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There are moments in life when the world seems to move a little too quickly. Days fill with responsibilities, evenings arrive before we realize where the time has gone, and the quiet spaces we need can sometimes feel difficult to find. Peace River Publisher was created with those quiet spaces in mind. This is a place for prayers, stories, reflections, and books that invite us to slow down for a moment. Our hope is to create words that feel less like noise competing for your attention and more like a comfortable chair waiting at the end of a long day. The name Peace River carries a story of its own. It is a play on our family names and the generations that came before us. Pace, an old Virginia name, comes from the Latin word for peace. Reed means red and echoes the names of real rivers found in England, the United States, and Western Canada. Those connections to family, place, and history are part of what inspired Peace River Publisher. We come from a family of storytellers whose roots stretch across many chapters of the American story — early settlements, immigration, complicated Southern histories, journeys west, and generations of ordinary people building lives one day at a time. Those stories have taught us that some of the most meaningful things in life are not necessarily the loudest. Sometimes they are found in a conversation at the kitchen table. Sometimes in an old family story told one more time. Sometimes in the stillness before sleep. And sometimes in a few simple words that arrive exactly when we need them. What You’ll Find Here Peace River Publisher will be home to books created around those quieter moments. Our first book, Before We Close Our Eyes, brings together 365 bedtime prayers designed especially for peaceful reflection at the end of the day. It was created with seniors, caregivers, families, and anyone seeking a calmer nighttime rhythm in mind. In 2027, we also look forward to introducing Porchlite Tales, a story about Mary Louise, a woman learning — perhaps for the first time — how to make choices for herself and step into a life that belongs to her. Here in News / Notes, we’ll share occasional updates about our books, behind-the-scenes moments, monthly reflections, and other pieces of encouragement from Peace River. You won’t find an endless stream of updates here. That’s intentional. We would rather share something when we have something worth saying. A Place for Quiet Moments Wherever you are in life, we hope you find something here that encourages you to pause. Pour a cup of something warm. Sit somewhere comfortable. Watch the evening light disappear behind the trees. Read a prayer. Remember an old story. Call someone you’ve been thinking about. The ordinary moments often become the ones we remember most. Thank you for finding your way to Peace River Publisher and for being here at the beginning of this journey. We hope you’ll return whenever you need a quiet moment. Closing line: May you find peace in the pause, comfort in the words, and hope for tomorrow.

A Season of New Beginnings April has a way of reminding us that change does not always arrive loudly. Sometimes it begins with a little more daylight through the window. A tree that looked bare yesterday suddenly carries the smallest hint of green. Flowers begin pushing through ground that seemed quiet only weeks before. The world begins again in small ways. And perhaps we can, too. There are seasons when new beginnings feel exciting. There are others when beginning again requires courage. We may be carrying worries from yesterday, adjusting to circumstances we never expected, caring for someone we love, grieving something that has changed, or simply wondering what the months ahead will bring. Whatever season you find yourself in this April, you do not have to have everything figured out today. Sometimes faith means simply taking the next small step. A Prayer for April Lord, thank You for the reminder that every season has its purpose. As the world around me begins again, help me notice the quiet signs of Your goodness. When I am uncertain about tomorrow, give me peace for today. When I feel tired, give me strength for the next step. When I carry worries that are too heavy, remind me that I do not have to carry them alone. Help me welcome what is new without being afraid of what I cannot yet see. Give me patience for the things that take time, gratitude for the blessings already around me, and wisdom to recognize the moments that truly matter. Tonight, let my heart be still. Tomorrow, let me begin again with hope. Amen. A Quiet Thought for the Month We often look for dramatic signs that life is changing, but some of the most important changes happen slowly. A little more patience. One conversation. One prayer. One decision to try again. One morning when something that felt impossible yesterday feels just a little lighter. Spring doesn’t arrive all at once, and neither does renewal. If this month feels uncertain, allow yourself to move through it gently. You don’t need to know everything that comes next. You only need enough light for the step in front of you. A Simple April Reflection Before going to sleep tonight, consider three simple questions: What am I grateful for today? What am I ready to place in God’s hands tonight? What small thing am I hopeful about tomorrow? You don’t need long answers. A sentence — or even a few words — is enough. Sometimes putting our thoughts into words helps us recognize that even difficult days contain moments of grace. As April unfolds, may you notice those moments. May you find peace in what you cannot control, courage for what you can change, and gratitude for the ordinary blessings that are already beside you. Closing line: May this new season bring a quieter heart, renewed hope, and the gentle reminder that His mercies are new every morning.

Bringing Before We Close Our Eyes to Life A book begins with words, but eventually those words need a home. We’re excited to share that the cover design for Before We Close Our Eyes is underway. Creating the cover has been about more than finding a beautiful image or choosing the right typeface. We want the first thing readers see to reflect the same feeling we hope they experience when they open the book: peace, comfort, warmth, and the quiet reassurance that tomorrow brings another morning. Before We Close Our Eyes is a collection of 365 bedtime prayers created especially for peaceful evenings and restful reflection. Each night’s reading offers a short prayer, a Scripture verse, a wisdom thought, and a simple journaling prompt. The format was intentionally designed to be approachable, particularly for older adults and anyone who wants something meaningful to read without feeling overwhelmed at the end of the day. The cover needs to carry that same simplicity. Finding the Right Feeling From the beginning, we knew we didn’t want the cover to feel heavy. Although the book is meant for nighttime reading, its message isn’t about darkness. It’s about what comes after it. Morning. Renewal. Another opportunity. Hope. That idea has guided the visual direction of the cover. We’re exploring imagery that brings together the stillness of evening with the promise of morning light — peaceful landscapes, warm windows, quiet bedrooms, candlelight, and the colors that appear just before or after the sun meets the horizon. Every element should invite the reader to slow down. Designed With the Reader in Mind Because Before We Close Our Eyes was created especially with seniors in mind, readability is also an important part of the design. The title needs to be clear. The typography needs to be comfortable to read. The imagery should support the message rather than compete with it. And when the book is sitting on a bedside table, displayed on a shelf, or given to someone as a gift, we want it to immediately communicate what is waiting inside: a quiet place to end the day. Sometimes the simplest design decisions require the most thought. We’re taking our time with those decisions because we want the finished book to feel intentional from the first glance to the final page. More to Come We’ll share more as the design develops and as Before We Close Our Eyes moves closer to publication. The book is scheduled to be available October 15, 2026, and we look forward to showing you the finished cover when the time is right. Until then, we’re enjoying this part of the process — watching an idea that began with words slowly become something readers will soon be able to hold in their hands. Thank you for following along as Peace River Publisher takes these first steps. There is still much to do, but with every page, every design decision, and every quiet detail, we’re getting closer. Closing line: The cover is taking shape, the pages are coming together, and morning light is getting a little closer.