Jaime Maria Merrill
Author and Observer of Humans in Transition
Listening To The Land This Earth Day
Earth Day reminds us that care begins with attention. In this short essay, I reflect on listening—to land, water, and the quiet observations that shaped The Stars Are Always There.
Introducing My Debut Novel:
The Stars Are Always There
Twelve-year-old Jess Lindsey never imagined spending her entire summer on the dusty Texas Panhandle. But when she arrives at her family’s ranch, a place built by her great‑grandfather and ripe with lessons she doesn’t realize she needs, Jess discovers the land itself is in trouble.
A wealthy farmer is pumping more water than the earth can spare. Wells run dry, tempers flare, and strange things are stirring on the prairie: animals are trying to tell her something, the wind is listening, and the stars feel closer than normal.
As Jess uncovers the ranch’s secrets, she must decide who she wants to be; quiet and careful like always, or brave enough to speak up when it matters most. With a loyal horse, a few unlikely allies, and a whisper of magic guiding her, Jess sets out to protect the place that’s starting to feel like home.
Sometimes it only takes one voice—one gutsy kid—to show that the land, like family, is always worth protecting.
A middle grade novel for readers ages 10–12, their families,
and educators.
Read Chapter 1 of
The Stars Are Always There
Book launch scheduled for Earth Day, April 2026!
Prefer to start with the full book?
The Stars Are Always There is available now.
Print edition ships worldwide via trusted book distribution.
About Jaime Maria Merrill
Jaime is the author of The Stars Are Always There, her debut novel. She wrote it to capture memories of her great-uncle Jess Frank Triplett's ranch, where her family vacationed each summer.
Jaime grew up the middle child in a large family (seven children, two large dogs, and two exhausted parents). Chaos reigned throughout the year—amid sibling squabbles, barking dogs and parental admonishments—but the summers at the ranch were magical. The stillness of nature had a calming effect—banishing conflict and letting in peace; the best time of their lives together.