The Latecomers is a novel that spans over a century of American life, from 1899 to modern day. I was surprised how much research it took to create fiction. Writing this book required a lot of historical excavation not unlike what I did for years as a copywriter, sussing out as much background on a product as I could. That’s why The Latecomers ends with pages of historical notes, sites of research (a castle in Scotland! Bonnie fun residency!) and a bibliography of books that informed my scenes set in the distant past. One of them is The Summer Before the War, a New York Times bestseller which I couldn’t put down when reading for research. Its spot-on details of pre-WW1 period helped inform The Latecomers. I’m excited to be in conversation with its author, Helen Simonson, tonight at NYC’s Book Culture on Columbus between 81st and 82nd, 7 PM.
Come join our talk about livey-ins and knocker-uppers, paper knives and electric lamps and what it’s like to write story set when artifacts from the wayback machine were part of everyday life. The event includes a short slide presentation “Hidden History of 20th Century America”. Free and open to the public. Please join us! We’ll be signing our books and need I remind you that signed books make a awesome holiday gifts?
Join me in conversation with author Helen Simonson tonite at Book Culture on Columbus, Columbus Avenue between 81 and 82 on NYC’s Upper West Side, 7 PM