Cynthia Swanson’s 2024 novel “Anyone But Her," a mother-daughter narrative set partly in 1979 and partly in 2004, has already earned multiple honors, including the Colorado Book Award in the thriller category. It’s proof that some of the most interesting stories exist right in your own backyard, waiting for someone patient enough to look closely.

The needle dropped with a familiar crackle, releasing songs that were already ancient by the time they reached Hazel Miller’s ears. Jazz. Blues. The kind of music that demanded a physical response—dancing, singing, or a quiet reflection on the history that carried it. As a young girl in her family’s living room, Miller absorbed those sounds the way children absorb a sense of safety: effortlessly, as a fundamental part of the fabric of home.

Fourteen years ago, Hannah Ulbrich went out with her children to deliver newspapers and came home with a coffee roasting business. Copper Door Coffee started as a humble roastery in a neighbor’s garage, but under Ulbrich’s leadership, the company has grown into a veritable empire, encompassing seven cafes in Denver, soon to be eight, a thriving wholesale business, and an entire ecosystem of educational programming, workshops, and inspirational classes. 

A Little Help allows Denver seniors to age in place and builds unexpected friendships along the way.