Larkin Reed's Blog, page 2

"IS AMBER HOUSE REAL?"

Tucker here.

Things have been insanely busy as of late.  Working on NEVERWAS with our wonderful, brilliant editor Cheryl Klein.  I also just moved back down to Los Angeles for the spring semester at my university, after spending basically all of fall recovering from my hospital stay in September.

Yesterday, I signed into our official email account for the first time since December, and my jaw hit the floor.  To everyone who wrote to us in the past few weeks:  your emails mean the world to us.  It is magical to hear from readers.  That's really the only word I know that even begins to describe it.  Magic.  That a story that we wrote — a story that means so much to us — means something to someone else, as well.  It's like making a new friend.  I consider every single reader who takes the time to write to us to be a friend — a true "bosom friend," as Anne Shirley would say.

But there was one particular email that made me very sad, because I had let it languish in the inbox for too long.  A reader from Maryland — Britta — had contacted us for help with a school project about Amber House.

She wrote,

I have a Language Arts book report due on the 16th of January and I wanted to do it on your book, Amber House. For the project, you have to do research on something in the book that is related to the book. Naturally, I wanted to do research on Amber House, as in the book it sounded like a real place. I started researching and all different things came up saying it was real, then it wasn't, then it was again!! I was very confused, so that's why I'm asking you for verification: is there a real Amber House, or is it fiction?

Your big fan,
Britta

I felt really terrible that I hadn't seen Britta's email until it was too late to help with her project. 

Britta is not the first reader to write in with questions about Amber House — whether it is a real place, where it can be found.

On our website, we describe Amber House and its history:

There is but the faintest echo of the crude stone-and-log cabin that first bore the name of Amber House.  Assembled by indentured servants Liam and Sorcha O'Malley in the late 1600s, its original form has been erased by subsequent generations' pursuit of perfection.  Growing with the fortunes of the family that has owned it continuously since its inception, Amber House may indeed be the only landmark in North America that has never passed out of the hands of the family of its founders.

The House as it now stands is a graceful white-clapboard Georgian mansion, flanked by two-story additions that boast a library, billiards room, ballroom, and nine bedrooms.  Perhaps one of the most remarkable features of the House is the conservatory at the end of the west wing, with its collection of rare tropical flowers.  The House is situated on extensive grounds above the Severn River, and its two acres of gardens includes one of the oldest private hedge mazes in the country.

As one would expect of an estate with such a history, the House has inspired more than its fair share of local legends.  There are rumors of secret passages and hidden rooms, used to harbor escaping slaves before and during the Civil War.  Concealed within its very walls is a fabled fortune in diamonds, lost by a sea captain during the Revolution.  And when the House is quiet, guests have claimed they still hear whispers of those who once dwelt in Amber House.

The House described above is indeed fictional.  That is, to the best of our knowledge, there is no white-clapboard mansion on the banks of the banks of the Severn that bears the name of Amber House.  Although I suppose that doesn't mean it can't be there.

In 2009, we rented a boat and sailed up the Severn ourselves.  I snapped several photos of estates that seemed eerily similar to the House I had pictured so often in my mind.








My mother first imagined Amber House when she was younger than I am now.  It was a fantasy space, a house whose rooms she filled with objects that held stories.  This imagined place was influenced during her college years by the nearby Winchester Mystery House.  The Winchester mansion has a similarly bizarre history:

Sarah Winchester was the widow of William Wirt Winchester, a gun magnate responsible for the Winchester rifle.  Sarah believed she was haunted by "the spirits of those who [had] fallen" from her husband's "terrible weapon."  Sarah was afraid for her immortal soul, afraid of the judgment she would certainly receive for the life of luxury she'd enjoyed, profitting off the sale of the rifles.

A psychic told Sarah that, if she were to move West, she might escape the ghosts that haunted her — and perhaps even escape Death itself.  The psychic warned her, "You must never stop building.  . . . If you stop, then you will die."

In 1886, carpenters began work on the Sarah Winchester's house.  This work continued day and night for over forty years.  Sarah believed that if the house was never finished, no spirits could "settle" into it.  In fact, many architectural features were designed to "trap" or confuse ghosts — there are staircases that lead nowhere, rooms without doors.  The house grew to over seven stories high.  There is an invaluable collection of genuine Tiffany stained-glass windows throught the house — many of which look into other rooms.  The house also contains numerous manifestations of the number thirteen — sink drains have thirteen holes, chandeliers hold thirteen candles.  Sarah was also fixated on spider-webs, which show up in decorative features throughout the house.

In honor of the Winchester House's influence on the early stages of my mother's story, we've woven references to Sarah Winchester's spider-webs throughout the book.  The "Good Mother" spider (also fictional) was inspired by Sarah Winchester.

Rooms in Amber House are also inspired by:


The Sleeper-McCann House in Gloucester, Massachusetts, which was built in 1907.   Sarah's bedroom is based on its Belfry Chamber.
The Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts, built in 1637 and lived in by a single family for several generations.  Like Amber House, it is supposedly haunted.
Orchard House, the childhood home of Louisa May Alcott, author of "Little Women."
Monticello, the estate designed by President Thomas Jefferson, built in 1772.

If you are ever curious about what Amber House looks like, you can check out our Pinterest board.  My sister and I have collected various photos of places that are similar to what we had in mind when we envisioned the place.

(We also have a board for Sarah's birthday party and a board hinting at what's in store for the sequel, NEVERWAS.)

On a conclusory note, I promise-promise-promise that I will check our Amber House email obsessively from now on.  I'm all settled at school, we've turned in the latest draft for NEVERWAS — things are definitely calming down, thank goodness.  And we absolutely love hearing from readers, so don't be shy!

Hope everybody's New Year is shaping up nicely thus far!

Best,

First NEVERWAS clue

So here's your first peek at what's in store for Sarah & Co. in Book II.

By way of explanation:  to keep on top of all the different storylines for the different characters in different time periods, and to track where clues to the mysteries pop up, we jot things down on colored cards and lay them out on a calendar.

This photo is from early on in the process of crafting the manuscript.  Scenes and situations have definitely changed since then -- but you might be able to glean something that's made it into the final cut from a card or two.
 

Apologies for the gaps between postings.  We've been busy click-clacking away at our computers getting the manuscript for NEVERWAS in tip-top shape for our dear, lovely editor Cheryl Klein.

Happy Friday!

Neverwas Sneak Peeks

We've been getting all sorts of emails  wondering about Book II in the Trilogy -- when it's due out, whether have any hints to share.

A super-kind review at Dark Faerie Tales -- a beautifully macabre blog -- even stated: 

The ending is a major cliffhanger, yet not at the same time. Really the book could end like it did, but it’s already known that it will be a trilogy. I have no idea where the next book will go — there are so many possibilities its impossible to guess. But maybe you can figure it out.

Inspired by this quote, and by your emails, we thought it might be fun to release lines or teeny excerpts from the as-yet-final manuscript along with photos from our Pinterest account that might give you clues about where Sarah's story is headed.

News, news, news

Scholastic has a great resource for finding out about its latest YA books and how to track down authors, contests, and the latest news about your favorite books through Facebook and Twitter.  If you haven't heard of This Is Teen, you should definitely check it out!




 And we're very pleased to announce that the Kindle edition of AMBER HOUSE will be launching tomorrow!  So for those of you who emailed in asking about it, rest assured that it is going to be available within hours!




HAPPIEST OF HAPPY HALLOWEENS, EVERYONE!

Have fun!

SARAH'S BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY

We are pleased to announce the winner of Sarah's Birthday Giveaway!



And below is the Southern Home magazine article Anne and the senator arranged to feature Sarah's party.  You can see more photos of the affair here.






Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!

With best wishes for Halloween,

ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT ...

Sarah celebrates her sixteenth birthday in two days — which means her mother must be up to her eyeballs in party prep somewhere along the banks of the Severn just about now — and there are only 48 hours left to post links to your review on our official Facebook page, or leave a comment here, to be entered to win this one-of-a-kind necklace!



This piece is by a regional artist in the Pacific Northwest.  It is nearly identical to the necklace given Sarah by Richard Hathaway for her birthday.  Sarah will wear that necklace to her party on the 23rd — along with a custom-made gown designed by Marsden Ltd, some preliminary sketches of which are available below.





Stay tuned for the results of the birthday giveaway, as well as the Southern Home article covering Sarah's masquerade party!

Review Roundup

AMBER HOUSE got its second starred review, in the November issue of the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books!

~ - ~

Swift plotting combines with vivid, cinematic prose to make this gothic tale compulsively readable, and an unexpected ending elevates the story beyond the genre.  Fans of ghost stories will appreciate the classic elements here, from the disembodied voices to the ancestral home with a sordid past, but they will also be pleasantly surprised by the time-bending element that comes into play in the latter half.

Relationships are well developed, particularly Sarah's mix of animosity toward and sympathy for her mother, while the romance between Sarah and a neighbor boy begins simply enough but is then organically revealed to be a fateful, life-changing connection that will leave readers swooning.

Complex, elegant, and haunting, this is a book that deserves to be read in one sitting.

~ - ~

We also have been getting very kind emails!  We love hearing from readers!  So, to those of you that have already reached out to us -- thanks again!  And to anyone who has questions or comments, please don't hesitate to email us!

Review Roundup

It's Friday again, so it's time for another Review Roundup.

On Tuesday, Annette posted her review to Annette's Book Spot:

"I won't hesitate to recommend this one to my mystery fans, fans of adventure stories, exploration, and even historical fiction.  Amber House is a well told tale, and one that easily sucks you in and won't let you go. Please, can you send me an invitation to that birthday party — because I REALLY want to attend."

Page at One Book At A Time posted her kind review:

"This peaked my interest right from the start.  A little mix of history, ghosts, and maybe magic.  I was a little weary that maybe I was setting myself up for failure.  That and the fact that this has multiple authors had me a little hesitant.  There was no need to worry about all that.  This was really a great book.  . . .  Completely not what I was expecting.  I loved it!"

And in a starred review, Publisher's Weekly said:

 "Lush descriptions and an intricate plot drive this intense tale, which straddles the lines between magical realism, fantasy, ghost stories, and horror, with a touch of romance and classic glamour. The result is something rich, strange, and utterly fascinating."

Thanks for reading, everyone!

Best,

Top Teen Pick in Barnes & Noble

Made a quick visit to Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles.  Freaked out a weensy bit when AMBER HOUSE wasn't on the "New Releases" shelf . . . only to find it in the "Top Teen Picks" section next to the likes of THE BOOK THIEF, ENDER'S GAME, STARGIRL and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, and recent hits such as Leigh Bardugo's ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD, Laini Taylor's DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE and Maggie Stiefvater's THE RAVEN BOYS.



Did a little happy dance, then autographed some copies.  So,  if you're in the LA area and interested in a copy signed by the authors, there are six at The Grove and six more at the Barnes & Noble in Santa Monica!

All our best,

Interview with Sammy Parsons

We had a chance to get to know the Parson family pretty well over the last few years.  In a series of interviews, you can, too!  First up is the youngest member of the clan, Sammy.

Interview dated October 7, 2010.

• First of all, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview!

You're welcome!

• Can you please state your full name?

Samuel Thomas Parsons.

• Do you have any nicknames?

Uh-huh.

• What sort of nicknames?

Sometimes my sister calls me Samwise.  Or Sam-my-man.  Or Sammy.  Or Sam.

• How old are you, Sam?

Five. Almost six.

• Where were you born?

I was born in the hospital where my daddy worked.  But he doesn't work there anymore.

• Do you know where he works now?

In a different hospital.  Near where my gramma lives.

• Where does your grandmother live?

I'm not sure.  I've never been there before.

• Oh.  What is your biggest fear?

I'm not really scared of anything.

• That's great.  That's really cool, Sam.

Thank you.

• You're welcome!  So, do you consider yourself a pretty brave guy, then?

Oh, I guess.

• What is your favorite food?

Grilled cheese.  Hot dogs.  Cheeseburgers with ketchup and without the cheese.  Pizza.  Popsicles.  Spaghetti with only butter.

• What's your favorite game?

Well, I like all sorts of games.  But the one I'm goodest at is hide-and-seek. 

• What's your most treasured possession?

That's easy! My flashlight!

• How come?

It's a very useful tool. 

• Good reason.  Which talent would you most like to have?

I would like to be able to climb buildings.

• What would you like to be when you grow up?

Hold on a little moment.  Let me think.  Well, first a helicopter pilot and then a detective and then a paleontologist and a storyteller and a fireman and an ice cream truck driver.

• Impressive list!  Do you have any advice for our readers?

Uh-huh.  Try very hard to listen from the beginning all the way to the end when someone is talking at you.  And don't worry about people in pictures because they can't hurt you, probably.