Monday, August 24, 2015

Zoe's Boathouse Cottage

copyright Gabriele Wills
This century boathouse cottage inspired my design for Zoë’s cottage in Under the Moon.  The kitchen, living and dining rooms at the back are actually on land.  You can just glimpse the wing of the living room on the right. There were servants’ quarters above, accessed by outside stairs from the veranda.

But Zoë’s cottage also had a spacious dining-sitting room above the water, and a private screened sleeping porch off her bedroom, used on sweltering nights - and for an intimate moment “serenaded by the gentle lapping of the waves and the distant call of loons.”

This cottage is actually on the island upon which I based Wyndwood, and, as in the novel, was part of a burgeoning family compound. Although it no longer belongs to a member of the founding family, the cottage's current owners kindly gave me a tour in 2011.

2 comments:

  1. I just finished Elusive Dawn and loved it. I am sorry to see the book done, but yet so glad to see the end of WW1! What a wonderfully gifted writer who is able to turn in depth research into a very moving story. Everything moves so smoothly and is paced perfectly. I have never read such a comprehensive view of the war focusing on the contributions of women. I start book 3 tomorrow and can't wait!

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    1. Thanks so much for your kind comments! Unfortunately, I didn't see this until today.

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