TraceyRetallack

If Jul Ariets was being honest with himself, he’d admit he was dragging his feet. Starting over was proving to be a challenge—especially since he hadn’t started anything at all. Everything is within reach for him—a new venture, new lifestyle, new love. He just has to write that business plan, embrace his circumstances … and say hello to that girl he’s never had the nerve to approach.
That girl—Julia Matthews—has her own challenges. Just days before renovations were to begin, her contractor cancels the job. She manages to find a replacement and at the same time, she finds something else to think about—the man at the café who looks at her like he knows her, like there’s a connection even though he doesn’t say a word. She can’t get him out of her mind. When she discovers that he’s her new contractor’s best friend, she’s sure that they are meant to be together.
If only he didn’t look like a deer in the headlights—ready to bolt every time they get close.
Jewels is the story that started everything.
I started to write this story in March of 2021. I was happy with it (all 56000 words at that time) and I fully believed I'd publish it by that September. Fast forward to 2024, after 17 revisions (several of them significant rewrites) and I finally got the e-book out into the world. January 2025, I got to hold my book in my very own hands.

Fun Facts about Jewels:
The deer theme began when I couldn't figure out how people fall in love. I researched how animals pair, and thought the white tail deer would be a good focal point.
I wrote the first draft in sixteen days. It needed a lot of work (4 years worth) but it existed!
I was originally trying to write a story inspired by Dean Brody's song 'Coffee Shop Angel'.
Julian's first name was Matthew before I started writing.
Dar and Stel stole the first draft to the point where I had to write their story too. Maybe one day, I'll let you read it.
The Transit of Venus is a real phenomenon that only comes up every hundred or so years and happens in pairs.
I spent hours daydreaming about this story, the characters and the town they live in. Here are some of the things I built as the creation took place.
I did a lot of pin collecting on Pinterest. Here is the board I created for Jewels. It includes everything from floor plans to Julia's engagement ring.
Enjoy:
Julia loved listening to her rat-pack playlist. The music holds a special place in her heart.
Here is the playlist that she was probably listening to throughout the story:
Jewels is available in print at the
Cochrane Public Library. I am still working on getting the ebook in the Marigold Library System. Feel free to request it too!
Every bit of support helps.

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