Last night, at Mark G. Harris’s request, we watched the video that Tim and I made on the Mississippi coast when we researched the area in 2004 for Three Fortunes in One Cookie. Those of you who’ve come to my LJ later may not know that our book was set in those coastal towns most impacted by Hurricane Katrina, and many of the places that dazzled us and beckoned the story of Phillip and the Godbee family out of our imaginations were destroyed just days before the novel’s release in 2005. I have not gone back to visit the coast in Mississippi because my online investigations were more than enough to break my heart.
Seeing the area–as it was–again, and seeing the charming little condo where we stayed, reminded me of the guest book we signed that May of 2004. Whoever owned our condo left the book for the perusal and signatures of those who passed through. That home on the shore is gone now, and most likely the guest book with it, including the comments of two writers who looked forward with optimism to using such a beautiful, interesting region as the story’s backdrop.
I suppose the reason I remember the guest book so particularly is because since 1998, I’ve maintained a guest book for the people who visit The Compound and stay in what was once called the Doll House and is now the TimLair. On each guest’s page, I include a photo from the visit and ask our visitor to fill out a card–not really to say thank you, although people do, because our friends and family have impeccable manners–but to give a little summary of what they enjoyed about the visit.
I got behind a couple of years ago but brought everything up to date just before Lisa and Mark got here. (Greg, since I didn’t torture you into filling out cards on your last two visits, I snagged comments off of your LJ–thank you for all the thoughtful things you always say).
Lisa and Mark graciously expressed their thoughts for inclusion in the book, and I’ve been going through photos to pick two to accompany their comments.
