Plans for an August 14 launch party for BLOOMING PRAIRIE are underway. The restaurant is reserved, decorations are planned and the cake is ordered. The publisher promises the copies of the book will be in hand. The invitations are out and my publicist sends me a daily update with the number of tickets reserved.
It’s really happening. Though it seemed I would never complete this novel, I somehow did. A great reason to celebrate.
It was only fourteen months ago that I dreamed the opening scene of what became BLOOMING PRAIRIE. I had not planned a fourth book in the series but it came to me in a dream and I knew that I had to write the book. Along the way I had two more dreams that changed the direction my book was heading. Surprised? I was–but maybe I shouldn’t have been. Creativity lurks in the most unexpected places. Pomme de Terre grew from looking out my bathroom window one cold night when the moon shone across the white snow. BIRDIE started with a mental picture of a young girl fetching the cows for milking time. I shouldn’t be surprised that BLOOMING PRAIRIE started with a vivid dream about Serena returning to Pomme de Terre by train. You’ll have to read it to see what I mean!
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog about my new book. The response to THE ABERCROMBIE TRAIL SERIES amazes me. I hope you also take the time to join my characters as they walk through Minnesota history.
4 Responses
Candace, I’m eager to get into “Blooming Prairie.” As we’ve discussed, my Norwegian ancestors from Kongsvinger, Norway, settled a few miles north of the Wadsworth Trail in Stevens County in the 1870s and ’80s.
Several Dakota Indians visited the Harstads at their farms on the south shore of Harstad Lake. Brothers Erik and Lars were the first European settlers for miles around. The Dakota were friendly. This had been their fishing and hunting grounds before the expulsion.
They received eggs from the Harstads and brought them ducks in return.
Arne Erickson followed the Harstads and homesteaded 80 acres to the east in Section 32, of Rendsville Township. My Grandfather Ole Erickson arrived in 1883 at age 18, and worked on brother Arne’s farm and on the railroad, until he married Lars Harstad’s widow Erikka in 1896.
-Gordon
thanks, Gordon. I love when readers connect to my stories.
I will be there! Can’t wait.
I was unable to attend the launching of Blooming Prairie. Do you have any photos of the event???