Getting moving…
I’ve always wondered if people actually read the “About the Author” section in books. Apparently the answer is very few, since only one person has asked me why that section in my new book, Mr. Darcy’s Noble Connections, says I live in Massachusetts when I actually live in Wisconsin. Some people might have thought I was just tired of being called a Cheesehead, but in fact I’m moving to Massachusetts at the end of the summer.
This is both exciting and terrifying. I’ve lived in this house for 25 years and raised two children here, so clearing it out is going to be a big job, but once it’s done, I’ll be living on Cape Cod, which is something I’ve wanted to do since I spent a summer there almot 30 years ago. I’ll be living near Woods Hole, where The Man Who Loved Pride and Prejudice is set, and I’ll be able to walk through Cassie’s salt marsh whenever I want to. My new home is located about a mile (and $3 million) away from Cassie & Calder’s house on the bay.
I know, I know! This is all well and good, but what does it have to with my books? For one thing, it determined what my next project would be, since I didn’t want to have to take a long break to move in the middle of writing a novel. It’s too easy to lose the momentum and the feeling of a story when I do that. Instead, I pulled out one of my ideas for a novella. The scenario is an accidental meeting between Darcy and Elizabeth in Derbyshire, but not at Pemberley, and it incorporates the story of Darcy’s parents meeting for the first time as a story within the story. It’s called The Darcys of Derbyshire: What are Men to Rocks and Mountains? It’s sweet and angst free, and about 2/3 of the first draft is already done.
Wish me luck!
I am so looking forward to my Woods Hole visit next summer! Maya is already saving her spending cash for The Children’s School of Science!
Good luck with your move Abigail! We move last December after living in the same house for about 25 years. It was big move, even though we still have our house in Arizona and didn’t move everything. What I found hard in that, is trying to figure out what to take and what to leave. Sometimes I’ll want something and think, ack, it’s in AZ!
The Darcy’s of Derbyshire sounds fantastic! Plus, I’m looking forward to read Mr. Darcy’s Noble Connections with the group!
Sounds lovely, Abigail — the book, and the move to Massachusetts. Plenty of room for your puppy to run, too, and mud to get into, I imagine!
Good fortune with the move – and I will look forward to reading The Darcys of Derbyshire –
Good luck with the move, Abigail, and I hope that living in a place you love will give you lots of inspiration for many more lovely stories! All the best / xx
My best regards and good luck with your new projects (moving and writing the new novel). But you didn’t mention when “The Darcys of Derbshire” would be available for us your loyal funs to enjoy it?
P.S. : I’m sorry that I will lose you as my neighbor (I live in Kenosha). That bit made me a little bit proud of myself.
Oh best of luck with the big move! I’ve been in the same town ten years (I never left the town I went to college in!) and it would scare me to move away. Happy your dream is finally coming true! Love that you are still writing in the midst of this big change! Can’t wait to read more about your new book!
I adore the Woods Hole books and hope this means that we’ll see more from there soon!
Since I live just outside of Boston, I get the Globe, which had a section last Sunday about the Falmouth area (mentioning the campground that shares your dog’s name!). This reminded me of your move – good luck! – and also a question: where exactly is Cassie’s marsh? Is it open to the public? I live about 1 hr away from this area so I could easily visit.
Annemarie, Cassie’s marsh is the Great Sippewissett Salt Marsh in West Falmouth, just south of Chapoquoit Beach. The abandoned railroad track that Cassie walked down to get into the marsh has been replaced with the extension of the Shining Sea Bike Trail, so you can walk/bike straight through the marsh with beautiful views to each side. If you zoom in on West Falmouth on Google Maps, the marsh is labelled. You can easily combine it with a visit to Woods Hole.
Once I’m out there, I’ll be able to show readers around the sights from The Man Who Loved Pride & Prejudice. 🙂