A big, big, warm, lovey welcome to you, Barbara! Thanks so much for doing this!
Tell us about the inspiration for Angel's Bay, and how many books you think you could write about this town.
Bringing Angel's Bay to life was really fun. I started with a big event from the past, a ship laden with gold wrecks off the rugged and wild coast of central California. Those who make it to shore stay by the bay to be near their lost loved ones and Angel's Bay is born. The survivors create a memory quilt telling their stories, and a hundred and fifty years later, quilting is still a big part of the community, as well as legends and the occasional angel sighting. The books of Angel's Bay reflect this story of survival. Today, people come to the bay to find what's missing in their life -- friendship, family, connections to the past, love, faith and even themselves. I could write lots of books about the town, because there are always new people arriving. However, right now there are only plans for five. We'll see what readers think!
I'm issuing a challenge: Can you summarize the story of At Hidden Falls in twenty-five words or less?
I'll give it a shot!
After a series of mysterious dreams Isabella comes to Angel's Bay in search of answers. Her car is run off the road, and she is rescued by the shadowy man from her dreams. Luck or destiny?
The heroine in At Hidden Falls has a special gift, yet I wouldn't say this overpowers your story with a supernatural element. How did Isabella Silveira take shape in your mind, and what do you like about her?
I love Isabella! She's a quirky, free spirited costume designer with unusual blue eyes inherited from one of her ancestors, who her grandmother claims was a Mayan priestess. She has some type of mental gift that she really doesn't want and would love to get rid of. Part of her emotional storyline is coming to terms with who she is and not being afraid to own it. I didn't want there there to be a lot of "supernatural" to the story, more of an element of mysticism, because Angel's Bay is a place where being able to believe in things you can't quite understand makes your life a little richer.
Nick Hartley! Tell us all about him.
Nick is a reformed bad boy, an architect/musician. He made some mistakes early on. He has a teenage daughter who he's trying to reconnect with who is giving him all kinds of trouble. Nick has to deal with not only learning how to be a father but learning how to love again.
Do any of your other stories revolve around the theater? I loved how you used the Hartley family business to bring the characters together.
This is the first book that uses the old theater as a backdrop. The theatrical, somewhat crazy, Hartleys were fun to write and their stories also tie the past and the present together.
I know you have plans for Charlotte, Andrew, and Joe. Can you share a bit with us?
I have big plans for Charlotte, Joe, and Andrew. They will be featured in book five, GARDEN OF SECRETS. And I know a lot of people are waiting for their story. It's coming!
The plot of At Hidden Falls intricately involves several characters. Are your stories always so complex, and do they come to mind already so rich? Or was it something that developed as you wrote?
I always write complicated. I occasionally brainstorm with a few writers over lunch and one of them is constantly telling me that I give her a headache as I try to explain the ins and outs of my plot. I love to surprise the reader in a way they didn't expect. I like twists and turns, and I don't think people fall in love in isolation. Family and friendships also come into play. Details from the past influence the present. I want the reader to feel like Angel's Bay is a real place and the characters are people they come to know and love.
Will we see more of the Silveira clan?
Isabella is Joe's youngest sister. Right now she's the only in town. But I will say that in book five, some more people from Charlotte's past show up in Angel's Bay.
Thanks for having me! I hope you'll all check out Angel's Bay! You can read excerpts from all the books on my website at http://www.barbarafreethy.com
