{"product_id":"seeds-of-suspicion-a-county-agent-searches-for-common-ground-9781967311002","title":"Seeds of Suspicion: A County Agent Searches for Common Ground","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA shattered window. A fractured community. One man caught in the middle.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen a rock bearing a menacing message crashes through the window of a public meeting, County Extension Agent Scott Olson finds himself at the epicenter of growing unrest in Ames County. Tensions simmer beneath the surface of this close-knit rural community, and Scott is determined to bring people together before divisions spiral out of control. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith help from a devoted team of coworkers, Scott works to restore calm and unity--but his mission comes at a personal cost. As threats mount and the stakes rise, he struggles to prove to his longtime love and colleague that she hasn't been forgotten in the chaos. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn this timely and heartfelt novel, loyalty, love, and community collide--forcing Scott to confront not only the conflicts around him, but also the choices that could define his future. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStep into Ames County--a richly imagined corner of rural America brought to life by renowned Jerry Apps.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBeginning with The Travels of Increase Joseph, the series traces the founding of the village of Link Lake in 1852 by a traveling preacher and his devoted followers. From this powerful origin story, each novel explores the ever-evolving challenges of rural life--land use conflicts, industrial agriculture, food safety, the fading small family farm, and more. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThrough vivid storytelling and authentic characters, Apps offers a heartfelt, insightful portrait of rural communities--their struggles, their triumphs, and their enduring spirit. Rooted in history but deeply relevant to today, the Ames County novels are a compelling journey into the heart of rural life\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJerry Apps was born and raised on a farm in central Wisconsin. Upon graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and spending time in the U.S. Army, Apps worked as a county extension agent in Green Lake and Brown County Wisconsin. He then worked as a staff development specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Extension. He is Professor Emeritus of the University Wisconsin-Madison and the author of several fiction and non-fiction books about agriculture and rural life in the Upper Midwest.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Little Creek Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51415190962450,"sku":"9781967311002","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_f56c3171-b0f4-48d6-93cf-730fb017a769.jpg?v=1751130271","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/seeds-of-suspicion-a-county-agent-searches-for-common-ground-9781967311002","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}