Writing a novel about real people has an unexpected benefit: the characters may have living, breathing relatives you can actually meet. Anna Bahlmann -- Edith Wharton’s governess, then secretary -- was one of the two main characters in my novel, “The Age of Desire”. This week, I … [Read more...]
What I Learned on my Book Tour
I’ve just completed a wonderful trip across the U.S., sharing my new book, "The Age of Desire." As I traveled, I saw some of the most striking landscapes in the United States, from the sylvan beauty of Lenox, Massachusetts -- where I was so thrilled to read at Edith Wharton’s … [Read more...]
A Post from Edith Wharton’s World
There are few times in one's life that you can say, "I'll remember this as long as I live." Last night was one of those moments. I had the opportunity to read to a sold-out crowd on the terrace at the Mount, Edith Wharton's beloved home. It was a glorious night with china blue … [Read more...]
How Edith Wharton’s Letters Flew!
We e-mail. We tweet. We text. Our messages are virtually instantaneous. But we aren’t the first to invent quick messaging. If you read my new novel, The Age of Desire, you’ll find out that back in Paris at the turn of the century, Edith Wharton stayed in contact with her lover, … [Read more...]
Screened Porch Bliss
They must have had screened porches in Edith Wharton’s day. A quick Google search tells me that screened porches became particularly popular around 1880. And were still popular by the time Edith built The Mount. Yet, a screened porch wasn’t part of her plans. Maybe there were … [Read more...]