Multi-talented Sara Prentice Manela made this wonderful map for me years ago, to show where special places in my book are on Nantucket. So many of my books have a certain house at the heart of my story. I think the last house shown here is from Island Girls. I’d better ask Sara to update it for me!
The Island House is set in Sconset, a small village on the southwest tip of the island. A century ago, fishermen built small cottages with low roofs where they could spread their nets to dry. Now these cottages make cozy summer homes.
I’ve posted photos of these houses before, but I am always enchanted by their charm.
To walk down Broadway and Front Street is to take a step into the past.
Except for the price. . .one of these little cottages rents in the summer for around $7200 a week. Yes, a week.
Out of town, on the bluff facing the Atlantic Ocean, more modern houses stand, and it was a house like one of these that inspired The Island House. You can see zig-zag steps down to the beach like the ones in my book.
Sara made this map three years ago. I love it that she drew a whale off the eastern side of Sconset. Next time, I’ll post photos of some in-town island houses. Here’s one last Sconset house–with a whale weather vane.
