C.J. Maldonado is the author of Summers at Salmon Creek, a character-driven novel that explores the complicated space between love, destiny, independence, and choice. Through Samantha’s experience of remembering six years that have not actually happened, Maldonado builds a story in which knowing the future does not necessarily make living it easier.

Against the atmospheric landscapes of Salmon Creek Beach and Sonoma County, the novel examines relationships, family expectations, professional ambition, and the courage required to face uncertainty. Maldonado’s story ultimately turns away from fairy-tale certainty and toward something more powerful: learning to participate fully in your own life.