As the nation teeters on the edge of civil war, three women converge at the elegant Bedford Springs Hotel in Pennsylvania. Harriet Lane, strongminded and vivacious niece to President James Buchanan and the nation’s “Democratic Queen,” begins to question the cost of loyalty as her uncle’s stance on slavery casts a long shadow. Anne McCoy, a quiet Quaker widow, carries the scars of loss, and dangerous secrets. Juba, an enslaved nursemaid to a presidential guest, dreams of freedom and the family torn from her.

When a chance encounter with local agents of the Underground Railroad sparks a daring escape plan, loyalties are tested, and lives are forever changed. Meanwhile as scandal brews and radical abolitionist John Brown plots revolution nearby, these women must decide what they’re willing to risk for justice and each other.

Set against the backdrop of a divided America, Summer of Meteors is a powerful tale of courage, sacrifice, and the bonds forged in the fight for freedom. A forgotten summer where history burned across the sky and nothing, not even the stars, would ever look the same.

PRAISE:

"... a terrific debut novel by a new voice in historical fiction."-Historical Novel Society

"Kris Schaale’s first novel, Summer of Meteors, offers a fast-paced and exceptional narrative that beautifully intertwines history, humanity, and suspense. Through the eyes of three very different, but equally strong women, Schaale vividly explores the moral complexities of slavery and human rights in pre-Civil War America. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy immersive storytelling and rich, character-driven historical fiction."
-Kathleen Grissom, NYT Best Selling author of The Kitchen House, Glory Over Everything, and Crow Mary.

"Kris Schaale has crafted a novel of page-turning suspense and personal reckoning with conscience, justice, and risk. Three young women: President Buchanan's niece, an enslaved nursemaid, and a Quaker widow, meet at The Bedford Springs Hotel. All are challenged and changed."
- Ellen Prentiss Campbell, author of the prize-winning novel The Bowl With Gold Seams.

"With the publication of her novel, Summer of Meteors, author Kris Schaale showcases an extraordinary and deftly crafted storytelling style that fully engages her readers from cover to cover. Original, compelling, and with a skill that raises her novel to an impressive level of literary excellence, Summer of Meteors is especially and unreservedly recommended for community/public library Historical Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of Summer of Meteors from  Catamount Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
-Midwest Book Review

by Kris Schaale
Page Count: 220
Trim Size: 6 X 9
Publish Date: September 16, 2025
Imprint: Catamount Press
Genre: Historical
FICTION / Historical / Civil War Era
FICTION / Women
FICTION / African American & Black / Historical