Island Girls

Yes, it’s still January, and here on Nantucket the temperature is 20 degrees! The weather is telling us to curl up on a couch or in bed with a warm cup of cocoa and a book that takes place on a beach in summer.

I have a suggestion, of course.

Island Girls, published in 2013, is about three women who are related by Rory Randall, father to Arden and Meg, and stepfather to Jenny.

When Rory dies, he leaves a valuable Nantucket house to his three grown daughters. . . with the condition that they spend the summer together in the house.

Arden, Meg, and Jenny are not happy about this. They aren’t close. Barely friendly.

But a Nantucket house? They come.

Arden is the host of a TV show in Boston. I knew something about hosting television because I met my husband when I was visiting a friend on Nantucket and he interviewed me for his local TV show, ArtsView. Arden is ambitious, composed, and sophisticated.

Meg teaches English at a community college in Boston, rather like my best friend Jill. Meg is writing a biography about a woman artist I happen to admire. Meg tends to be dreamy rather than practical.

Jenny is an IT specialist. My son Josh is an IT specialist, and he kindly answered all my questions about IT, although what a complicated world it is!

When people ask me where I get my ideas, I say that I eavesdrop on my family and friends. And that is partly true. Writing a novel is like mixing memories with flashes from present life, stirring with the spice of inspiration, and pouring an Irish coffee topped with whipped cream over it all.

In 2012, when I was writing Island Girls, my daughter Sam set up a photo session. This her idea of me. Her mother. Her children’s grandmother.

It’s not totally wrong. I do read every day and eat chocolate often (every day). I was glad to lie down for the photo because this was taken at Sam’s house where Charley and I were visiting, and she had three children under the age of 5. I don’t know how she found the energy to organize this.

The truth is that lying on a pile of books is very uncomfortable.

Also, I’d rather read the books than lounge on them. Better yet, I’d rather write them.

And the Irish coffee with whipped cream is meeting my readers!

My new book comes out in April. It’s called Summer Light on Nantucket and it’s about Blythe, her four children, her ex-husband, her wonderful ex-mother-in-law, her Nantucket summer house, and her high school love. And, let’s just say, unexpected pleasures.