I was finishing The Alpine Winter for Random House/Ballantine last April when my editor at HarperCollins asked if I could give her some information on the next B&B for their 2012 catalog. I blanked. All I knew was that The Cousins had to get out of town. Thinking fast, if not smart, I blurted, “Oktoberfest in Leavenworth.” Did I have a title? I said the first thing that came into my head: The Wurst Is Yet to Come. They loved it—and I was stuck.
When I started the book in May, I changed the town’s name to Little Bavaria. But it was still Leavenworth, which has appeared several times in the Emma Lord series because it’s just over the summit from Alpine’s actual site.
It seemed like a good idea, but after Chapter One, I realized it wasn’t. The setting couldn’t echo the Alpine books, with their dissimilar tone. I knocked myself out describing the area, yet conveying its scenic grandeur. Next obstacle was law enforcement. No way could they sound like Sheriff Milo Dodge & Co. I created a police chief as unlike Milo as possible and a very different staff. In fact, this bunch bears no resemblance to any law officers this side of the Keystone Kops.
Meanwhile, I was so focused on avoiding anything remotely connected to Alpine that I lost track of the plot. Over half-way through the manuscript, I had to go back to the beginning and re-focus. This exercise in correcting my stupidity took a long time, making the book way past deadline. But last night Judith finally figured out whodunit. If I don’t pass out from exhaustion, I may finish the book by the weekend.
As for the real Alpine, more and more of it has become visible. In fact, I have a big container of relics (no, I am not one of them) in my basement, including a chunk of my great-aunt’s china. I have a matching plate that was handed down to me years ago. I wonder if she broke the piece by throwing it at my great-uncle. The usual heavy snows may foil further investigation and will point out the site when the Empire Builder passes through the area. Part of the old water tower is finally visible again. I marvel at what Emma and her gang have wrought…
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