Dear Reader

My new novel, Summer Breeze, is not set on Nantucket, but the location has a lot in common with the island: blue water, fresh breezes, love and laughter, families and friends—and complications, of course, because life always has complications.

Summer Breeze takes place near Williamstown, Massachusetts, where I once lived, and near Northampton, MA, where I gave birth to my daughter Sam in Cooley-Dickenson Hospital 36 years ago. Sam went to Smith College in Northampton, and my son Josh Thayer went to Williams College in Williamstown and got his masters degree at U.Mass/Amherst, and his partner David Gillum got his masters at U.Mass/Amherst, and my son-in-law Neil Forbes, husband of my daughter Sam, teaches at U.Mass/Amherst.

Oh, yes, and my three grandchildren live out in Hadley with their parents, so I do make a few trips out there now and then.

I love the area, and I hope my affection for it shows in my book. It is very beautiful, with forests, bubbling streams, serene lakes, velvet hills, and charming college towns. I’ve spent time on Lake Wyola, playing in the water with Ellias and Adeline and Emmett. I’ve walked around the beautiful Quabbin Resevoir and eaten at fabulous restaurants in Amherst.

And I watched my daughter and her friends grow up. They’ve struggled to find happiness in love and work, and so have my son and my sons-in-law. Happiness in love and work—what richness. These young people inspired this book. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Love,

Nancy

Best Wishes,

EMAIL ME at nancy@nancythayer.com!!