Hi Katherine! Welcome to the book club. I would like to start off by saying thanks so much for sharing your first novel with us. I am thoroughly enjoying it so far. I have told several of my friends about it and they can not wait for me to finish! I really like the way you present the historical facts in the story. One of the things I like to see in a book is evidence of good research.
Most of my questions have be asked and answered. 
I do have one question that I don't think has been asked already. Do you plan on writing more books and if so will you stay with the same subject?
Again, thanks so much for sharing this book and your time with us.
- last edited on by
Rachel-K
***SPOILER***
eadieburke wrote:
As for Arlo, I would actually be curious to open that question up to the board. When does Arlo (or Dog) usually turn up in the story? Does your husband think he's the same dog? What evidence is there in the story in favor or against?
KH
I just checked with my husband and he thinks it is the same dog or some type of spirit of the dog from the 1600's.
The descriptions of all the dogs in the 1600's and 1991 seem very similiar and the dog just seems to appear and disappear at times.
Jonas in the prologue remarks that he did not notice the dog at first. Arlo seems to find Connie while coming out of a bush. When Liz and Connie arrive at the Milk St. house, Arlo seems to disappear into the shadows and finds the gate. Mercy just happens upon Dog while in her garden picking peas. While Connie and Sam are swimming, Arlo is guarding her towel and then Arlo seems to fade to the pale moonlit color of the fog. Arlo seems to be Connie's protector too. He is in the house while Sam is there and also helps Connie fight off Chilton. Dog was also with Mercy at the time of Deliverance's hanging. Then at the end of the book, a dog is seen sleeping next to a headstone with a faint letter D as the first letter of the name and suddenly the dog disappeared.
Too many coincidences of the dog appearing and disappearing at different times. Seems like a ghost to me.
Thank you Eadie for putting this so well. I was just re-reading a few different parts of the book today because I wanted to find evidence of Arlo relating to the other women in the past and you have listed most of them. The only other one I will add is on page 239 ("Once the light reached the headboard the dog vanished, leaving a dust billow on the quilt in his wake, reapearing a few minutes later at the doorway into the kitchen..."). The first time I read that my mouth dropped open with happy surprise. I actually re-read it because I wasn't sure if I was correct, then I wrote a note saying "Arlo disappears ?!" in the margin. Now that I am re-reading certain parts it seems so clear that Arlo/Dog are the same magical creature. I also loved the passage on page 261--"Out of the deepening darkness in the house the form of Dog coalesced in Deliverance's lap." I think my dog must do this as well...one minute he is asleep on the living room couch, the next he is asleep on my bed, then asleep in the kitchen...does anyone notice a pattern?
PB684
PiperMurphy wrote:
Just out of curiosity, I was wondering why you described Sam the way you did? I have to admit that in my mind I've given him a haircut and removed the tattoo and septum ring.
Hi PiperMurphy!
I wanted Sam, first of all, to be very much of his time. He's a grunge guy. He listens to punk rock. He can hold is own in a mosh pit. Also, Connie, for all her unconventional upbringing, is really kind of square - she's wearing a kilt and loafers at her oral exam, she's a little nerdy. I thought that a guy who looks kind of tough, but who is really pretty sentimental would set Connie off in a complementary way.
And, of course, I came of age in the 1990s. On which I should probably decline to comment further.
KH
Katherine,
I thoroughly enjoyed your book and want to congratulate you on what will most certainly be a best selling first novel! It is certainly a very easy read! My 7th graders were amazed that I was able to read it completely in just over a day and a half.
I was planning to ask if you were planning a sequel, but I read that you were harboring a secret plan to write one. YEAH!!! I am now harboring a secret plan to READ that sequel as SOON as you publish it!!
I was very interested in the questionings and "complaints" about the garden at Granna's house. It was interesting to me that not everyone could take into account the "spiritedness" of the garden and the fact that Arlo was most certainly Dog. Did the fact that not everyone picked up on these things suprise you - or bother you? I know that some people are not in tune with every novel, but it seemed to me with the subject matter, that these things should have been self evident. But, maybe I am being too harsh. Your take on this subject please mam.
Claudia
Katherine_Howe wrote:
PiperMurphy wrote:
Just out of curiosity, I was wondering why you described Sam the way you did? I have to admit that in my mind I've given him a haircut and removed the tattoo and septum ring.Hi PiperMurphy!
I wanted Sam, first of all, to be very much of his time. He's a grunge guy. He listens to punk rock. He can hold is own in a mosh pit. Also, Connie, for all her unconventional upbringing, is really kind of square - she's wearing a kilt and loafers at her oral exam, she's a little nerdy. I thought that a guy who looks kind of tough, but who is really pretty sentimental would set Connie off in a complementary way.
And, of course, I came of age in the 1990s. On which I should probably decline to comment further.
KH
I, for one, am glad you made Sam look like you did. When my oldest daughter went to her senior prom, her date (who is now my son-in-law) wore a lip ring and had a blue mohawk. Yet he graduated from college with honors, works hard and is a terrific dad to my two grandchildren. Thank you for making Sam so unconventional yet so intelligent and likeable...it busts a stereotype!
Welcome Katherine!
Thank you so much for sharing this book with us. It has been one of the most enjoyable books that I have read through the First Look program.
You are very talented and I hope to be reading more from you in the future . I particualry like the descriptive language that you use. I felt as though I could see, hear, smell and feel everything.
I have read all the questions that have been already been asked and I will try to come up with another one....this will require some thinking and time.
Congratulations and best wishes for a long literary future.
CathyB
CathyB wrote:Welcome Katherine!
Thank you so much for sharing this book with us. It has been one of the most enjoyable books that I have read through the First Look program.
You are very talented and I hope to be reading more from you in the future
I have read all the questions that have been already been asked and I will try to come up with another one....this will require some thinking and time.
Congratulations and best wishes for a long literary future.
CathyB
Thank you so much for these kind words, CathyB! I am delighted that you have been enjoying the book.
KH
I understand the contrast. I came of age a little before the 90s or maybe a lot before. I guess that's why I reinvented him. I really like him either way! Thanks for the response.
Katherine_Howe wrote:
PiperMurphy wrote:
Just out of curiosity, I was wondering why you described Sam the way you did? I have to admit that in my mind I've given him a haircut and removed the tattoo and septum ring.Hi PiperMurphy!
I wanted Sam, first of all, to be very much of his time. He's a grunge guy. He listens to punk rock. He can hold is own in a mosh pit. Also, Connie, for all her unconventional upbringing, is really kind of square - she's wearing a kilt and loafers at her oral exam, she's a little nerdy. I thought that a guy who looks kind of tough, but who is really pretty sentimental would set Connie off in a complementary way.
And, of course, I came of age in the 1990s. On which I should probably decline to comment further.
KH
