Samantha Bruce-Benjamin
Thank you, Jules! One of the prevailing themes of The Westampton Leisure Hour and Supper Club is the question society hostess, Serena Lyons, asks of all her guests over the thirty years of her parties as she tries to resolve the mystery behind the disappearance of her lost love, Kit Peel: What have been the five best moments of your life?
As you've read the book, you will know that this question comes to have special significance for many of Serena's guests gathered at her last party, all of whom are making decisions and choices that will determine their fates, as The Great Hurricane of 1938 approaches the East End of Long Island, unbeknownst to them, over the course of five minutes.
Without giving too much away, you will also know that some guests can recall the five best moments of their lives; some have more than five; some have less; some have none at all; some will confide them in anyone who will listen and some prefer to keep them to themselves, considering them too sacred to share and subject to other people's opinions.
I am of the latter category. What I can tell you is that one of the five best moments of my life is included on the final page of the novel. It is also one of the few lines of the story that I never changed from the moment I wrote it, to the last edit I undertook. One of the great joys in writing The Westhampton Leisure Hour and Supper Club is that I was able to include it and that my most cherished and defining moment will live on forever in the text.
As you've read the book, you will know that this question comes to have special significance for many of Serena's guests gathered at her last party, all of whom are making decisions and choices that will determine their fates, as The Great Hurricane of 1938 approaches the East End of Long Island, unbeknownst to them, over the course of five minutes.
Without giving too much away, you will also know that some guests can recall the five best moments of their lives; some have more than five; some have less; some have none at all; some will confide them in anyone who will listen and some prefer to keep them to themselves, considering them too sacred to share and subject to other people's opinions.
I am of the latter category. What I can tell you is that one of the five best moments of my life is included on the final page of the novel. It is also one of the few lines of the story that I never changed from the moment I wrote it, to the last edit I undertook. One of the great joys in writing The Westhampton Leisure Hour and Supper Club is that I was able to include it and that my most cherished and defining moment will live on forever in the text.
More Answered Questions
Julie
asked
Samantha Bruce-Benjamin:
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[
I enjoyed this book so much that I read a second time. That is an extremely rare occurrence for me. Thank you for this book!
How was the family in the car able to see and talk with Kit on their way to the party? I have theories, but would love to know your intent.
Also, did you know how the book would end when you started writing it or did it develop as you wrote?
(hide spoiler)]
How was the family in the car able to see and talk with Kit on their way to the party? I have theories, but would love to know your intent.
Also, did you know how the book would end when you started writing it or did it develop as you wrote? (hide spoiler)]
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