Historical Fiction
Date Published: September 14, 2025
Old Books and Faded Dreams transports readers on a nostalgic journey
with the townspeople of Tilden, a quaint community in Madison County,
Nebraska. At the center of the heartwarming story is Maggie Davis, a
middle-aged widow and heiress to a grand Victorian estate. The stately home,
which Maggie shares with her spunky nine-year-old daughter Jenna, also serves
as a bed-and-breakfast to a once regular, but now transitory, clientele. The
kitchen table is the epicenter of lively, often contentious, conversation
where no topics are off-limits. Maggie’s out-spoken, spinster neighbor
delights in keeping everyone on guard with her opinionated, prejudicial
tirades, but she is frequently reined in by an elderly, equally forthright
family member who has recently become a permanent dweller at the manor. Maggie
finds herself struggling with the painful memories of her husband’s tragic
death, as well as the stirrings in her heart associated with a new house
guest. A scandalous scheme to swindle Maggie out of her inherited property
rides on the heels of a sudden, unexpected death, pointing to a member of the
family as suspect. The startling discovery of a sinister family secret locked
away for decades in an old attic trunk threatens to overshadow a highly
esteemed familial image and cherished legacy. Can relationships be salvaged?
Old Books and Faded Dreams is a captivating, small-town tale about friendship,
grief, reconciliation and ultimately, unconditional love.
with the townspeople of Tilden, a quaint community in Madison County,
Nebraska. At the center of the heartwarming story is Maggie Davis, a
middle-aged widow and heiress to a grand Victorian estate. The stately home,
which Maggie shares with her spunky nine-year-old daughter Jenna, also serves
as a bed-and-breakfast to a once regular, but now transitory, clientele. The
kitchen table is the epicenter of lively, often contentious, conversation
where no topics are off-limits. Maggie’s out-spoken, spinster neighbor
delights in keeping everyone on guard with her opinionated, prejudicial
tirades, but she is frequently reined in by an elderly, equally forthright
family member who has recently become a permanent dweller at the manor. Maggie
finds herself struggling with the painful memories of her husband’s tragic
death, as well as the stirrings in her heart associated with a new house
guest. A scandalous scheme to swindle Maggie out of her inherited property
rides on the heels of a sudden, unexpected death, pointing to a member of the
family as suspect. The startling discovery of a sinister family secret locked
away for decades in an old attic trunk threatens to overshadow a highly
esteemed familial image and cherished legacy. Can relationships be salvaged?
Old Books and Faded Dreams is a captivating, small-town tale about friendship,
grief, reconciliation and ultimately, unconditional love.
About the Author
 D.L. Norris is a notable author and motivational speaker who has written
numerous short stories and articles on health, emotional wellness, family, and
cultural history. Norris’ novels, The Long Way Home and Where the Heart
Is, capture in colorful, humorous style the actual events and cultural
mindsets surrounding her Scandinavian family and personal life experiences.
Norris’ expressive writing style quickly engages her readers and
encourages them to sit back and enjoy a nostalgic, magical journey. She and
her husband are happily retired in beautiful Hartford, Connecticut.
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