I had a minute today when the magic of the moment occurred to me. Three years ago, I thought I was just passing through Saumur, France as a quick stop on the route to Fontevraud. I had nothing more than the beginnings of ideas for a novel.
Now, I stand here in Saumur at the same spot with the results of that day in hand. To be on this bridge nearly three years to the day later is a bit of a wow moment. So much has changed. We all survived a global pandemic. Some things are lost. New places have popped up along the way.
Time Does Change Things
Now, I am preparing for Saumur to become the central setting for Vol. 2. I settled in on Saumur being the central location this time around because I could not shake it last time. Even as I wrote Woman On The Wall, Saumur and this part of the Loire Valley came alive for me.
I love that coming back here is still about exploring a place as if it were new. There’s only so much you can take in on every trip. For me, I am really focusing in on daily life in town, how France rebuilt after World War II and, of course, Fontevraud.
Living Out The Dreams We Make Happen
In the midst of this, I also came across an Instagram post from BookEnds Literary Agency that summed up the moment.
It’s a celebration – of dreams, of potential, of what can happen when you risk big things for big things. This may be the coolest moment in my writing life ever. I came back here to show my book where it came from.
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