MaryLou always has a plan. Born and raised in a small logging town in the Pacific Northwest with a family of all boys, her life is good. She’s got a great family, she gets to work on race cars with her dad, and she knows exactly what she wants for her future. Then she meets Dale, a mysterious older boy who races at the local track, and MaryLou realizes she can’t always get what she wants. As she learns to adjust her plans to accommodate life’s unexpected twists and turns, MaryLou finds happiness along the way. But when destiny chooses for her the last path she ever wanted, MaryLou must let go of her plan and make peace with what she can’t control.
Raised in Aberdeen, Washington, a small town that fostered her deep love for family, community, and adventure, AJ Springer has always chased life with open arms. She has driven race cars, competed in boxing, kickboxing, and NPC fitness, and played professional football—all while working as a camp counselor, personal trainer, and coach. Now a mother of two, she balances her fast-paced life in Portland, Oregon, with her passion for storytelling. A tea connoisseur and self-proclaimed chocolate snob, AJ rises before dawn to write, finding quiet moments before the whirlwind of motherhood begins.
Her debut novel, MaryLou, is a heartwarming story of family, love, hope, and sacrifice—an emotional journey that reflects the resilience and heart she carries in everything she does.