Blue Moon Bench

What happens when the past refuses to stay buried? In her latest novel, Blue Moon Bench, author D.L. Blanchard invites readers into a world where breathtaking desert landscapes, Hopi and Navajo traditions, and haunting secrets collide.

At the heart of the story is Jessica Dawson, a young illustrator who falls in love with Alex, a widowed anthropologist. What begins as a whirlwind romance quickly becomes a battle against shadows-both real and imagined. Living in the shadow of Alex's late wife Rachel, Jessica finds herself struggling with jealousy, doubt, and fear. When whispers suggest Rachel's death on the Navajo reservation at the Grand Canyon was no accident, Jessica is forced to confront the terrifying possibility that the man she loves may not be who he seems.

Blanchard's novel blends the timeless beauty of the Southwest with the pulse of psychological suspense. From the sacred Hopi Kachina dances to the silent depths of the Grand Canyon, every setting becomes more than scenery-it becomes part of the mystery itself. Themes of love, loss, betrayal, and resilience make Blue Moon Bench both thrilling and deeply human.

"I wanted to create a story that shows how fragile trust can be when secrets linger," says Blanchard. "The desert holds beauty and silence, but it also holds echoes of the past. My characters are forced to decide whether they will be consumed by those echoes or find the strength to move forward."

Blue Moon Bench will resonate with fans of suspenseful, character-driven fiction. Readers who enjoy mysteries entwined with cultural richness and emotional depth will find themselves drawn into Jessica's journey-a story about love tested by shadows, and the courage it takes to uncover the truth.

About the Author
The author of Blue Moon Bench is a Tibetan Buddhist now living on the western slope of Colorado. She is a fine artist and author who lived in Arizona for over 17 years and spent many days hiking in canyons and deserts in the southwest. She has written many articles for magazines such as Southwest Art Magazine, as well as the Article "Shaman's and Master Artists: Understanding the Parallels in Rock Art" printed in "American Indian Rock Art - Volume 23" published by the American Rock Art Research Association. Blue Moon Bench is the first in a series of mystery novels based in the southwest. She is currently writing Volume Two; "The Magic Shaman" coming soon. She loves including the mystical part of the sacred beliefs and ceremony of the native people because they are very similar to Tibetan culture and rituals which she carries in her heart.

Her fine art has been shown in many fine art galleries in the southwest including Santa Fe, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona. She still loves traveling around the southwest with paints and sketch pad capturing the beauty she loves to paint and write about. Many of her chapters capture the spectacular landscapes of northern Arizona's canyons and vast desert plains. It's quiet beauty appeals to her Buddhist sensibilities seeking peace and harmony with nature.