A Novella by Garrett Vargas
The Echo She
Left Behind
A story of identity, courage, and the quiet power of becoming yourself — told across two centuries.
About the Book
Seventeen-year-old Meigan Wilder has always felt caught between who she is and who she thinks she's supposed to be. But on an ordinary spring afternoon in Colorado Springs, one unexpected moment sends her somewhere she never imagined, and into a life she never asked for.
Suddenly stranded in 1880, Meigan must navigate a frontier town where her modern clothes, silver bracelets, and outspoken nature make her an instant outsider. Taken in by a wary farming family, she struggles to survive in a world with rigid rules and narrow expectations. Yet as she adapts to her new reality, Meigan begins to uncover strengths she never knew she had and discovers that even the smallest choices can echo far beyond their moment.
A story of identity, courage, and the quiet power of becoming yourself, The Echo She Left Behind follows one young woman's journey to find her place in a time that isn't her own.
Reader Reviews
For such a compact book, it packs in a remarkable amount of momentum, emotion, and creativity. If you’re looking for a fast, inventive read from a fresh voice, this novella is absolutely worth picking up.
— Reader review via Amazon
This is the kind of story that makes me not want to read short stories. You get all sucked in to the characters and what’s happening and then it’s suddenly over. I always want more! It’s a great storyline that makes you think about your impact to the folks around you.
— Reader review via Amazon
Coming Next
The Wellman Variations
In 1924 Manhattan, a bellboy carrying his dead brother's last words — “reach high but don't forget what you're from” — faces a single weekend that will determine not just the woman he loves, but the man he becomes and the legacy he leaves behind.
Currently in development
About Garrett Vargas
Garrett writes upmarket literary fiction with historical settings, drawn to stories about identity, change, and the quiet moments that shape lives. His debut novella, The Echo She Left Behind, blends a touch of fantasy with the richness of historical fiction. His next novel, The Wellman Variations, is set in 1924 Manhattan. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.