July 28, 2023

Hello, My Dears!

I took my dog Travis out for a walk early this morning, before I’d even had a cup of coffee. The heat index for today is predicted to be 108, so I figured we’d better get out while the getting out was good. I saw a few of my neighbors on our walk, and I babbled at them pleasantly in my uncaffeinated state. What did I say? I have no idea.

It’s summer in Milton Falls, too, though they’re a bit ahead of us – mid-August instead of late July. Right now, I anticipate that this novel will end with Emmeline’s party for Joe and Bess in September. Part of my reasoning is that if I keep the story going on into December, I’ll have another 550+ page book on my hands, and 550+-page books are a bear to edit, revise, copyedit and distribute (which is one reason we still don’t have an ebook version of Friendship Album, 1933, available, though we’re working on it). As it is, Forget Me Not will be close to 400 pages!

Moving forward, I wonder if I should continue the story seasonally (i.e Fall 1934, Spring 1935, etc.) with perhaps a Christmas novella thrown in for good measure. I’m not sure, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’d also be interested in what you might like in the interim between the end of Forget Me Not and the beginning of whatever comes next. I’ll continue with Diary of Mad Quilter, of course, but I was thinking I could also read some new Milton Falls short stories or start recording Birds in the Air or Margaret Goes Modern. Ideas?

In this week’s episode, Emmeline is also thinking about the future. She’s suddenly more aware than ever that it’s only a few years before her daughter Margie is grown and gone (Margie is currently 15). What can Emmeline do to bring the two of them closer together? Of course she comes up with a plan – Emmeline always comes up with a plan!

I hope you’re taking advantage of the 60% off coupon that’s for Story Guild members only! It ends July 31st, which is shockingly only a few days away!  Most of all, I hope that you’re enjoying your membership. Please feel free to send comments, suggestions and edits! Thanks as always for subscribing to the Story Guild. I couldn’t do it without your support! 

xoFrances