Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Coming Home to the Oregon Coast

There are moments in life when a journey becomes more than a vacation. It becomes a homecoming. On August 6th, I’ll point the nose of my little butter-gold VW bus, Marigold, toward Astoria and begin a trip I’ve been dreaming about for a very long time. I’ll be traveling the Oregon Coast while researching and writing my newest novel, Shoreline Secrets. I grew up in Oregon, and one of the things I remember most is the rhythm of the seasons. Summer lingered just long enough to fill every day with adventure, and fall arrived gently with crisp mornings, golden leaves, and the scent of rain. It always seemed as though each season had exactly four months. Never too long. Never too short. Just enough time to love it before welcoming the next. I’ve now lived in Alaska for more than fifty years, and while Alaska has become home in so many wonderful ways, there’s something about Oregon that still reaches into my heart. Nostalgia doesn’t quite describe it. It’s deeper than simply missing a place. It’s remembering who I was there, the roads I traveled, the beaches that shaped my imagination, and the feeling that every bend in the coastline held another story waiting to be discovered. Very soon I’ll cross the bridge into Astoria, breathe in that salty coastal air, and begin making my way south. Every lighthouse, harbor, hidden beach, sea stack, and quiet little town will become part of Shoreline Secrets. I’ll be writing chapters as I travel, collecting photographs, recording music inspired by the journey, and sharing it all along the way. If you’re one of my subscribers, you’re coming with me. You’ll receive behind-the-scenes photos that won’t appear anywhere else, early looks at chapters from Shoreline Secrets, stories from the road, and original music inspired by the places I visit. I want you to experience this adventure with me as it unfolds, one stop at a time. I truly can’t wait. Here’s to foggy mornings in Astoria, crashing waves along the Pacific, winding coastal highways, and the mystery that waits around every corner. Come follow the journey. Author Melissa Saulnier PacificCoastSecrets.com

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