T. J. VAILOFFICIAL AUTHOR WEBSITE
CONTEMPORARY FICTION · FAMILY · CONNECTION

The Things
We Keep.

An old house. A changing family. A thousand small reasons to stay—and just as many to begin again.

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THE STORY

Some things are
too important to leave behind.

Riven can repair nearly anything. Sera has spent years keeping a bustling family moving between shifts and responsibilities. When the prospect of a different house appears, the two begin asking whether they need a new beginning—or a new way of living where they are.

Through changing work, growing children, a familiar reading chair and memories preserved in an old doorway, the family learns that deciding what to keep is never just about objects.

Working manuscript through Chapter 32. Art shown here is illustrative concept work, not an official finished cover.

Illustrative still life of a framed family photo and treasured objects
GLIMPSES OF A LIFE

Not grand gestures. The moments between.

A small visual collection inspired by places, characters, and moments within the working story. These illustrations are concept art.

Warm reading chair beside a rain-streaked window
The place a person claims for themselves
Family preserving old height markings from a doorway
What can be carried forward
Family and friends making imaginative projects in a workshop
A little light for the next idea
A STORY STILL GROWING

Every home holds a history.

The manuscript and its future are still in development. More confirmed news will appear here as the book progresses.

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