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I've had quite a lot of letters and emails lately with many, many questions about things that happened (or didn't happen) in Fire Along the Sky and what's coming next.
It's clear to me what's going on here. I get impatient the same way when I have to wait for the next book in a series I like. So I'll do what I can to help, by answering some questions from Karen (though not all at once). To start with:
1) What was Dolly Wilde's ailment? My own thinking was that it was Alzheimer's Disease which can strike people as young as in their 30s and 40s.
That's actually an interesting idea, but no. Rachel diagnosed Dolly quite well (post partum devolving into schizophrenia), but she actually died from rabies and exposure.
2) In the same vein, was young Robbie Bonner a victim of diptheria?
Yes. Diptheria was a common cause of death in children in this time period.
3) Will Nicholas Wilde's daughter, Callie's story be told in the fifth book? I thought what happened to Nicholas to be one of the most moving parts of FIRE ALONG THE SKY. He was a good, if flawed, man and he lost so much that it is no wonder he took that suicidal journey. When he took up his prize apple tree I thought perhaps he meant to start over. Later when Nathaniel, in telling of his death, made no mention of the tree, I exclaimed "What about his tree?". I was so glad he left it for Callie and my hope is that his legacy will live on in her hands.
Callie's story is quite complex, as it currently stands in my conception of the long-term story. It may be a long time before that part of it gets told, so I'll have to hope you can be satisfied to know that Callie does pick up where her father left off with the apple orchard.
4) The points of view of the children of Elizabeth and Nathaniel have been represented in their female children Hannah and Lily. Will we get more of Daniel's point of view in the fifth book? If we are lucky you will have to give us Gabriel's story too.
You will see almost nothing of Daniel in the fifth book, because things are focused almost exclusively on Jennet, Luke and Hannah and they are far away from Paradise. Daniel is having a hard time of it, I can tell you that. I can also tell you that he does come to grips with his situation, and that the next book in the series (which may be a very long time in coming, be forewarned) will deal with him as a focal character.
I'll pick up here tomorrow.
August 20, 2005 01:06 PM
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Comments
Darn. I was really looking forward to Daniel's story unfolding. When I finished Fire Along the Sky, I thought you had set him up perfectly for the next book. (I admit to a moment of disappointment when you said the next book would be focused on Hannah, Jennet, and Luke because I love the characters who live in Paradise, but then I remembered I love ALL the characters. I felt the same way when I found out Lily was going to take a leading role in Fire Along the Sky- I wanted more focus on Elizabeth and Hannah, but now I love Lily too. This was a long side just to say, even though I think I have favorites among your creations, I love them all, I love hearing about them all, and I can't wait for the next book!)
I don't mind so much that the next wilderness series after Queen of Swords will be a long time in coming (well, I do, but I promise not to pull a "Misery" on you to get it faster) but I would really feel cheated if there was a large time lapse in the book themselves. At the end of Fire Along the Sky, everyone was facing some pretty big life changes, and I would be very disappointed if I didn't get to see what comes of those changes. I found Daniel to be very compelling at the end of Fire Along the Sky, and I don't want you to forget about him all alone up on the mountain.
Posted by: sara g at August 21, 2005 12:33 PM
That's "aside" as in "...a long aside just to say..."
You give us the preview post button and I don't even use it. Sorry!
Posted by: sara g at August 21, 2005 12:37 PM