Ask the Author: Darcie Chan
Answered Questions (5)
Darcie Chan
Hi, Jean. Monarch would certainly have had a marker there, even if it wasn't mentioned. But, Ebony was Mary's own horse, and the one to which she was closest, so Ebony was the one who had the most mentions in the story. In my mind, Ebony, Monarch, Penny, and the foals would have had long and happy lives in Mary's care. :)
Darcie Chan
Hi, Donna! Thank you for your note and for reading Recluse. I am really happy that you enjoyed it! There are two other books in the Mill River series thus far -- The Mill River Redemption (#2), and The Promise of Home (#3). I am currently working on an unrelated novel, but once that is finished, I do plan to write the fourth Mill River book. I already have it summarized and planned out. :)
Take care,
Darcie
Take care,
Darcie
Darcie Chan
Hi, Philip! My first novel was a modest success, and honestly, I don't think it was due to anything in particular that I tried to do to promote it. The story seemed to resonate with readers -- which is virtually impossible for authors to see coming -- and word-of-mouth recommendations drove sales once a few hundred people had read it. So, I guess I would just say that you should promote your book as best you can, but it is more important to write a story with heart, something that moves you and that you care about. With a bit of luck, that feeling will carry through and move your readers, too. :)
Darcie Chan
Hi, Deb,
I hope so. I have ideas for more Mill River books, and people seem to be responding well to the three so far, so please keep your fingers crossed! :)
Best,
Darcie
I hope so. I have ideas for more Mill River books, and people seem to be responding well to the three so far, so please keep your fingers crossed! :)
Best,
Darcie
Darcie Chan
Hi, Deb! Thanks for your question. There were actually a few reasons I decided to set "The Mill River Recluse" in a small town in southern Vermont. First, I grew up in small towns, so I felt comfortable writing about one. I also love snow -- I was born in Wisconsin and lived there until I was a child -- and snow still makes me happy. So, I definitely wanted a place with cold winters and warm fireplaces. :)
What sealed the deal for Vermont -- in addition to the facts that it is full of lovely small towns and has harsh winters -- was its town meeting tradition. Under state law, every small town in Vermont holds a town meeting in early March. Residents of the towns attend the meetings to vote on the town budget and other matters of importance.
In "The Mill River Recluse," I was looking for a way for Father O'Brien to be able to make an important announcement to all of the residents gathered together, and the town meeting was the perfect way for him to do that. So...Vermont it was! :)
What sealed the deal for Vermont -- in addition to the facts that it is full of lovely small towns and has harsh winters -- was its town meeting tradition. Under state law, every small town in Vermont holds a town meeting in early March. Residents of the towns attend the meetings to vote on the town budget and other matters of importance.
In "The Mill River Recluse," I was looking for a way for Father O'Brien to be able to make an important announcement to all of the residents gathered together, and the town meeting was the perfect way for him to do that. So...Vermont it was! :)
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