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Local author releases first novel

The feminine spirit of the West comes alive in early twentieth century Montana

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Copper Sky by Milana Marsenich tells the story of two women with opposite lives. Kaly Shane, mired in prostitution, struggles to find a safe home for her unborn child, while Marika Lailich, a Slavic immigrant, dodges a pre-arranged marriage to become a doctor. As their paths cross, and they become unlikely friends, neither knows the family secret that ties them together.

Author Milana Marsenich lives in Northwest Montana near Flathead Lake at the base of the beautiful Mission Mountains. She enjoys quick access to the mountains and has spent many hours hiking the wilderness trails with friends and dogs. For the past 20 years she has worked as a mental health therapist in a variety of settings. As a natural listener and a therapist, she has witnessed amazing generosity and courage in others. She first witnessed this in her hometown of Butte, Montana, a mining town with a rich history and the setting for Copper Sky. She has an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from Montana State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. Marsenich has previously published in Montana Quarterly, Big Sky Journal, The Polishing Stone, and Feminist Studies. She has a short story included in the Montana Quarterly book Montana, Warts and All, The Best From Our First Decade.

Copper Sky is her debut novel.

Marsenich, a Montana native, explained why she wrote Copper Sky: “I love Butte and still think of it as my home. My father was a storyteller and I grew up listening to his stories about Butte, and about Montenegro and Serbia. The kernel for Copper Sky began with those stories and grew into my own fascination with Butte’s history. I wanted to write something that honored the courage and resilience that I first witnessed there. In the end, the story just wouldn’t let me go.”

Copper Sky was released on May 15 by Open Books. Two book launch celebrations are planned in Polson: one at 7 p.m. on May 26 at the North Lake County Public Library and another from 5-7 p.m. on June 9 at South Shore Greenhouse. The public is invited for drinks and entertainment. Copper Sky is available for purchase and signing by the author at each event.

Books and eBooks can also be purchased online at: http://www.openbks. com/library/moderns/copper- sky/order.html.

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