In the desert of Arizona, Bee and Sydelle become unlikely friends.

Far away from her father's fraudulent schemes in Pennsylvania, 22-year-old Bee Wells now works for an Arizona real estate company developing the world's first pandemic-proof community. When Bee's boss sends her to befriend Sydelle Hammer, 92, whose family has ranched on the land adjacent to the planned community for 150 years, the two strike up a friendship. But Bee soon discovers that both her boss and an environmental activist are cooking up shady deals to acquire the ranch. When Sydelle has a mini-stroke, the scavengers start to circle. Disgusted, Bee is compelled to defend her friend. At a crossroads, she must take a stand about the best was forward for the land, for Sydelle—and for herself.

About the Author

Sheila Grinell earned a B.A. in English literature at Harvard University and a Certificate in creative writing at Phoenix College. Her debut novel, Appetite, was published in 2016 and a second novel, The Contract, in 2019. After a 40-year career in science museums, Grinell now gives talks at libraries and bookstores and engages with readers on social media about “writing as a second act.” A resident of metro Phoenix since 1993, she has served as Writer-in-Residence for the Mesa Public Library system and was inducted into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame.

Praise for Promise in the Desert

"Phoenix’s ranching roots collide with competing visions of its future in this gripping tale of land, legacy, and desert grit. With sharply drawn characters and heartfelt nods to the places locals hold dear, it reveals what it takes to survive—and thrive—under the Sonoran sun. Sheila Grinell shows us that the desert doesn’t forget, and neither do the people who love it."
—Kate Gallego, Mayor, City of Phoenix

"Sheila Grinell’s novel, the first in a series set in the modern-day Sonoran desert, follows Bee Wells’ journey as she navigates personal and professional challenges. Sheila’s writing is compelling and sophisticated, a pleasure to read, and introduces the reader to places and situations that are cross-cultural and stimulating. Filled with authentic and memorable characters, Promise in the Desert celebrates Bee’s evolution into a fully actualized woman, and we can look forward to more of her adventures in future iterations of Sonoran Stories."
—Patricia Grady Cox, author of Chasm Creek and Hellgate

"In Promise in the Desert, author Sheila Grinell paints a strong sense of place for this drama set in urban Phoenix. The themes of friendship, familial legacy, and loyalty weave throughout as the young Bee Wells must weigh her employer's hidden motives for a large swath of undeveloped land against her growing respect for the land's owner."
—Katrina Shawver, author of Henry – A Polish Swimmer’s True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America

"Bee Wells arrives in Phoenix alone and naïve with a dream of creating a new way to live in the desert. She discovers a friendship that helps her succeed beyond her wildest dreams. This coming-of-age story combines adventure and romance with the ecosystem of this unique desert."
—Pam Hait, author of Day Trips from Phoenix, Tucson & Flagstaff (14th edition)

September 2025