Laural Bidwell grew up in Connecticut but left the rolling hills of the east years ago for the wide-open spaces of the American West. She first lived in Colorado Springs, then moved on to Denver before finally finding her home in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Like many, Laural discovered South Dakota more by accident than on purpose: On a rambling road trip, drifting north and east across the plains, she glanced at her map and realized she was within an hour of South Dakota, a state she’d never before visited. She decided to head for the border town of Ardmore to get gas and stay the night.

Ardmore had (and still has) a population of 4. There was no gas station. There was no place to stay. The dot on the map was larger than the town. Low on gas, she forged on to the next town on the map—Hot Springs—where she got gas, found a place to stay, and discovered the Black Hills. It was love at first sight: From the prairie grasslands and rolling hills of the south to the otherworldly badlands of the east to the craggy peaks and granite spires of the north, the Black Hills offer an amazing diversity of outdoor opportunities and scenic beauty.

Now owner of The Wild Burro Bookstore in Hot Springs, Laural still enjoys road trips, as well as writing and spending time with her golden retrievers, Lucky Charm and Willow.