Chandler author releases first novel

Chandler author Michele Lee Sefton, a writer of poetry and poetic prose with two five-star novellas, has made her full-length fiction debut with “Jade’s Broken Bridge,” released on Amazon on Oct. 10 under her imprint, Tumbleweed Spirit Press.

A coming-of-age story set against the late 1980s in Arizona and Fairbanks, Alaska, Jade’s Broken Bridge follows a young woman navigating fractured family ties, addiction and the pursuit of survival in the shadows of the adult entertainment industry.

Inspired by true events, according to a news release, the New Adult novel offers a deeply introspective exploration of self-worth, resilience and redemption — written with the same imagery and poetic voice that has earned Sefton praise for her earlier works.

“Jade’s Broken Bridge doesn’t romanticize hardship,” Sefton states in the news release. “It’s an honest portrayal of one woman’s fight to reclaim her life while reckoning with the past. At its core, it’s about survival, transformation and the strength it takes to rebuild.”

The San Francisco Book Review praised it as “a coming-of-age book for readers who appreciate storytelling that doesn’t flinch... told with just enough wit and heart to keep readers turning the page,” the release states.

Peoria-based author Ginger Scott lauded Sefton’s work as “a masterful debut” that offers “a raw and honest portrait of the opportunities as well as the risks that lie” within Jade’s journey, according to the release.

A book launch for “Jade’s Broken Bridge” was scheduled for early October in Tempe, which included music from a punk-influenced band.

Sefton, a veteran English teacher turned writer, has been published in various poetry platforms and anthologies, including the Piper Poetry Month Anthology through Arizona State University’s Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.

Her prior works include “Her Coastal Cottage: Where Truth & Love Rise” and “Honeysuckle Heat,” both praised for their lyrical prose.

Through her blog, Tumbleweed Spirit, Sefton continues to share writing and photography that explore the themes of empowerment, hope and transformation for women, the release states.

“Jade’s Broken Bridge” will be available in paperback, Kindle and audiobook formats on amazon.com; it’s listed as a $16.95 paperback.

For more information, follow the author on Instagram at @mlsefton or by visiting msefton.com.

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