I love summer and the Cape but I’ve always loved the autumn season in New England too. Autumn is colorful with its leaves red and gold and orange, pumpkins carved into jack o’lanterns, hayrides and mazes made of hay. For all it’s loveliness the days and especially the nights are getting cooler; once past the autumn equinox the days are also quickly getting shorter as the year is ending. You have to appreciate it while you can because it all goes so fast and those brightly colored leaves are at their peak for less than a week in any given place. Nevertheless I have enjoyed raking the leaves that fell from the big maple tree on the front lawn because I could be outside where there was something special in the air and the sunlight and especially in the sunset that seemed almost magical.
Happy Hallowe’en!
My favorite autumn holiday is Hallowe’en. I loved it when I was a child and I still do today. I have a Hallowe’en party every year or I did until Covid-19 changed everything. I might again someday I certainly hope so. I have as many decorations for Halloween as I do for Christmas, maybe more but I haven’t put them all up this year or last. I love the idea of Halloween not the gory serial killer version but the magical, slightly spooky surreal aspect. Gazing into a crystal ball, reading tarot cards, baking Hallowe’en themed cookies and cupcakes and maybe wearing a trimmed down version of a costume. Now Hallowe’en or the Eve of all Hallows Day on October 31 precedes All Saints (All Hallows) Day on November 1st followed by All Souls Day to honor the dead. It’s a little like The Day of the Dead celebrated by Mexicans and Mexican Americans as a time to honor your deceased relatives and ancestors
That leads into my next book which takes place at that time of year; beginning at the end of summer, stretching into autumn and ending around Halloween. The story holds the magic of the year and the acknowledgment of the dead but it also has some of the same contours of Seeking Glory; it revolves around family issues, secrets from the past that leak into the present, a psychological atmosphere of course and an ensuing mystery. The working title is Where Spirits Dwell and the spirits dwell in a swamp next to Jack and Melissa’s new home. Here’s a little excerpt for you although I’m far from finished.
Where Spirits Dwell Preview
As we passed through the trees the ground gradually became spongier until we reached a point where I refused to continue. I could see Jack ahead of us and, having lowered the canoe into the water, was preparing to get into it.
“Please be careful!” I called out “Keep track of where you are!” I was suddenly reminded of a conversation I’d had a couple of days earlier when some of my neighbors, led by Sally Donovan, suggested we get together for a welcome-to-the-neigborhood introduction. We had a pleasant time eating cookies and pastries with coffee and tea until I mentioned Jack’s fascination with the swamp. The atmosphere cooled slightly as I was warned of some of the dangers awaiting those heading out on their own without a guide. People had become lost, canoes can founder and it can become cold at night if you couldn’t find your way back. Sally said Jack should pair up with Bill if he wanted to explore the swamp.
‘Why don’t you wait and go with Bill?” I shouted out to him despite the fact he was now gliding through the still water opening a narrow v-shape that was a gold green color from both the sun and the shadows of the overhanging trees.
I smiled down at Justin standing next to me with his hand still clasped in mine. “Well, I bet Daddy will have some good stories to tell us tonight.” Justin was looking out over the marshy water after Jack, a wistful expression on his face. His eyes lit up a little. “Yeah I bet he will too” then added with confidence in his voice “and then I’ll be going with him the next time.”
This speaks for itself