Hello, m'darlin'! I'm Jan Heidrich-Rice,
writer of slice-of-life essays and mysteries laced with what-ifs.
Sometimes haunting…often funny…always spiked with hope.
When asked what my books are about, I like to say I write about life at the crossroads.
Whether working on a piece of fiction or a reflective nonfiction essay, I’m drawn to stories about life’s journeys. My own stories but also those of others. Stories help me try to understand what makes people tick. They allow me to explore what comes next ... and how we might sustain hope and heart despite troubled times?
My fiction follows the life of Marnie Putnam in Lake Gardner, Georgia, in a series that features cozy-dark Southern mysteries weaving together small-town secrets, suspense, and whispers of the supernatural. Book No. 1, Secrets of the Blue Moon, was recognized as an Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite in Women’s Fiction (2026) and an American Book Fest Finalist for Cross-Genre Fiction (2025).
My nonfiction captures the wonder and humor of everyday life, at home and on the road. It’s about navigating midlife shifts, creative reinvention, and the unpredictability that real-life detours bring. One Wrong Turn at a Time, my memoir/travel humor book, was recognized as a Global Book Awards 2006 Silver Winner.
As a matter of fact, yes, I do often ponder what happens when the past refuses to stay buried. Or when the old map no longer works. What do we do when we find ourselves staring ahead at the crossroads?
And that, my friend, is what I write about.
Happy reading ~ Jan
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For other matters, please email me: jan@janheidrichrice.com
