Rose asked Marylee MacDonald:

What was your inspiration for Montpelier Tomorrow? It was so authentic, I wonder how much was from personal experience.

Marylee MacDonald Hi Rose, Gosh, I didn't even see this until today. You probably forgot you'd even asked the question. That novel was written from a "place of pain," namely the place of having had an experience that is soul-searing yet that had the potential to be "transmogrified" into art. I view art as redemptive, a way for us to look at, and reflect on, the human condition. Art is an extension of our capacity for empathy, and literary art (as opposed to theatrical art) allows us to enter the head space of a person who might be very unlike us. I just finished writing a book that is very similar to MONTPELIER TOMORROW. It goes live on Amazon on Nov. 19. It's a memoir--SURRENDER. I think of the Anne Rice quote about "go where the pain is." Both books have that in common. They were written by a writer trying to "go where the pain is," and confront that pain--meet it head on. Like MT, it was searingly difficult to write. I put on about thirty pounds, actually, because food is always the "go to" place for me when I need to soothe myself. But, oh well. The book is out, and soon it will have a life of its own. In a way, I s'pose, lit'rature is an offering to the world. The author is saying, "This is the way I see life. This is my truth." And, because we keep so many things hidden from ourselves and from those who are our spouses or our children, I suppose it is only in literature that we can be our highest and best selves. Perhaps, our least trivial selves.

I apologize for taking so long to respond. It was very kind of you to ask me a question, and I hope I haven't been too long-winded in my reply.

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