Small-Town Chaos: Lessons on Country Life

In Liberty, moments of grit, perseverance, heartbreak, and joy illustrate the fullness of living a small-town life.

A staunch urbanite, Lenore Focht never thought she’d end up in a remote farming community of 450 people. But when she gets a teaching job that could pave the way to a better position in the big city, she pulls up stakes and heads to rural Saskatchewan. After all, she’s an independent woman who’s capable of anything . . . right?

At first, Lenore doesn’t know what to make of this prairie town, its quirky residents, or the challenges and drama of life on a working ranch. She tries to find her footing in an environment as unfamiliar as a foreign country only to discover that to truly thrive, she’ll need to put down roots. As her family grows—and tragedy strikes a student—the people of Liberty show Lenore that small towns are forged out of love, resilience, and community.

A captivating memoir of hilarity and heartbreak, Small-Town Chaos is a tender reminder of what transforms a place into a home.

L. Focht is a proud resident of a small southwestern Saskatchewan town. A full-time high school teacher, she holds a bachelor of education in English language arts and a bachelor of arts in English literature from the University of Regina. When not teaching, L. can be found coaching a variety of sports, taking her kids to the hockey rink or dance studio, or spending time outside. Her lifelong dream is to be the person who names nail polish and paint sample colors. L. has written a litany of works since childhood, and "Small-Town Chaos" is her first publication.