I hope you’ve enjoyed this book as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. Though writing a historical novel was a bit of a departure for me, I think you’ll agree it’s also my trademark mystery and romance, blended together and flavored with a strong sense of place. That place just happens to be Northern California in 1907. We stayed at a wonderful hotel/bed-and-breakfast in Ferndale, the inspiration for Mercy Falls. The Victorian Inn made me feel like I’d stepped back in time. If you get into that area, check it out at http://www.victorianvillageinn.com/.
I sharpened my writing pencil on historical romance, and it’s been a fun experience for me to go back to my roots—with the addition of the mystery thread I so love to write. I’m a nut about lighthouses and the Gilded Age (I live in a house built in 1895), so all those elements found their way into The Lightkeeper’s Daughter. I studied the Painted Ladies, houses of this era that were embellished with gingerbread trim and painted many colors to bring out their beauty. Dave and I turned our own home into the middle-class version, and it was featured in the October 2008 edition of Victorian Homes.
If you enjoyed this book, drop me an e-mail. I love to hear from readers! Contact me at colleen@colleencoble.com, and check out my Web site at www.colleencoble.com. You can also follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/colleencoble, and I’m on Facebook as well. Thank you all for giving up your most precious commodity—time—to spend it with me and my stories.
Much affection,
Colleen Coble