Hopping Along

Things are hoppin’ along the bunny trail—so fast that I missed getting this newsletter out before the end of March. I have a million excuses and slightly fewer reasons, including the fact that I’ve had fourteen wonderful houseguests staying with me in the past eight weeks. It’s been delightful fun, but counterproductive when it comes to finishing my work in progress, which I had hoped to publish by May.

This month I was able to obtain some framed family portraits that my brother had in storage. I’ve mentioned that two of the three main characters in the new book are my grandparents, who came to Galveston during the recovery period after the devastating 1900 Storm. I’ve always been fascinated with the courage and bravery of these grandparents, who left their families, language, and customs behind, risking everything to have a better life in America.

I’ve wanted to write their story since I was fifteen years old, and that’s when I began researching. I started writing this book in the early 1980’s on my first computer—a Mackintosh with a tiny screen. The computer crashed and took my manuscript with it, but I had re-read the work so many times I could have probably recited it by heart.

I was deeply involved in my career as an educator then, so the book moved to the back burner. Then in 1999, Isaac’s Storm was published. All the things I was going to put into my novel about the 1900 Storm were revealed in Eric Larson’s version, and that was followed by others, such as Ann Weisgarber’s The Promise and Elizabeth Black’s The Drowning House.

When I finally came around to writing my grandparents’ story, I decided to set it in 1905 Galveston, after the storm and during the truly fascinating time of rebuilding, when the engineering of a seawall and the lifting of the city took place. The book, while being mostly historical fiction, has an element of mystery (I couldn’t resist), and an element of romance.

The research has been so enlightening. Having not really known my grandparents, I had to reconstruct their lives and personalities from family lore, family treasures, and a LOT of exploring through thousands of rabbit holes. Along the way, I’ve played detective, seeking the truth from clues, such as the badges that both grandparents are wearing in these pictures.

When I unwrapped the portraits from my brother’s storage unit and looked upon my grandparents’ young faces, I began to cry. For me, these were two very real heroes, strong and smart people whose legacy I proudly carry. Because of the work I’ve done to “get them right” in the book, their photographs mean so much to me. I can’t wait to share these characters with you.

You’ve probably noticed that I keep talking about “the book” in generic terms. I still don’t have THE title for it. Several of you have suggested excellent titles, but the one that pops out and grabs a reader is still eluding us.

A few I’m considering are:

· The Closest of Strangers

· Trouble on Postoffice Street

· Harbor of the Lost & Found

· Harborside Promises

· The Pomegranate Promise

If you’re up for weighing in again, I’d love to hear your thoughts on these titles. Which one attracts you most and WHY. Or what is a better title? I’ll make the offer again—if you supply the actual title, I’ll give you an early copy of the book, along with my undying gratitude.

Also, what would you like to see on the cover?

Meanwhile, I’ve been enjoying going to book clubs to discuss Mrs. Oliver’s Twist and other books. I’ve got a time-honored strategy for leading the discussion, borrowed from the Great Books Society. Invite me to come by Zoom or in person, and I guarantee everyone will participate and gain some insights.

If you don’t already follow me on Books by Saralyn Richard on Facebook, you can do so here.

Wishing you a Happy Passover, Happy Easter, and Happy Spring!

Much love,

Saralyn