A Swing and a Miss

Rarely in my professional life have I missed deadlines. I’m usually the one who finishes my homework early so I can move onto the next thing. But this spring has “eaten my lunch,” as the saying goes, and the many visitors and health challenges have caused me to fall behind on everything, including this newsletter. 

Despite it all, I’ve been moving forward with the new book (still untitled—sigh), and some interesting things have been happening in Galveston, where the book is set in 1905.

First, the Bryan Museum is launching an exhibit in November 2026, entitled Port of Promise. The exhibit highlights the Galveston Immigration Movement of the early 1900’s and the contributions of Rabbi Henry Cohen, who is a character in my book. I attended the fund-raising gala for this exhibit, and snapped a few pictures to show you.

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Also, I’ve read this book by my friend, Kimber Fountain, about the red light district in Galveston. Some of the scenes in my book take place on the infamous Postoffice Street, where many brothels were situated in 1905.

In another example of serendipity, the Galveston Historical Foundation Annual Homes Tour opened the Mollie Walters “boardinghouse,” perhaps one of the most famous houses of ill repute in the city. I plan to tour this gem this coming weekend.

I find it amazing that so many stars are aligned for the publication of this historical mystery, particularly since I’ve wanted to write it since I was fifteen years old. At that time I planned to set it during the time of the 1900 Storm, still the worst natural disaster on U.S. soil. In the intervening decades, so many books have been written about that hurricane, but few, if any, about the period of rebuilding in Galveston.

The grade-raising project and building of a seawall provide a fascinating background to the story I’m telling. The strong and resilient city is truly a character in the book. And there are quite a few characters who lived at the time, including some of your forebears and mine.

All in all, this book is turning out to be a thrilling write, and I hope it will be an equally thrilling read. You can expect lots of good news about it in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, I’m delighted that Lori Matthews of Then and Now Bookshop selected BAD BLOOD SISTERS as one of the top three beach reads for Summer 2026, as featured in Shannon Caldwell’s article in the May issue of Coast Magazine. The cover pictured is the old cover, but the inside is the same.

If you haven’t read BAD BLOOD SISTERS or MRS. OLIVER’S TWIST, they are set in contemporary Galveston, and would make for excellent book club discussions. In fact, I would love to come to your book club, in person or virtually, to lead the discussions of any of my books.

As always, I’m interested in hearing from you. What are you reading or writing? What are your plans for the summer? It’s not too late for you to tell me stories about your ancestors at the turn of the twentieth century, either. Let me know how I can put a smile on your face, dear friend. You are an important part of my journey.

Much love,

Saralyn