When There Was Colton (Extended)

When There Was Colton is a haunting and emotionally charged novel that blurs the line between memoir and fiction. Set in a small Missouri town, Zerynity Willows tells the story of a young mother trying to protect her children and reclaim her power amid a storm of generational trauma, manipulation, and domestic violence.

Caught between a mother who weaponizes religion and a man whose charm masks something much darker, Zerynity struggles to survive in a world where every safe place becomes a battlefield. But she is not just a survivor—she is a witch, a warrior, and a woman chosen by the Morrígan, Celtic goddess of sovereignty and war. As her mundane life spirals into something more mythic and dangerous, Zerynity must find the strength to become her own salvation.

Perfect for fans of A Child Called It, Educated, and My Dark Vanessa, this book speaks to anyone who has endured the unthinkable—and risen anyway.

Trigger warnings: abuse, sexual assault, religious trauma, substance use, gaslighting, and emotional manipulation. This is not a story of pity—it is a story of power.