By Christine A. Baker
A novel of grief, magic, and the wild beauty of human–animal bonds
When loss cracks us open, the natural world can heal us in unexpected, mystical ways. In this sweeping story of love, resilience, and the bond between humans and animals, discover how the extraordinary hides in the everyday.
"This is a story about how animals enhance us, and how the animals we choose to share our lives with become part of us. Animals understand the truly fundamental things about life, the world, and the Universe around us.
And if we listen carefully, animals can be our guide."
– Benjamin Mee, journalist and bestselling author of We Bought a Zoo,
adapted into the major motion picture starring Matt Damon
About the Book
After a Covid-era breakdown forces Dr. Artemis Nicche to leave medicine, she discovers that healing doesn’t always happen in hospitals. Guided by unforgettable animal companions—including Phoebe the kitten and two devoted Labradors, Maggie and Jessie—and narrated by Lucy, her wise cat speaking from beyond, this is the story of finding your true calling among creatures who understand that love means showing up, especially when it hurts.
Raising Artemis is a deeply moving novel about grief, purpose, and the profound bond between animals and people.
Forthcoming December 8, 2026 Roundfire Books & Proudly human-authored.
Raising Artemis is, at its core, a story about the kind of grief that rearranges an existence — the quiet, brutal, raw grief of the loss of loved animals who were witnesses to a soul throughout the various chapters of life. It follows Artemis, a woman coming apart at the seams from a life fraught with grief, and the eventual healing and awakening.
The story unfolds around the two cats who refuse to let her disappear: one she’s mourning with a tenderness that still startles her, and one who arrives like a small, insistent heartbeat reminding her she’s still here.
For every pet parent who has ever wondered if their beloved companions still linger close, this book leans into the truth we feel in our bones: they do. As fiercely as they loved us in life, they continue to guide us from beyond, slipping into our days in ways only the heart can interpret. This story honors that wordless communion — that strange, sacred language shared between humans and the beings who don’t need words to understand.
Christine has beautifully and creatively written a love letter to the animals who stay, who light our path long after their physical being has left the earth, and who teach us, again and again, how to find our way back to ourselves.
Coleen A. Ellis, Pet Loss Pioneer, Author & Speaker
This magical book had me from the start. The voice of Lucy the cat captures all I believe—and more—about our connection with the animals who come into our lives as teachers, soulmates...
Elena Mannes, Author of Soul Dog
Join The Artemis Circle
Be part of the journey before the book even launches.
Step into the world of Raising Artemis early. As a member of The Artemis Circle, you’ll get:
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Behind-the-scenes updates as the book comes to life.
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First look access to the cover reveal and early excerpts.
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Exclusive livestreams and Q&As with author Christine Baker.
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Special bonuses only for Circle members.
Joining is free — it’s my way of saying thank you for being part of this story from the very beginning.
About the Author
Meet Christine A. Baker
Christine A. Baker is an award-winning storyteller, speaker, and lifelong animal lover. Her writing explores the quiet magic woven into everyday life — the resilience we discover in loss, and the extraordinary ways animals shape our journeys.
She is the author of Why She Plays: The World of Women’s Basketball (University of Nebraska Press, 2018), a groundbreaking book that gives voice to female athletes and celebrates their passion for the game. Her work has earned recognition including the Wesleyan University Rulewater Prize and Mount Saint Mary College Distinguished Alumni Award, and she has received multiple screenplay honors including Sundance Screenwriters Institute Top 10 Finalist. As a screenwriter, her scripts have garnered festival selections and industry acclaim.
Whether writing about sports, crafting screenplays that bring strong women from history to life, or weaving tales of contemporary fiction with magical elements, Christine is drawn to stories of strength, connection, and the courage to live authentically. Raising Artemis is her most personal work yet, blending her love of nature, her beloved animal companions, and her belief that stories can heal.
Christine lives in Connecticut, where she can be found tending her garden, walking along the shoreline, or sharing her home with animals who always seem to have the last word. She is a proud member of the Author's Guild and WGA East.
