The cover of "A Girl Who Could Burn," a novel by Pam Portland, the author of "The Lumberjack" and "Their Secret." The cover shows a fiery sunset behind a dark, silhouetted hillside.

Finally! I'm rolling out my latest novel beginning in 2026. It's the 4th and final #OnTheForest adventure entitled "A Girl Who Could Burn." ©2025

Start your weekend with the latest serial every Saturday morning. You can also find links to my first three novels here:
pamportland.org/ontheforest/

#WriteStuff A1: There’s not a lot of singing, but my MMC in the #OnTheForest series sings along with the radio.

On The Forest I landed my dream job when I spent two months working on the Bighorn National Forest in the summer of 2014. Broken open by the experience, I changed my pace of life and penned my first novel, The L…

#WriteStuff #SelfPromo
Starting in January, I’ll be posting my final #OnTheForest novel as a serial.

Catch up on the first three now!

My cool AE story is that she’s all over my novels. #OnTheForest

#WriteStuff A4: Yes! My #OnTheForest novels take place on the Bighorn National Forest, which is real, including places within the forest that are real with name that aren’t.

#WriteStuff A2: I’ve made a point to leave the pandemic out of my writing. I did include the wars from the early part of the millennium in my #OnTheForest novels, though.

#WriteStuff A1: My MMC actually built two buildings over the course of my #OnTheForest series. Yes, one of them was a cabin in the woods.

#WriteStuff A1: The last novel in my #OnTheForest series wrapped up near the end of the year (2024), and then I submitted it for and received the copyright this past spring, so I consider it done.

Time Travel Authors – 27 July prompt: Did you write anyone you know into your story?

#TimeTravelAuthors #Day27
In this particular story, I have not added anyone I know personally, although there might be small traits or experiences from my own life that I’ve added to the story. I must have gotten that out of my system in my #OnTheForest novels.
#DayLate

#WriteStuff A3: This is an odd Q for me, as I spent a decade writing the four novels in my #OnTheForest series. I kept saying when I finished those, I would jump into the story I first began in 2013. But here I am and I think I am in dire need of a writing workshop.

I think @pamportland.org has a similar thread in her #OnTheForest series. #WriteStuff

On The Forest I landed my dream job when I spent two months working on the Bighorn National Forest in the summer of 2014. Broken open by the experience, I changed my pace of life and penned my first novel, The L…

#WriteStuff #Shameless #SelfPromo
You can find my #OnTheForest Earth-inspired novels here:

#WriteStuff A5: Obviously rain helps the situation #OnTheForest, but what about when it isn't drinkable or it's running low? Perhaps that’s why my MC often chooses other beverages, which really makes even bigger problems.

#WriteStuff A4: #OnTheForest fire is indeed destructive. What pulls my MC through it is her own strength and endurance – a force for which she has been searching throughout four novels.

#WriteStuff A3: My final novel in the #OnTheForest series obviously has a specific surface, but the view of the surroundings will change from the inspirational setting my MC has known.

Pretend Panel chat – 31 January prompt: How do you close your panel? (e.g. plugs, acknowledgements)

#PretendPanel #Day31
Waldeinsamkeit, a retelling of my original novel told from a different POV, rolls out with a new episode every Saturday morning. Read prev episodes, my 1st novel, & the upcoming 4th & final novel. Get caught up w/ the #OnTheForest series today!

pamportland.org/ontheforest/

Pretend Panel chat – 21 January prompt: Do you resonate more with any one of your characters?

#PretendPanel #Day21
While I do tend to write myself into my narrators, my FMC in my #WIP is less like me than my FMC in my #OnTheForest series. I tend to resonate more with Natalie than with any other character I have written.

Pretend Panel chat – 19 January prompt: Freebie Sunday

#PretendPanel #Day19
When my #WIP is finally complete, my plan is to post the entire novel as a serial on the #AlongTheRiver page of my website, much like I have done with my #OnTheForest series.
pamportland.org/along-the-ri...

Jackpot! When I was planning the #OnTheForest series, it felt like the natural conclusion. I really think it turned out just right. #WriteStuff

Holding Hands – Part 1 A synopsis and any pertinent content warnings related to the topics in this novel may be found here: On The Forest. The IED explodes in the back of the room. I grab my side, reaching for my M16, du…

#WriteStuff #SelfPromo My latest #OnTheForest novel unfolds every Saturday morning as a serial. Subscribe to follow along, or start from the beginning here:

#WriteStuff A2: The two pieces of writing that inspired my #OnTheForest series are a news article about the rote gratitude “Thank you for your service” and John Muir’s “Our National Parks.”

On The Forest I landed my dream job when I spent two months working on the Bighorn National Forest in the summer of 2014. Broken open by the experience, I changed my pace of life and penned my first novel, The Lumb...

We’re reintroducing ourselves? Ok, here goes:

Follow along w/ my #OnTheForest novels as a Saturday morning weekly serial. My modern-day Dickensian publication style includes my past two novels available for free in their entirety.

Or enjoy one of my true-life blog adventures through all 50 states.

#WriteStuff A5: Perhaps “beauty,” “tranquil,” or “solitude,” are the words I often use to describe my characters’ lives #OnTheForest

#WriteStuff A3: I’ve always love “quixotic,” but nothing and no one #OnTheForest is such.

Let’s Go Camping – Part 15 A synopsis and any pertinent content warnings related to the topics in this novel may be found here: On The Forest. The consideration of topics for discussion during this weekend consumed the majority...

Since I mentioned this section of my first novel, “The Lumberjack,” in an earlier Q, here’s the radio bit:

#WriteStuff #SelfPromo #OnTheForest

On The Forest I landed my dream job when I spent two months working on the Bighorn National Forest in the summer of 2014. Broken open by the experience, I changed my pace of life and penned my first novel, The Lumb...

#WriteStuff In case you want to find what I HAVE finished, check out my #OnTheForest series:

It's not my #TimeTravel novel. That one comes next. This is the last in the #OnTheForest series, which was partly written to help me improve my descriptive prose for my TT story. #WriteStuff

The cover of the book “A Girl Who Could Burn” by Pam Portland shows a fiery sunset behind mountains

Whew! I’ve finished my 4th novel!

I first began noodling the idea in December ‘14 after finishing the first book in the #OnTheForest series.

I created an outline & started writing in April ‘23. Nearly 16 months, 268 pages, & 107,659 words later, I’ve written a love story to the forest. 💚🤎

Huzzah!

Cross my heart, these are the last round of edits on my last #OnTheForest novel.

The first three chapters are done. I mean, done done.

No, really.

With my #OnTheForest series, my titles never changed from start to finish. With my #AlongTheRiver story, I doubt I'll ever find one. #WriteStuff