Rosina Lippi's Blog

Steep Climbs: Cinderella on the Story Arc

This image is adapted from Janet Burroway’s excellent Introduction to Fiction Writing. It encapsulates the essentials of well structured storytelling.

This is the original weblog

I kept this weblog for more than ten years, and this is the place to be if you are looking for information about writing fiction. There are  multiple discussions of technical and craft issues (point-of-view, narrative voice, how to write sex scenes — a perennial favorite, etc.) That’s also where you’ll find posts about my own storytelling process, how I have dealt with writer’s block (or failed to deal with it); my experiences with the business end of publishing and also a series of autobiographical essays.  If we know each other through some academic connection, there are some posts about linguistics on the weblog, as well as links to some academic publications.

Some of the topics here, the ones most often visited:

On writing fiction: rules of thumb (an overview)The unbearable lightness of the blank pageEssential traits for writersStory or plot:  Finding your wayThe story arc Conflict: The little engine that must; Or, Interviewing CindyLet’s not forget her prince: interviewing what’s-his name?Plots 7, 20, 56Twisty plotsThe Trifecta of storytelling: The whole pie

Protected: houdah spot trouble

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

That was a long, long break

More than two years since I posted here, but I ran across this essay I wrote and decided it might be of interest. I did bring a couple things up to date.  And while you’re here, you could hop on over to the other weblogs. There’s a new one called Visual and Sweet Blue has been tweaked. 

 

The Education of a Storyteller: Slanted and Abbreviated

Rosina Lippi

revised October 2023

———————————————————

What you need to know about me first and foremost is that I grew up in  a working class neighborhood on the northside of Chicago. My father, who was raised in Italy, was a restaurant cook. My mother was a waitress, and I spent a big hunk of my formative years skulking around the restaurant kitchen or sneaking behind the bar to steal maraschino cherries.

My father was one of ten kids, every one of them a storyteller of that particular school that values dramatic gestures and grandiose dialogue. These were not formally educated people; at sixteen they left school for factory or service jobs. They read very little, but they talked. Oh, how they could talk. There were two topics that never wore out: food, and family.

To give you a sense of the kind of storytelling that went on, this excerpt from my great uncle Luigi Alfonso’s history of the family, dictated in 1927 and translated from the Italian:

Carlo Antonio Lippi rendered himself notorious by killing the baron of Porcile, Antonio Cesare Ventimiglia. This was during the rule of Giuseppe Buonaparte over the kingdom of Naples (about 1807). As Carlo was about to deliver the fatal shot he shouted “Signore, Giuseppe Bonaparte sends you this!”  Carlo was a hero of the people and escaped all punishment with their help.

Now, I have no idea how true that story is, but certainly the family believed it. That was the first lesson: good storytelling has precious little to do with facts.

My grandmother died six months before I was born, so I was named for her, and in the normally curious way of little girls, I wanted to know more about this grandmother. I started asking questions quite early on, and what I got out of that was an introduction to a wide variety of concepts in Italian storytelling. These were staples in the family storytelling toolbox: first person narration, unreliable narrator, and magical realism.

There are multiple creation myths  as I like to think of them attached to my grandmother. The reason is simple: she seemed to spring out of nowhere. My grandfather had a village full of family in Italy; she had nobody. She was a blank slate, and her children were more than happy to slop on the paint, each in his or her own fashion. For every one of her ten kids, there were to least five versions of her life story and almost as many variants of her name. “Your grandmother’s name was Rose Rose, and you was named for her,” my aunt Kate told me.

My father and three of his sisters, ca 1929, when he had just come home from Italy.

Kate was a minority opinion on this one. Others told me their mother’s real name had been Rosina Russo, Rosie Ross, Rosa Rossini, Rosealie Rust. In fact, all these names and more variants are to be found on legal documents. Her marriage certificate, her baptismal certificate, the birth certificates of her children, everyone of them had a different name. Rose Rose gave birth to Uncle Joe; Rosina Rose gave birth to Aunt Fran, and so on.  It was as if she wasn’t sure herself what her name was. I was in my fifties when I found reliable documentation: her name was Rosina Rusi. With the help of genealogists I have also found her parents – but not their dates or places of death.

So tell me about her, I’d say, and the stories would start. Please remember that most of what I was told was not factual. But that wasn’t the idea, anyway.

Uncle Fred said his father and mother came over from the Abbruzz’. Somebody else disagreed: They came from Naples. They came from Calabria. He was a silk worker. A tailor, a green grocer. She was orphaned when her parents died in a smallpox epidemic in Paterson New Jersey in 1889.

No, only her mother died and not of smallpox, in childbirth. Her father couldn’t cope so he gave the kids over to the Mother Cabrini Orphanage in Manhattan, and went off to Kansas. Or back to Italy. Or out to California. She had one sister, Aunt May. She had two sisters, the little one was just a baby and got adopted right away. There was a brother who went west with the orphan trains. There was just Rose and May, and nobody else. Aunt May wasn’t really her sister, just somebody she grew up with.

The best stories were about how grandpa Fred and grandma Rose met and got married. He got tired of cooking for himself, the most popular story goes, and he wanted a wife. A good Italian girl. So he went down to the Cabrini orphanage and stated his business. Asked to be pointed to the best cook, and they brought my grandmother out of the kitchen. Except the Cabrini orphanage first opened its doors when my grandmother was about eight. I did not interrupt the storyteller with this inconvenience truth.

Aunt Dot told me about her mother: Any time of the day or night, she could give you a meal. Hungry? You sit down at the kitchen table. Not hungry? Sit down anyway and like magic, brujole, pasta fazul, tomato gravy, minestrone. Three in the morning, three in the afternoon, it didn’t matter. Ma could always feed you.

Aunt Ann said, What you need to know about your grandmother is, she knew how to bide her time. Pa would get cranky and she’d smile and fill his bowl again. Then as soon as he was out of the house she’d say, I think it’s time we started the spring cleaning.

You have to imagine this. To my grandmother, spring cleaning meant taking every piece of furniture out of the house and washing from the ceilings down to the floors. Everything was taken apart and scrubbed. It took a week.

A good spring cleaning, she’d say thoughtfully. It’ll drive him nuts.

I think it should be clear by this point that I was immersed in storytelling of a particular kind from a very early age, but for a while I resisted my fate. I was the first one of my generation to finish college, and the first to go on to graduate school. My father could never get over the fact that I was at Princeton working on my doctorate. He’d call me up at all hours and say, you know, you could switch over to baby doctor, you’d make more money.

He liked to pretend he didn’t know what was what, but very little got by him.

So in my early thirities I was an assistant professor at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. I had four hundred undergraduate students in two classes, three graduate students writing doctoral dissertations with me, seven masters degree students to direct, the normal assortment of committees, and three books I was writing simulteaneously – one non-fiction, linguistic analysis, and two novels. At home I had a very lively toddler, and a husband with two advanced degrees – an MA and a PhD in math (generally I refer to him as The Mathematician) – who decided he needed one more to round things out, so he was going to enroll in the part time MBA course at the business school. On top of all that, I was in treatment for secondary infertility. I woke up exhausted every morning, I dragged through my day, I fell asleep over dinner. Until one day I realized that I had to change something, or I was going to go down with the ship. Something, as the expression goes, had to give.

So I started writing fiction.

What? You don’t see the logic? Wait, it’ll all be clear in a minute. The first thing I did was, I went to a colleague who was teaching a seminar in creative writing and asked if I could sit in. Then I started getting up at five to write for an hour and a half before the girlchild and the mathematician had to be roused,  fed, and ushered out the door. If I was lucky, I found an hour to write in the evening. I could usually get in a couple hours on the weekend.

And that was my life for five years. While we struggled to repay student loans, scrape together the downpayment on a house, keep appointments with specialists, while I went through the crucible that is called the tenure review process, during all of that, I continued to tell stories by writing them down. How did I do it? I have no idea. But I do know this: I needed the storytelling. No matter how crazy busy my day was, I had to take that 90 minutes every morning in order to retain my sanity and equilibrium.  Through all the difficulties of those years, fiction was what kept me afloat. I sold a few short stories during that time, and by the point I was awarded tenure I had two full length academic books and two novels waiting in the wings. Of course, I was also thirty years younger than I am now.

The moral of this story is quite simple. Storytelling is not a neutral undertaking. It’s not a hobby. It’s not a way to pass the time. Storytelling is an integral part of the human psyche. It’s the way we explain our universe to ourselves, and make sense out of issues almost too large to grasp. It’s how we teach the children we raise about our beliefs and social mores, the things that are important to us. It’s the way we affirm our social identities.

Storytelling, on the page or screen or stage, has very little to do with formal education. Faulkner said If there’s a story in you, it has to come out but really, that’s not exactly true. There are multiple stories in everybody. It serves you best to let them out.

One last story about my father.

Everybody in the neighborhood knew Arturo. When he retired he swore he’d never cook again, but before the week was out he walked into the corner tavern — Schneider’s — which had a full but unused kitchen, and announced he felt like making lunch. Pete Schneider was a friend of my father’s and he liked his cooking and so for the next couple years, when my father felt like cooking he’d go to market, get what he needed, and they’d put a sign up in front of the tavern. Lunch today. From noon until it’s gone.

On those days the place got really crowded. There’s a bank down the block and people came in droves to eat. At the most there would be two choices, but they came on faith — because my father was a legend, and not just for his cooking. He could get belligerent in a heartbeat, and he hated special requests. I remember him taking a plate away from more than one customer and saying, You don’t like it? Go eat somewheres else. No charge. Get out.

On the other hand, he had a huge and infectious laugh and he loved awful jokes, he was kind to people down on their luck — he fed bums (the term ’street people’ hadn’t come into usage yet) who came to the kitchen door with a liberal hand, he spoiled little kids rotten, and he was very able to laugh at himself.

My father eventually moved into one of two apartments above Schneider’s, so you could always find him there either upstairs or in the kitchen or talking to somebody at the bar. I was an undergraduate at the University of Illinois and I came home at least twice, often three or four times a week. Because he demanded tribute, and because he fed me. And also because as he got older he didn’t want to be bothered with bills and bank statements and so I took on those duties.

So one day I come into the apartment and there’s a pile of mail on the table. In that pile, beyond the regular stuff and bills, are three magazines. As I remember now, they were TV Guide, Modern Maturity, and TIME. At first I was stumped, then I wondered if some neighborhood kid had come in selling subscriptions and caught my father in a weak moment (of which there were not many). So I asked him, and I got a scowl.

He hadn’t subscribed to those magazines, or to any of the others either.

Others?

The pile was in a corner. Newsweek, Harpers, RV-World. I checked the subscription label, which read Arturro Lippi. That’s a misspelling, which at first didn’t tip me off. My father could never find his reading glasses and often wrote things down in a hurry. That day I had other things to do so I let the question of the subscriptions go. When I came back three or four days later, the pile of magazines had grown to maybe twelve or fifteen different subscriptions, including Cosmo and Seventeen.

Dad, I said. Somebody is playing a joke on you.

Somebody from the tavern, I was guessing. Somebody he made mad, which did happen with some regularity. He couldn’t be bothered with the whole thing; magazines were not the way to get his goat. Except by that time the bills had started arriving. I didn’t know at first because he tore them up. When I did find out I would open the bill, write “cancel subscription” and send it off. But no matter what I did, the number of magazines kept growing. There were piles of them all over the house. Modern Architecture, Hair Styles for Today, Guns & Ammo, you name it, it came through the door. And then the collection phone calls started.

My father always treated the phone like a wild animal that needed a strong hand. He raised his voice and it always seemed to me his accent got stronger on the phone. I caught one or two of these conversations, which always escalated fast.

You come down here and try to get that money offa me yourself! he’d shout into the phone. Come on down here, buddy, I’ll show you where those magazines belong.

click.

At this point the Time/Life books started arriving. Those series of books in hardcover? The Opera. The Wild West. The Revolution in twelve volumes.

I called the postmaster and asked if this constituted mail fraud, if there was something that could happen from that end. Nobody called me back.

The next time I was home the doorbell rang. That in itself was odd, because nobody ever used the front door. My father was downstairs in the kitchen so I went to the door and there was a young guy in full marine uniform. He wanted to talk to Arturro Lippi, who had filled out a card expressing an interest in a career in the marines.

Of course the army, navy and airforce all showed up. So did the Jesuits.  Jehovah’s Witnesses.

 

This time when I called the postmaster’s office I was more insistent.

In the meanwhile my father had decided he might as well take advantage. Huge armloads of magazines got deposited in the tavern for people to read. For a while there you could find little old men nursing their beers over copies of People (which had just started up) or The New Yorker. The business from the bank increased too, because my father encouraged people to take the magazines with them. More where those came from!

In the end a postal inspector came to take a report. He had a huge grin on his face the whole time, for which he kept apologizing. This is a serious offense, he’d say, and then you could see him fighting with the urge to laugh. Soon after that the whole thing started to wind down and within a week or two, stopped.

It was kind of sad, actually. As far as I know they never found out who filled out those hundreds of subscription and interest cards in my father’s name, but I do know that whatever the intention was — I assume, to irritate and inconvenience him — it fell flat. My father paid not one penny, and ended up keeping the magazines that actually interested him. The ones with lots of pictures, and centerfolds.

copyright Rosina Lippi

all rights reserved

Things you should never, ever ask an author.

The  stranger asks:

 
The author answers:You’re a novelist? Have you published anything?>You’re a surgeon? Have you ever operated on anyone?Have you written anything I might have read?>Do you read novels?Um….>Then, no.Any bestsellers?>

I read a couple every year.

Still haven’t figured out the formula.

Literature or fiction?>Yes.

Any of your novels

made into movies?

>Only in my nightmares.

Who do you get compared to,

as a writer?

>

My brother compares me to a

volcano of repressed anger.

My therapist doesn’t disagree.

So self publishing, how difficult is that?>

It’s a challenge, from what I can tell.

I am not self published.

You have a publisher? how did that happen?>I wrote a proposal and a first chapter. My agent tapped the right editor on the shoulder, the publisher bought it, and that started the ball rolling.You have an agent? how did that happen?>

I wrote a lot of letters and talked to a lot of people

and had a really good proposal and first chapter.

Could you introduce me to your editor, publisher, agent?>Wait, you write fiction?

I plan to give it six weeks.

That should do it.  

>

Now that’s a coincidence. I was planning on

learning how to take out an appendix this summer.

That’s a no to the agent, editor, publisher intro?>Technically it’s a no, no, no.So you’re writing a novel now?>Are you still practicing medicine?What are your novels about? Any good reviews?>Funny you should ask. I’m wondering what kind of surgery you do and how your patients evaluate you.You are tough.>Yes, I’m a published novelist.So when is your next novel coming out?>

 

About six to ten months after I finish it.

 

Really? So what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at home working ? When will it ever be finished, the way you slack off?>Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’intrate.      

 

 

Divide and Conquer

This weblog has been around for a long time. I no longer post to it regularly, but I haven’t taken it down because it still gets a lot of hits; that makes me think that some people find it useful. 

But it’s a big crazy monster of a weblog, and because it’s so big there are lots of bugs.  So I made a decision some time ago which I have been slowly implementing. Here’s the skinny:

This weblog stays put. All the posts about writing, craft, publishing, and related matters stay right here.

Everything about the novels goes to the wiki. You could pop over there and have a look. You should pop over there if you searched for something here and didn’t find it. 

Examples:

If you’re looking for 

the series of posts on writing sex scenesstory v plot discussionsnotes on constructing dialogideas on generating story ideas

… those posts are here. 

If you’re looking for

genealogy stuff, including a heckin big family treemaps relevant to the various novelsinformation about what I’m writing nowclarification on Ethan and Callie’s relationshipFAQ

… then hightail it over to the wiki. 

This divide and conquer thing is not finished. It may never be finished, but I’ll keep banging away at it, for a half hour or so every day. 

If you’re interested in getting involved (say you would like to put together a short bio for Jack Mezzanotte, Dutch Ton, Anna Hauptmann, Galileo Freeman, or any one of the dozens of characters that still need to be tackled) then please speak up. You may not be interested in writing bios, but then there are dozens of other small tasks that need to be handled.

Note: People who contribute to taming the wild wiki will be rewarded. 

 

 

 

And you complain about your commute to work: Getting from NY to St. Louis 1857

This advertisement (found at the Library of Congress site) may look boring but I have been staring at it for an hour and now you can do the same.  It is in fact a cornucopia of information about travel in 1857. First consider:

If you want to travel by rail from Manhattan to St. Louis you will find not one or two but eleven possibilities. Chose the rail company you want to start with, which of four stations you prefer, and whether you want to set out at 6 a.m., 6 p.m., or sometime in between.

Of course you will be changing cars. In fact, you will have to get out of one train and onto another train in Buffalo, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Or maybe, if you prefer, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Columbus and Cincinnati. Or Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Parkersburg, Marietta and Cincinnati. With all your luggage, in your heavy traveling costume.

But then you will be in Cincinnati, where you can board the Ohio and Mississippi Rail Road (as they spell it) which will take you to St. Louis — and you won’t have to change trains again. Though of course the train will be stopping in Cairo, Vincennes, Evansville, Louisville and Madison before you get to St. Louis.  To make up for that,  you will enjoy especially WIDE CARS and even BROAD GAUGE SALOON CARS.

You want to know what a saloon car was? Good question, but no obvious answers. I do know that there were no dining cars at this point, nor were there berths or friendly porters to make up the berth into a comfortable bed.

If St. Louis is not your destination, your friendly ticket agent can book for you a Missouri River Packet Steamer, a seat on the Pacific Rail Road (which as far as I can tell, was not operational in 1857) or a Mississippi River Steamboat that will take you to Memphis, Vicksburg, Natchez or New Orleans.

There are two questions on your mind, two crucial questions: how long will all this take, and how much will it cost?

No answers on this advertisement.

Excerpt: Little Birds

It takes me a long time to write a novel. My readers wait  at least a couple years between books.  I’m hoping this short excerpt from the beginning of Little Birds will make the wait a little easier.

This novel serves as a bridge between the Wilderness series, which ended in 1824, and the Waverly Place series, which begins in 1883.  Little Birds is set in 1856-57, primarily in the western territories.  The central character is  Callie Ballentyne, one of the daughters of Lily Bonner and Simon Ballentyne. Callie is a nurse and midwife.

I rarely post to this weblog unless I have something longer to share, and for that reason I  have turned off commenting. There is a Facebook page dedicated to my fiction where questions or comments are welcome.  Please stop by if you are so inclined.

Excerpt:

New Mexico Territory ca 1870Little Birds
Sara Donati
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

PHYSICIAN SEEKS  NURSE-MIDWIFE TO JOIN
AN ESTABLISHED MEDICAL PRACTICE
IN NEW MEXICO TERRITORY

Dr. Samuel Markham, originally of this city but resident in Santa Fé, New Mexico Territory for the last­­ ten years, is seeking a formally trained, experienced nurse and midwife to join his medical practice. This position requires someone who will see patients and assist in his Santa Fé dispensary, but who will also make house-calls in the town and environs. Thus the successful applicant must be an experienced rider who can spend many hours in the saddle, often traveling through rough landscapes.

There is a great deal of unrest in the territory. Indian raids and attacks are not uncommon outside Santa Fé and less common within the boundaries of the town, due in part to the presence of the U.S. Army at Fort Marcy. Thus the nurse who joins the practice must be courageous, quick-witted and able to handle weapons. A truly excellent applicant who has no experience with firearms, but is willing to learn, will be considered.

To a well-trained, conscientious, compassionate, vigorous and hard-working individual who is not afraid of the unfamiliar, Dr. Markham offers the following: all costs associated with relocation to Santa Fé; a weekly salary of $15; the use of a good horse and saddle, a private room and board, and services of the household staff. You will take meals with the family (which includes the doctor, his wife and a young daughter) and be counted as one of their number.

Santa Fé’s population is about one-quarter white, not counting the soldiers at Fort Marcy; the rest are Mexican, Indian, African, or mixed blood. There are many different tribes in and near Santa Fé, including the Puebloan clans, the Apache, Navajo, and Ute. Other tribes pass through on a regular basis. As Spanish is the lingua franca, the person hired will be required to learn that language within a reasonable amount of time. Further, she must agree to set out for Santa Fé no later than the beginning of May, and to commit to a three-year period of service. In addition to a very liberal salary, Dr. Markham will consider an annual bonus for a person who becomes an asset to the practice and agrees to a longer contract.

Interested parties should first present themselves to Dr. Michael Colby at the New Amsterdam Hospital. If that interview is successful, he will ask you to send a letter of application to Dr. Markham in which you  may provide information about your background,  training and experience, and what interests you about this position.

Dr. Michael V. Colby, Director
New Amsterdam Charity Hospital

New York City
Posted November 30, 1856

 

screenshots

Your letters, (and sometimes) my answers

Conan Doyle ms. Sherlock Holmes: Is this not fun?

I thought I had lost these copies of letters and emails from readers, but stumbled across the file today.  This isn’t all the correspondence, but a selection of notes that made me think or laugh or reminded me why I write.  Some of them go back twenty years, and I haven’t kept up this file (because I couldn’t find it) for ten years or so.

Today I was also reminded that my filing routine is god awful. Important docs can show up in one of four places, if they show up at all.  It’s not the way my mind works — that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.  The only upside is that while frantically searching for the 2016 business tax returns, I come across things like this file of letters.

Things I would love to have: a business manager, a housekeeper, a gardener, a zillion bucks.

Here are the letters:

Dear Sara, 
 
            I have never been much of a reader.  But, when I found Into the Wilderness that all changed.  I found I could not put the book down.  When I had finished it I rushed to find the next book.  I have since read all four books of the series and am currently waiting patiently (as patiently as possible) for Queen of Swords. I thoroughly enjoy snuggling up on the couch with your books and letting myself be swept into the characters’ lives.  It’s like having a break from all the hustle and bustle of reality.  If only life could be as amazingly adventurous as it is in the books.
            I have read the first 3 books at least four times.  I find something new each time I read them.  I will be re-reading all four books now while I wait for Queen of Swords.  Keep them coming!!!
 
Yours truly,
 
Jessica G.

I just discovered your first three books at the library and I love them – so much so, that I am buying all of them to retain permanently!  Can only seem to find hardback copies on Ebay, and not on Amazon.com which is really strange.  There is no bookstore in my town to purchase them direct.  I love your characters and their sincerity and honesty

Cheers

Maureen K.

Hi Sara,

 I live in Australia, a huge melting pot of different nationalities which like America grew from a migrant base,  was also a British colony but unlike you did not have a revoloution to sever out ties.

I love reading frontier fiction and am enjoying your books but must confess my interests are more toward the spirit world, such as the Aboriginal Dreamtime, Canadian Manatou, American Indian folklaw and all Celtic legends.

I feel a strong affinity with your indian caracters, more so than with the british ones but find myself wondering if you will ever write a book or a series just on folk law, do you have any plans along these lines?.

I look foward to your 5th book,

John.

[John — not at the present time. I have three novels crowded into my head at once, all needing to be written before I can take on any other projects. But I appreciate your interest in aboriginal laws/rights, and will continue to try to do the subject justice.]

 

Dear Sara…….I just finished “Fire Along the Sky”, yes, I did read the previous three…in order I might add!!  This is the best series I have ever read, you have an wonderful gift for storytelling.  I am going to have trouble waiting for “Queen of Swords”.  I am anxious to know about what Jennet’s been through and how long it takes Luke and Hannah to find her.  All four books were non-stop-reads…can’t-put-em-down.  Best wishes, Sindy

P.S.  This is gonna sound wacky but you look like a girl I went to high school with and of course I can’t put my hands on my year book (the thing has probably disintegrated by now). Did you graduate from Lakeshore High School around 1974?

[Sindy — I did graduate in 1974, and I did graduate in Chicago. But from St. Benedict High School.]

Dear Sara,

I discovered Into the Wilderness several years ago completely by accident, and have been hooked ever since.  I just finished Fire Along the Sky.  It’s a good thing, too, because I wasn’t able to put it down for three days.  My 16-month old daughter was upset with me, my work has suffered, and I have actually found myself dreaming about Lily Bonner.

Usually when an author gets this far along in a series, the writing suffers.  Or the characters do, or the plot just isn’t as compelling as the first one.  Not so with this series.  Hannah’s character has only gotten deeper (and she was never two-dimensional to me to begin with.)  Lily Bonner is a fantastic character, and I have very much enjoyed your writing about mother-daughter relationships, having become a mother myself so recently.  Simon Ballentyne is simply hot (if a trifle hairy for my taste) and my heart is breaking for Daniel.  I can’t wait to find out what Jennet’s been up to (I hope she’s making that b@stard’s life a living hell).

I was about halfway through Fire Along the Sky when I realized that there was no way you were going to wrap things up by the end of the book.  While my first response was an expletive that I will refrain from repeating, at the same time I felt profoundly grateful to have another adventure in the works.

I told my two best friends (who are also hooked) that I have enjoyed Fire even more than the other books – which I thought were fantastic, one and all.  It’s something about how you never seem to leave a character behind – not even Liam Kirby.  And the way you link characters together without being patronizing to the reader – it’s definitely something very special to read.

Thanks so much for this world, Sara.  Have fun writing Queen of Swords.  I know I’ll enjoy reading every word.

Sincerely,

~Andi

[Andi — I think the novels get better as I go along, too. Thanks for the lovely compliment.]

Hello. I am an avid reader of your work. I just finished Fire Along the Sky and then had to re-read all the previous books in the series. I can’t wait to find out where Hannah’s life will take her in the new book.

I just stumbled on your weblog and noticed an entry about 15 books you wanted your daughter to read. The list of 100 classics you referred to is one I have been meaning to read and check off for a year now, but it has been something I think I should do and haven’t yet done. I would be curious which 15 books made a lasting impression on you. In going through the webblog, I couldn’t access the final list of 15 you gave her. Can you please forward that? I am interested to see your list. So far, I have enjoyed many of your recommended books. Thanks, and I really appreciate your work.  Sharla

[Sharla — actually, I didn’t have a list of 15 books. I could make about ten different lists of 15 books each, depending on the topic. And maybe I’ll do that some day.]

Sara/Rosina;
Not quite sure which name to call you, but as I am a Sarah (with a H), I find myself liking the thought of a fellow S girl.  I know you are probably inundated with letters from fans, but I was once told that for every response you get, ten more people out there think the same thing.  I only write when the urge is strongest and I cannot get the subject out of my mind.  I just finished your fourth book.  I read them all in less than a month.  I found out about you from Diana Gabaldon’s website.  I will admit I felt a bit like a thirsty nomad having severe withdrawal’s from her books and yours were a godsend.  I truly love the characters and where you have taken them.  I am sure you would say that they have take you on a journey, but I really think that the true measure of an author is how much the reader cares for the characters.  I honestly gasped when Elizabeth’s children were taken away in the ship and I will say that your books are not predictable.  I also like the way you write the family understandings between each other, I never feel that the connections are contrived.   I was a bit skeptical that I would love your books as much as I  do, I realize that Diana didn’t want us to consider your books in light of hers, but when you like a series so much, it is hard not to.  But now, after four books, I do see them for their own merits and love them.  So now I feel like a rabid dog frothing at the mouth for your next book.  Not a very flattering vision of me, but I am sure you get my message, that I love your writing and will wait with great anticipation for your next book.  Thank you for your time, I hope this finds you well.  Sarah

G-DAY SARA, I LIVE IN A SMALL COUNTRY TOWN IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA,
I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU HOW WONDERFUL YOUR BOOKS ARE, AND TELL YOU THEY HAVE GIVEN ME A LOT OF JOY READING THEM,

I LOVE TO READ THE STORIES YOU TELL
YOU MAKE ME FEEL I KNOW THE CHARACTERS SO WELL
I SIT AND READ FOR HOURS EACH DAY
FOR ONCE I START I CANNOT PUT IT AWAY
WHEN I TURN THAT LAST PAGE I SIGH
I AM SO SAD IT HAS TO END, I COULD CRY
BECAUSE NOW I MUST WAIT PATIENTLY FOR YOUR NEXT BOOK
I CANNOT WAIT TO TAKE A LOOK
YOUR BOOKS I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO TOUCH
SO. THANK YOU SARA SO VERY MUCH
SARA PLEASE DON’T EVER STOP WRITING THE WILDERNESS SERIES, I AM MOST SURE THERE ARE MANY LOYAL FANS OUT THERE, JUST LIKE ME, WHO WILL ALWAYS BE WAITING TO READ YOUR BOOKS.

FROM JULIE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Sara, I’m 73 plus, and have just found your books. The first one I bought, was Lake in the Clouds. On getting it home, and starting to read, I discovered, there were 3 others preceding it. ( Oh dear ) I promptly put it down, and went hunting for the others. So far I’ve read Into the Wilderness,and Dawn on a Distant Shore, and am now waiting to find Hidden Wolf, which I believe is the third in the series ???? , and here I am still sitting on Lake in the Clouds. So I have tucked that one aside. Hoping to get Hidden Wolf sometime soon.
How I have enjoyed these books,
Please write fast, as I’m not sure how many years this Great Granny has got left. I believe you have another one to follow Lake in the Clouds.
Please God grant me another 10 years at least, to enjoy these books.
Sara, thank you so much, for writing them.
I remain a faithful fan.

Win D.

Note: Sara replied to Win and let her know that actually, Lake in the Clouds is the third book, and that Hidden Wolf was its working title. There’s more about this in the FAQ.

Dear Rosina,

I am on my lunch hour here at my place of employment, and I was kicking myself because I forgot to bring Into The Wilderness with me to read. However, I got onto your website and was thoroughly taken with your Q&A section. My husband and I live in the country w/four horses and Roxie (a red dog) and each winter since we’ve moved, I’ve had the pleasure of reading some of the best novels of my life, and ITW is certainly one of them. I’m halfway through it now (…) I Thank you for sharing your wonderful gift with me and the other people who have read your works. Historical novels such as this are not only entertaining but educational, and as precious as time is, I’m always happy to get the most out of even my leisure time. God bless you and your family and happy holidays.

Sincerely,
Rose

Dear Sara,

I have just finished Lake in the Clouds and I have to tell you how much I love your latest book in the Wilderness Series.

The first 2 were terrific and unforgettable, but there is something extra special about your latest. I think its the fact that now, after reading the first two and getting to know and love the characters so much (and hate some of them too!), I felt from the moment I read the first page of Lake in the Clouds, that I was back in Paradise, that I was an invisible part of the Bonner clan. To almost feel my own head flutter along with Hannah as she shares her first kiss with Strikes the Sky and so many other wonderful moments.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your amazing talent, to bring these people to life to millions of readers is incredible. Now enough praise, get in there and write us a fourth book!

Best wishes,
Nerida

Dear Sara,
I just wanted to write to tell you how much I love your Wilderness books; I’ve just rushed through Lake in the Clouds. I suppose I should have re-read the first two, but I was too impatient, to read the next installment. It’s like a treasure, the story, I love the narrative descriptions on the Mohawks, because it is practically gone now, the old ways, that is; the interweaving of the stories flows so well, I love all the wonderful characters, and can’t wait to find out how Hannah goes, what a beauty she is. I do love Nathaniel and Hawkeye and I’m so glad Elizabeth found such a hunk!.

Best Wishes,
Annette W.

I just finished Dawn on a Distant Shore, and I loved it.

Thank you for writing your books.

The only part of the first or the second book that moved me to tears was when Hannah asked Hawkeye to go the village with her as she had to kill the bear. I tell you, the tears were freely flowing!!

I also wanted to comment on something that I had read in frequently asked questions when the issue of borrowing Claire is discussed. I do not think you are a Diana Wannabe. I loved your series for what it was.

I look forward to reading book 3.

Your homepage says you live in the Pacific Northwest. I live in the most beautiful place in Washington State…Port Angeles :)

I look forward to going to one of your readings. I will keep an eye out for the next ones, as I found the three you have scheduled in Seattle to late to go to any of them.

Again thank you.

Sheri

Dear Sara,

I just moments ago and very reluctantly read the last page of Into the Wilderness, and am taking this brief moment to write to you before picking up Dawn on a Distant Shore.

I have recently arrived in New York from the countryside of Australia and seeking solace in the confusion of my new city life reached out to find unbelievable inspiration in your writing. At first, afraid I had chosen a soft romance that offered only company and kind words, instead I found your words provided me with inspiration, inner strength and renewed commitment to a new life on the East Coast of America. I have fallen in love with your characters and find myself newly appreciative and grateful of the comforts of my modern life in comparison to the hardships and trials that these pioneering men and woman of courage faced.

Thank you again, and I look forward with much anticipation to your future writings in the Wilderness series.

kind regards,
Penelope M.

[Penelope — My goodness. I am so pleased I could offer you some distraction in a challenging situation. Best of luck.]

Ms Donati-

Lake in The Clouds was well worth the wait!! I¹m half way through and cannot put it down. I¹m an avid reader but all mysteries and thrillers (James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell, Hooper, Kellerman). I have never read a romance in my life. In fact when my grandmother gave me Into The Wilderness, I thought she was losing it.

Well, I figured I’d at least read the first chapter and add it to the library donation stack. Ha! I read that book non-stop, even called in sick one day so I could finish it. Your series is among my favorites and sits right next to Stephen King¹s The Stand and Preston/Childs Relic. There is enough excitement, history, and suspense that any self-proclaimed “romance hater” will say, “Please let her be working on the 4th in the series!!!”.

Can’t thank you enough for such a great story and will be keeping an eager eye out for your next.

L.Donahue

 

An author named Sara Donati
Writes novels that I like aloti.
Her books I don’t lend.
She gets more to spend
On luxuries like a Bugatti.

Nice work!
Yeah! Who else to play Nathaniel but D.D.L!
I read your tales on tape when I work and when I drive.
Keep it up!

Regards, John

[John — lovely. bravo. But just so you know, I drive a Honda.]

Hi,
These books were the first adult books that i have actually enjoyed. Where did you get your inspiration from?

My favourite sections of the books, were your amazing descriptions, the best one, in my opinion, would have to be in the first book, where Elizabeth sees Half Moon Lake for the first time, and you described the felled trees as mens morning stubble. For some reason it has lodged itself in my brain.

I have read many young adult books that have ‘involved’ me, and I really felt that I was the character, but never have i read and actually found myself; unaware of the time, feeling the wanting Elizabeth felt, emotions such as anticipation and excitement flowing endlessly through my dull veins. Your books are excellent and I would strongly recomend them to anyone.

I know that you will get an astronomical amount of e-mails that tell you how great you are, or what parts of your books you could change, but, and I know I don’t have a degree in English or anything, but whatever happens, don’t ever change any part of your books.They touched me in a way, I am sure any other book I read will find hard to out do. Go with what you feel in your heart, because if thats what you’ve been doing so far, keep on trusting it, because only you will know what is good, and believe me they are far better than good. They are amazing, and I am looking forward to your next book.

Thank-you,
Sarah W.

Hello again,

Well, I don’t understand why, but once again, I gave your books out to some friends for a good summer read. I feel like Oprah trying to get people to start reading. I just feel that most people don’t read due to the fact that they just don’t know how to find a fun book that they can enjoy, smile, and cry, with. Time always is the excuse but like anything you really want to do, you always find it if you want it bad enough. Anyway, I gave them out and I think I have created some Monsters, you were a big hit. I love to read and I seem to have been the brunt of jokes due to my habit. Now, I have to direct some friends in what to read next. Thank goodness I am retired and can spare the hours it takes to search for the best writers to dive into and become part of.

I really just want to say that you have and will always be one of the few writers I can just read and reread your books. I will always be keeping an eye out for the next book, but take time and enjoy some of the summer before it is gone.

 

Thanks for a great summer,
Diana T.

 

My name is Shaina. I am only 13, but I am in love with your books. You see, one day my mom was reading this book and all of a sudden she says, “oh my gosh! I know that character!”(or something like that) she had found the mention of Claire, Jamie and Ian in Into the Wilderness (we had already read Diana Gabaldon’s books; we own them in paperback and hardcover). So, I just HAD to read it. I’ll have you know that I am the biggest bookworm on earth and all my friends think I’m some sort of wacko. So I got sucked in. I’ve read them both at least 3 times and am hoping to own them ASAP.

A couple months ago, I somehow got talking to my Social Studies teacher about books. It turned out she is as crazy about Diana Gabaldon as my mother and I are. So I’m like… there’s these books you HAVE to read. Guess which ones I was talking about? So now she’s hooked on you too — I wonder who we’ll get next?

Just so you know — if you’re kind of shocked at a 13 year old reading books like yours, lemme put it this way: I read Outlander when I was 11 — my ma couldn’t stop me after that. I’m now a romance addict. My grandma thinks it’s scandalous. Oh well.

Shaina

=====
“Chocolate + Books = LIFE” -Me

 

dear rosina,

into the wilderness is the best book I have ever read and in my opinion the best book in the world and beyond,my name is Lauren and I am addicted to the written word and your book has opened my eyes and my heart . I often think that I may be thinking of myself in the characters and I can definitely see the characters in myself ,my friends often come across me curled up with this book every where and as most of them draw the line at books over 200 pages 876 is far out of their range. even though I got your book about 2 months ago I had read it within a day and have read it about a million times since and I have read dawn almost as many times . I was so happy when I read that there were 3 more books to come and I know that you will make them as good as wilderness although I think you have to be magical to be so good. I know you said no more name plates on your website but if you could find the time it would mean the world to me and I would treasure it always, you probably have many requests for an exeption but no one could love your books as much as I do

your #1 fan
Lauren M.
P.S. I am 14 yrs old

 

A couple weeks ago I was at the library, considering rereading Diana’s series, or starting over with Dorothy Dunnett’s, but instead I asked the reference librarian if she perhaps could give me a couple suggestions for similar authors. I can’t remember who she told me to look up, but when I went to the shelf, the author was a modern mystery writer — not a historical fiction. But I looked down from the stool and saw Diana Gabaldon’s name on a book, recommending it — and thus I found you, and Into the Wilderness. I finished it, and was overjoyed to find out about Dawn on a Distant Shore (almost done . . . ) — What a wonderful series, what beautiful and full research you have done. Please don’t take the time to write back as I want the next book out ASAP!

Rita R.

Dear Sara Donati,

First of all, let me tell you that my english may be not too good or expresively correct, but I will try to do it my best.

I am writing to you from SPAIN, on the coast nearby the mediterranean sea. This is to tell you that I have just read your book IN WILDERNESS, which has been translated to spanish as EN TIERRAS SALVAJES. I have liked very, very much the story of NATHANIEL and ELIZABETH and what I want to know is if the second part of the story will be published in spanish.

I am looking forward to reading how it goes on. Please, send me an e mail telling the date when it will be published in Spain. If you don’t know it yet, answer me anyway to be sure that someone has received this message. Many tahnks.

Eva S.

Sara,

I’d just like to thank you for your wonderful books. I have thoroughly enjoyed both “Into the Wilderness” and “Dawn on a Distant Shore”. Am eagerly awaiting “Hidden Wolf”.

It was sheer luck that I bought “Dawn on a Distant Shore”. I read the blurb and thought “maybe too mushy”, picked it up, put it down, and finally thought “I can ditch it if it’s no good”. Am ever so grateful that I bought it. In my opinion, you have a great gift. There’s nothing like a book that you can’t put down. Thanks again.

Gail R.

 

I have to tell you that I just loved your book Into the Wilderness. Last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have my left breast removed. I had to go thru chemotherapy afterwords and in one of my lucid moments, I picked up your book. It got me thru some hard times and as much as I loved to read, I just couldn’t get into a book and forget what I was going thru, but your book did that for me. Thank you.

K.N.

Ms. Donati,
I have just finished “DDS” and enjoyed each and every word. I find your writing style not only entertaining but intellectually stimulating. You actually give the reader some credit, and allow them to use their brains. I enjoy not being able to acurately predict each major event and it keeps me turning the pages. My favorite part of your adventures though comes from the writing itself. Your un-canny ability to intersperse pertinent character traits and gestures with an incredible dialogue gives the reader another dimension to work with. The reader can almost see the character under a microscope which keeps your story so real and alive. This precious glimpse of the characters is golden. I’m not sure I have read any other authors who make this look so easy -surely it is not. For this reason your characters are REAL. (In fact I ran into a clerk at the grocery store yesterday who startled me because of his mannerisms, facial expression, and stature – He was Nethanial- Thank God you space your books out or I would not have a life) But the ‘vacation’ has been great! Thank you, for such a wonderful treat. And please -keep up the hard work. I can hardly wait to find out what’s in store for Luke, Hannah, and Jennet -not to mention Nathaniel and Elizabeth.

Fondly,
Jeannie W.

Dear SARA DONATI,
I am on page 101 of your second novel
i am enjoying it.
Unfortunately ,a friend of mine, Jan ,wrote an email to me yetserday saying she was “upset that babies were kidnapped and she HOPED I had gotten that FAR in the book!!
wel do know what page that happens on?
I hope she has not ruined the whole book (suspense )for me i tell U,it takes all kinds

Nancy T.

Subj: Hi Mom!!!
I was searching for sites about your book (Well…I was really looking to see if there was anything about me) and came across an “E-mail Sara” so I did. There was only one thing about me, and all it says is that you live with your husband and daughter and three cats blah blah blah the usual… but lots of good stuff about you. By the way there was tons of stuff on the Altavista search “Into the Wilderness” By Sara Donati, I came across tons of sites and NO FlAMES AT ALL!!! (By the way… considering this message… perhaps you should… reconsider a certain movie… something like… The Sixth Sense… that was it)
Love Your always loving and very brave (When it comes to movies) daughter

 

INTO THE WILDERNESS is one of my favorite books. I’ve read it twice and plan to start it again soon.

I’ve always been an American History buff and you told an excellent “history” story. Your characters are good, have depth, and make you want to get to know them better.

I have been watching since last fall for the sequel.

I’m an avid reader who has a 4 hour per day commute from CT to NYC so I do read a lot. I primarily read Patricia Cornwell, David Baldacci, Linda Fairstein, and most everything on Oprah’s book club.

My only criticism of your book (which isn’t serious) is the weight. That’s one heavy book to be lugging around in a back pack.

Carol

 

Donati’s Tale

Just sit right down and read a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip.
It started up in Canada,
Aboard a Scottish ship.

The Man was a mighty Backwoodsman,
His Lady brave indeed.
Come follow them in their search
For three kids in need.
Three kids in need.

The story started years ago,
Surprises are in store.
If not for convoluted twisty turns
Of plot I’d tell you more.
Of plot I’d tell you more.

Dear Sara wrote our names in thanks, We’re
Pleased to see them there.
With Rosina, and In-laws, too
Brother Septimus and his nose,
The Sailor Guys, Diana, and Anonymous
Here in Dawn on a Distant Shore.

So this is the tale of the Bonner Crew,
We’ve been waitin’ a long, long time.
We’re glad to have them back again,
We like this book just fine.

So Sara go and garden now,
Your very best is out.
It’s up to us to spread the word,
“Must Read It” we will shout.

No phone, no work, no fam’ly time,
Just a single luxury,
We’re reading dear dear Sara,
It’s as WOWonderful as can be.

So join us here each page my friends,
The plot twists you’ll adore,
And meet a few new characters,
Here in Dawn on a Distant Shore

Hi Sara

I have just finished Dawn on a Distant Shore today – I really enjoyed it (maybe even more than Into the Wilderness). I was interested to read that you picture Nathaniel as Daniel Day Lewis – that’s who I pictured as well.

I wondered about Flora’s garden, which you described so feelingly – was it based on a real garden? As a keen gardener I always appreciate an author who notices gardens (I wonder if Elizabeth begged some cuttings to take home?).

Thanks for such an enjoyable read – I am looking forward to the sequel.

Kate M.

Dear Sara, I have completed reading Dawn on a Distant Shore. I had my doubts that the second book could be near as wonderful as the first but it was incredible. Your talent is such a gift that only God Himself could give. I received it on February 28th, and had finished reading it by March 10th. Every waking moment that was available to me I spent furiously turning the pages.
I know you said that you will not be writing about overseas travel any time soon, but you did a fabulous job. There were moments that I could smell the ocean myself. I almost fainted when the children were taken. My heart was racing, I was breathing so heavily, and I couldn’t read fast enough. Then when Rob died and I cried my eyes out! At first I was a little angry at you for killing him off, but it just flowed with the direction that the story was taking. I admire you now for doing that.
This book was also one of a love affair. Not of Elizabeth and Nathaniel, but one of a mother and her children. That bond of love is far greater than that of a man and a woman. This entire book was about the relationships between parents and their children and no matter what, that bond cannot be broken.
Thank you again for writing two of the most incredible books that I have ever read. You are a wonder to me. God has just given you so much! I hope that you feel blessed. I am insanely taken with both of these books and continue to read them over and over until your next one is available.

Your faithful fan and friend,
Nicole B.

Dear Sara

After years of trying to convince me that there was something magical to reading books, my little sister bought me Into the Wilderness.I now understand what she was meaning.

Thank you so much for letting me see how swept away you can get with a GOOD book. I havent experienced the feeling of emptiness I felt when I finished the book, since. After coming to know the characters so well it was heartbreaking when there was no more to read.

A few days ago I bought Dawn on Distant Shore, but as yet havent taken it out of its bag…..I am anticipating the day I can look into their lives again, but know that eventually I will have to experience that feeling of emptiness.

Thank you again, and I look forward to reading further novels.

Warmest Regards
Wendy J.
Tauranga – New Zealand

Ms. Donati-
Just wanted to thank you so much for the gift of Into the Wilderness! I read it last summer when I was going through a really rough time with my health. I was in constant and often severe pain, and the book really helped me to escape into another world and forget about my pain for awhile. I was reading a lot then, because it was almost the only thing I could handle doing, but this book really touched me like none of the others did. Rather than giving my copy away (as I do with most of the paperbacks I buy), I’ve hung onto it so that by keeping it on my shelf, it would serve as a reminder to get the sequel! Today I was online and saw the book on my shelf and thought I’d check into it – imagine my surprise and joy to find out the new book is due out in a few days! What timing! I am starting to get my health back, but still have a lot of painful moments and am looking forward to diving into the new book and forgetting all about what is going on with me for a short time, at least!

I just wanted to let you know that I felt like the book helped keep my sanity at a time when I was absolutely miserable…it was more than just a good book, but like a medication for me! Thank you so much for writing it and the upcoming sequel!

Warmly,
Tamie D.

 

I feel the need to share my story with respect to Into The Wilderness,,,, if you have time please bare with me as I need to set this up a bit.

Currently I live in N. Minnesota, but I am originally from Northern California,,,,lake Shasta area. I have a beautiful Native wife and 5 great children. 2 of my daughters are sun dancers (at sacred piercing ceremonies) and we are very close friends to Dennis Banks, his family, and grandchildren. I am a big proud, wannabee mountain man who is an avid reader of David Thompson’s “wilderness series”. I was definitely born 2 centuries too late. I am a logistics corporate investigator for a very large retailer. I am usually on a plane 3 days a week my area covers New York to Sacramento.

Better said, I am trying to paint a picture of myself as a big, proud, old school, old values kind of guy.

Late last fall I was walking through the Minneapolis airport looking for a book. I usually choose a book by its cover “new concept huh”, as a Ph.D. you have now figured out,,, I am not. Thank God for spell check. Anyhow, There is about 15 different little book store’s in msp airport. I saw “into the wilderness” and liked the cover, but liked the title even more. But then I saw it !!!!! the dreaded woman author @~$&~*$ and I put the book back down and walked to the next store. After 4 stores with your book on every shelf and 3 minutes before boarding I swallowed my pride and bought it. The thoughts chick flick, luvvy duvvy, mushy stuff was going through my head.

My destination was Wilton New York as we opened a new 1.5 million square foot Distribution Center there. This would be my first time in New York. On the flight there I started flipping through the book and noticed that the story was in the same geographical area that I was headed to.

I started reading, and was in absolute ahhhh, I could not put it down. When I arrived I could not believe it, your land marks were right down the street. I even found myself upset at our company for building this facility to close to the Sacandaga river in the book. Which is now damned and is also a lake.

Instead of working, I grabbed my local investigator and we drove up into the area. What a treat it is to be able to have this book in hand, and be looking at the surroundings. Your book is now a topic on email amongst a lot of people/friends in our company and they are hooked !

Your unintentional payback !

I HAD TO WAIT 3-4 MONTHS FOR DAWN ON A DISTANT SHORE ! However I had the pleasure of emailing my friends in Minnesota that I found it first !

I had Barnes and Noble look it up after you left me hanging. I have looked in 12 different airports in the last two weeks and could not find it. Well I picked it up today at a bookstore in Pasadena, Ca. called Vromans.

Please except my sincere apology for being so ignorant with respect to my preferences of a male gender author. You hooked me, I am a wiser and humble man. Thank you, and keep em coming.

Feel free to use my testimonial for all those other proud men that are as ignorant as I.

p.s. My other favorite book is Last of the Mohicans and of course Nathaniel is my hero. My 3 year old son’s name is Nathaniel, and David Thompson’s main character in the wilderness series main character is Nathaniel King.

Sara:

Being a devote of Diana Gabaldon, I was reluctant to read your books because I thought nothing could match the Outlandish series. Please accept my apologies. I have finally read Into the Wilderness and am in the middle of Dawn on a Distant Shore and now know how wrong I was..

Into the Wilderness was outstanding. I had many a sleepy morning at work because I couldn;t but the book down. I thought Elizabeth and Nathaniel and all of the other characters in the book were perfectly drawn and I KNOW that Elizabeth and Nathaniel are a match for Jamie and Claire any time. I am now at the part in Dawn on a Distant Shore where the children have been taken by Moncrief. I am trying to take my time because I don’t want the book to end but am having a difficult time slowing down. Will there be another episode in the Bonner’s lives or will this be it? I hope not.

Thanks you for these wonderful books and I look forward to more of your work.

Elaine B.