me . . .
Hi, my name is Josephine Strand and I recently published my debut novel Misty Dreams. My fascination with books began very early in life. When I was little my parents barely had money for schoolbooks, let alone storybooks. My town didn’t have a public library and bookstores were only for the rich (but that’s a whole other story to tell later). When I started attending elementary school and was introduced to the school library, a whole new and exciting world opened up to me. I devoured everything, from fairy tales to children’s classics, to picture books. The first fiction I ever wrote was at age eight or nine, a fantasy short story on how fictional characters came to life in the school library when the clock struck midnight. As a teenager, I would invent stories in my head and test them out on my best friend. How grateful I am to her for humoring me all those years and feeding my hunger for creativity! One of the things my childhood friends remember about me is how I always said I would write a book one day. It took a while but I finally made them–and myself–proud!
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Clare has lived on St. Isabel Island all her life, except for a few months she can’t recall. A traumatic childhood experience has left a blank spot in her memory and a lingering feeling of having lost more than just a small piece of her past. When the enigmatic Dr. Richard Kelly arrives on her island, she’s found that missing part. Yet she’s certain the man is a stranger to her, until she discovers he’s been hiding something from her, a secret that reawakens her childhood fears and threatens to upset her life again.
Richard Kelly’s hard-earned career as a world-renowned neurosurgeon has been derailed by his ex-wife’s unspeakable betrayal. His entire life is on a downward spiral. In a desperate attempt to outrun his demons, he sets off to a remote island in the South to trace the origins of an anonymous painting. He doesn’t expect to come face to face with the girl he once knew as Misty, and he’s instantly captivated by her genuine charm. But if the charismatic kindergarten teacher of the secret lagoon is the Misty of his past, why doesn’t she remember him?
Listen to a sample!
INTERVIEWS
Author Interview by Author Jill Piscitello, March 19, 2022
PRAISE FOR MISTY DREAMS
This stunning debut novel by Josephine Strand is a wonderful combination of drama, romance, mystery, and suspense. Much like her character Clare, (a teacher and artist) the author “paints” an intriguing tale filled with thoughtful detail and brings you on an emotional journey that spans almost two decades.
The author slowly peels the layers from her main characters, Richard and Clare, as we learn bits and pieces of their past, their present, and the people/experiences that have shaped them. The book switches seamlessly from each character’s perspective, as well as various time periods, and culminates in a satisfying ending.
The rich language and description places the reader on St. Isabel, as if the story were an extended session of “people watching”- I felt an attachment to and intimacy with the characters by the end of the novel, and wanted to “meet” them in person!! A timely story with hope and healing as the main themes- very relevant in light of recent events- don’t miss it!! ~ Rose Ann B, Amazon reader
“Josephine Strand writes a gripping narrative of how one small mistake can lead to big consequences. Many readers can relate to wanting more—be it forgotten dreams or lost loves—and hoping to find happiness amidst the loss. What’s great is how Strand connects all the pieces and ties the plot in a pretty bow.” ~ Hayley Haun for Readers’ Favorite
“It’s always a treat for me when a writer can bring you into the full feelings of the characters as they try to navigate the shoulds and shouldn’ts of their developing feelings, and this author manages to capture those heart-touching moments well. I truly enjoyed reading this book.” ~ Elizabeth Caroline, Amazon reader
“I truly loved this book! It made my heart sing and cry. I felt the connection between Richard and Misty right from the start and my heart broke when they were torn apart. The twists and turns of the story were perfect, and I couldn’t have been happier with the ending! I always like to guess the mystery before it unfolds, and although I was close, I’m happy to say this ending was better! The descriptions of St. Isabel Island were lovely and it had me yearning for that same peacefulness…” ~ Anonymous reader, Amazon
“An enjoyable blend of mystery, interesting characters, love and conflict. A subtle blend of exotic background, interesting characters, a years-old mystery, a twisty plot, family love and family conflict… Misty Dreams doesn’t have that painfully proper, starchy feel some clean novels have. It’s also well-written, which is not a given even with some very popular, highly touted books. This is Ms. Strand’s first novel, and I’m impressed.” ~ Kathleen Buckley, Amazon reader
“A Unique and Outstanding Suspenseful, Mysterious Romance Story. Though I read a wide variety of genres, my favorites are the romance genres, and Misty Dreams is one of the most interesting romance stories I have read in a long while. It is the debut novel of Josephine Strand, and I have to say it is a topnotch debut novel. It is well written and has been well edited.
Misty Dreams kept me up past my bedtime every night until I finished reading it. It was hard to put down when I had to. The story was unique and Ms. Strand created such wonderful characters, I couldn’t help but love them and want to see them overcome their struggles and be happy. There was conflict and suspense from the beginning until very near the end. There was even a surprise twist near the end.
Misty Dreams is a wonderful story of heartache, struggles, and love. It is not a formulaic romance story and the characters will live on in my memory for a long time. Misty Dreams will be placed on my “favorites” list, and I look forward to more great stories by Josephine Strand.” ~ Kelly Barr, reviewer
“Brilliant story! All I can say is brilliant!!!!! Josephine does a masterful job drawing the reader in and you don’t even realize it until you reach the end! Clare and Richard’s story is one you don’t want to miss out on, I promise! Absolutely amazing storyline, wonderful characters, and relatable emotions combine to make an unforgettable story! Definitely recommend you read this book. ~ Marie Evans, Amazon reader
“Beautifully written! Josephine has done a great job depicting the characters and sceneries in this story; I could almost see and feel them. As you read on, there is a growing enigma about to erupt with the mystery behind this love story which will keep you on “your toes” until the very end…A beautifully written romance, with a twist of unexpected events at each chapter!” ~ Krissi, Booksprout reviewer
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Josephine Strand 