Heather Kaminski is pictured

Heather Meldrum Kaminski was born and raised in the heart of rural Pennsylvania.

Growing up on 90-acres in central Pennsylvania and spending summers along Fishing Creek, Kaminski developed a lifelong love for the outdoors. Her childhood was filled with fishing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, snowmobiling, ice skating, skiing–just to name a few. Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests, like Ricketts Glen and World’s End, became her playground and sanctuary.

Storytelling has always been her passion. Kaminski’s late mother encouraged her to write about the adventures of her two golden retrievers, and she has honored her mother’s memory by including two goldens in this book. Kaminski said that she started writing stories while in college, however, never published any until this year. She grew up in a rural area where cable TV was not an option, so she read a lot of books and writing was a way to exercise a big imagination. She also enjoys writing about nature in poetry form. Kaminski resides in western Pennsylvania.

“A few years ago, the quest for a passport stamp led me to hike Chapman State Park,” Kaminski said. “From there, I explored Hearts Content, Rimrock, Jakes Rocks, and Minister Creek, strolled through Betts Park, and visited the dam. I fell in love with the beauty of this storybook river town. That’s why this particular book had to be set here.” Other specific landmarks or locations in the book that locals will recognize include the following: Kinzua Road up to the Dam, Bent Run Brewery, The Allegheny River, Scandia, Sheffield, and St. Marys are also mentioned. Iron City Beer, fly fishing and farming references. Some of Kaminski’s interests that have contributed to this particular book include several outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking, hunting, and hiking – especially in PA State Parks and the Allegheny National Forest.

Purchasing Kaminki’s book also helps protect Pennsylvania’s natural treasures. Conservation has always been important to her so a portion of every book sold supports the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF), a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. If you have a State Park Passport BOOK, you already know their work. Kaminski recently shared that proceeds from the first book allowed her to make a $200 contribution to the Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation and now her goal for 2026 is to greatly surpass that amount and continue supporting the parks and forests that inspire these stories.

The novel, “Lies Beneath the Surface: The Pennsylvania Wilds Series Book 1” was born from three inspirations: to share the beauty of rural Pennsylvania, to give back to the parks that gave her so much and to explore life’s hard questions. She wants readers to experience the charm of small towns, the serenity of forests, and the sense of community that defines this region. If you’ve ever driven through Warren, hiked Rimrock, or enjoyed a meal at Bent Run Brewery, you’ll feel right at home while turning the pages of her book. Book 2, “The Deadly Secret in Cook Forest,” will be available on Amazon and through all major retailers by the end of the month. This series will consist of three books in total. Each can be read as a stand-alone story, but they also share connecting threads for readers who follow the whole series.

The Pennsylvania Wilds Series Book 2 which is set in Cook Forest and the surrounding areas, is Kaminiski’s next book. It’s also a psychological thriller that explores murder, organized crime, conspiracies, and, of course, vivid descriptions of the outdoors and local establishments, giving it a local feel and familiarity. Her books can currently be found online at Amazon, Target.com, Barnesandnoble.com, booklocker.com.