I didn’t announce that I was taking a blogging hiatus because I didn’t really consider it – I thought I’d squeeze in a post or two while my grands trekked their way to Mimi’s for the annual visit. Two weeks of back to back grandkids. Truthfully, we got so caught up in having fun that I was too worn out at night to think of posts and sometimes didn’t even open my computer. Nice, in a “get away from the madness of the cyber world” sort of way.
Now, I’m back and even had a nap today (I did miss those!) and only have one observation to share about the grands visiting. The generation gap does exist! What fun to teach my eleven-year-old wonder boy the fun of good old-fashioned double sol! Two rounds and he was on it, whipping out cards with both hands. Later in the week (and several games later), the topic of Netflix came up. Here, Max and I are total morons – have never set it up because it just sounds like too much effort – (groan – another new techie thing to learn). So wonder boy says, “I can do it!” Two minutes later, he’d set it all up via the Wii. Who knew?
Which is not what I really logged on to tell you about.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about what’s next on the writing front. Things have been simmering for quite some time. Matter of fact, the trip to Kentucky last fall (post here) was in preparation for the proposal I had in progress. I’m happy to report that in late spring I received an offer for a new two-book contract with FaithWords. I’m thrilled to be working with the great team there again and in particular with my editor, Christina Boys, who is a marvel. After some intense brainstorming and strategy, I’m happy to announce that the first book will release in the spring of 2014 and is a slight variation from what I’ve been doing.
The Hatmaker’s Heart will be set in the fabulous Jazz Age – the Roaring Twenties – and features a young millinery apprentice of noble British heritage. There are so many things I love about this book – New York City in this era, the fashions, and in particular the swoon-worthy hats of the decade, diving into a new era that’s in the not-so-distant past, and getting to set a portion of the story in England (something I’ve long wanted to do). But what I enjoyed the most was transforming Nell Marchwold – an artistically talented but somewhat timid young woman who stammers into a beautiful young woman of strength and honor. I’ll be sharing more about Nell’s story and the fun I had doing the research in the future, but for now, you can get a sneak peak at some of the things that inspired me while writing the story. My “secret board” on Pinterest which has developed along with the story is now a public board. I hope you love this transition into a more historical period as much as I have.
What does this have to do with Kentucky, you might ask? The story is birthed there when Nell was “discovered” through the hats she made for the ever-elegant, well-dressed women at the Kentucky Derby. The second of this pair of books has a family connection to Nell and will be set primarily in Kentucky with another little jaunt to England. Hang onto your hats – this is going to be a fun trip!
And now that I have Netflix, I’ll be settling in for some research watching vintage movies. I can’t wait!