frequently asked questions
June 4th, 2010
I’ve had quite a few emails lately with questions that are entirely reasonable, but would take a long time for me to answer one by one. I don’t have the original FAQ page I set up, unfortunately. So what I’m thinking is, it might work if y’all replied to this message with questions you think need to be answered on a FAQ page. And if you have the answer: so much the better.
I am up to my ears in the revision for English with an Accent and there are, as always, other catastrophes to deal with. This idea occurred to me as a way I might be able to pull this off. With your help.
Categories: general
Hi Rosina
Just to clarify…do you mean reading group discussion type questions or do you mean questions that people typically ask because they might forget some important development?
Hi there,
I’ll start. My question is about the location of Paradise in the NY wilderness. Based on maps I’ve looked at and my own NY Adirondacks experience, I wonder if Paradise is near the actual town of Speculator, NY?
Hey, why restrict ourselves? Anything goes.
It is, of course, fictional, but that is the general area. The stories all took place before they dammed the Sacandaga to make the lake. On one o the western-most branches there was a ruin called Whitehouse, which played a role in setting the geography.
Hi there, can anyone help me out with a detail? I am reading the books in order and am halfway through Fire Along the Sky. A reference was made to Nathaniel having 11 children born to him. No matter how I count them up, living and dead, I can not come to that number! It seems so silly but it’s driving my friend and I crazy.
Jennifer –
Good question because I can only come up with ten :
Hannah, Lily, Daniel, Gabriel, Birdie, James, Robert, Michael and Emmanuel.
Jennifer -
No, I was wrong – there are eleven. I forgot Luke.
Thank you for taking the time to answer. I thought I had read carefully so far, and I don’t remember where the names Birdie, James, Robert , Michael and Emmanuel were mentioned. Any idea? I went through the lists at the beginning, of the characters. Possibly they are mentioned in a book I haven’t read yet!
Robert (Robbie) was the child they lost in the diptheria epidemic (along with Falling Day), Emmanuel was the child they lost while it was still an infant, James and Robert were children born to Sarah – one would be the brother of Hannah and the other the child who died along with Sarah. And Birdie is the last child Elizabeth and Nathaniel have – she doesn’t show up until later novels.
Hope that helps.
Thank you so much. I feel silly that I said that about Robbie/Robert, but I still dont remember Emmanuel, James and the other Robert being specifically named, I will have to go back and reread! Birdie will be somewhere along the way, I am still in Fire Along the Sky. Thank you again for helping me piece this together, sometimes the little details will drive you crazy.
Thanks for the information about the fictional town of Paradise. My family has a small camp about 15 miles from the Piseco Lake / Speculator area – I am curious about why you chose that location for Lake in the Clouds and Paradise. Did you ever live in that area? It is really quite beautiful there – and much of it remains wilderness even now.
Jennifer,
I know that Hannah had a little brother as well as a twin that died. I am not sure if they were named Emmanual or James? Or- if Emmanual or James (and Robbie) are the children Nathaniel lost with Elizabeth?
Oops, just saw Petzi’s response. Thanks!
Good afternoon All,
My burning questions are:
How did Many Doves die?
What happened to Kateri and Sawatis?
When did the Judge and Aunt Merriweather die?
What happened to Wee Iona?
Thanks a bunch:)
Forgot a question in my earlier post.
Did Jemima get buried at Lake in the Clouds? Thanks Rosina!!
Found it! Here’s a link to the website that I found useful in “catching up” on details before reading TEF…
http://saradonati.com/wiki/Timeline
Hope it helps some of you too.
You all helped so much with my first question that I will dare another! Other than Diana Gabaldon , can anyone recommend any other books/series that are similar in nature to the Wilderness series? Honestly I am not a big Outlander fan, but am approaching the end of the Wilderness series and am hungry for more. Never has a series swept me up like this one.
Persephone25 -
Many Doves died of a fever. The manner of death for the others is not covered in the novels, maybe Rosina could enlighten us when she has the time.
The only other author I could recommend is Gwen Bristow, and I think Rosina would second my recommendation because she wrote the foreword to the recent paperback edition of “Celia Garth”.
Here’s her Bibliography :
The Alien, and Other Poems (1926)
The Invisible Host (1930), with Bruce Manning, later republished as The Ninth Guest
The Gutenberg Murders (1931), with Bruce Manning
The Mardi Gras Murders (1932), with Bruce Manning
Two and Two Make Twenty-two (1932), with Bruce Manning
“Plantation Trilogy”:
Deep Summer (1937), ISBN 0-89966-025-8
The Handsome Road (1938), ISBN 0-89966-028-2
This Side of Glory (1940), ISBN 0-89966-026-6
Gwen Bristow (1940), autobiography
Tomorrow Is Forever (1943), ISBN 0-89966-027-4
Jubilee Trail (1950), ISBN 1-55652-601-6
Celia Garth (1959), ISBN 1-877853-58-5
Calico Palace (1970), ISBN 0-671-82471-6
From Pigtails to Wedding Bells (1978), ISBN 0-89137-811-1,
Non-fiction
Golden Dreams (1980), ISBN 0-690-01678-6
Thanks Petzi, I am smiling over here because just last night I added Celia Garth to my shopping cart at Amazon. Guess I will read that and wait for “Donati” to start a new series, hope , hope, hope,,,,
Petzi- Many Doves is one of my fav characters. Where in the book does it say that? I must have missed it. Thanks so much!!!
My daugther is impatiently waiting to start to read this series on her Kindle. It looks to me like the first two books, Into the Wilderness and Dawn on a Distant Shore are the only two not yet on Kindle. We’ve each clicked the button on Amazon under the books several times to report that we’d like (LOVE ) to see these books in Kindle format. I’m not sure how much that helps. Can anyone tell me who the publishing house would be? Maybe if I (WE!) contact (read inundate) them with requests directly it might make more of an impact.
LMN
My question is did Daniel’s injury get well enough that he and Martha didn’t have to use a high bed anymore?
That’s an interesting question. I could ask, but I doubt Martha would tell me.
Jennifer — you are very kind. One series (only four novels, but a great series) starts with Hearts and Bones. The author is Margaret Lawrence. If you are interested in historical fiction set in an earlier period, Diana Norman has two series, both I really liked. One starts with Mistress of the Art of Death</strong . I'll what else I can dig out of the musty cave that is my mind.
I can think of quite a few individual titles that I dearly love: Bride of the Wilderness by Charles McCarry (out of print but usually findable in libraries);
Ditto Rosina suggestions of the Margaret Lawrence series and the Diana Norman aka Ariana Franklin series (both of them.) I loved them all.
I also liked Beverly Swerlings early America SHADOWBROOK which takes place in the 1750′s and her “CITY OF…” series, staring in the 1660′s with CITY OF DREAMS.
Why did Ethan & Callie take in Jennet & Luke’s children after Jennet’s death? Why didn’t Luke stay with them?
Persephone25 – I’d swear that I read about Many Doves dying of a fever in the last book but when I went back I couldn’t find it. Perhaps it was the work of my fevered brain.
I’ll third the suggestion for Ariana Franklin’s “Mistress of the Art of Death” series. Just know people that this series is set during the reign of Henry II, not Colonial America.
One of the things that I find so interesting in this series is the evolution of the Bonner family diet. In the first novel the primary foods appear to be meat that is hunted, squash and beans ; by the last novel they are eating beef, pork, chicken, eggs, and milk as well as whatever can still be hunted. It’s an interesting microcosm of early American life.
Petzi- no worries. Maybe one day Many Doves will ‘talk’ to Rosina
The Bonner diet was pretty healthy. I remember when Nathaniel was in the city, thinking about how sick he was of Ale. He was longing for cold spring water and red corn soup!
I realise that,having just read the 6th book,it did finalise alot.Are you planning another series or can we look forward to a 7th book in the series.
I fourth the Ariana Franklin series that starts with Mistress of the Art of Death.
I ended up not reading the Margaret Lawrence (Heart and Bones) b/c I’d heard from a family member who knows my taste that it was either too gruesome or too much into the mind of the evil character in it. I think it was the latter. I am not comfortable reading too much out about how evil people think.
In contrast, I would recommend the books by Maria V. Snyder starting with the Poison Study. But I will give you a warning that they include fantasy (magic); so you have to be open to that in order to enjoy them.
If you haven’t read Kate Furnivall – Russian Concubine and The Girl from Junchow – those are other good ones. They may not (yet) qualify as a series, but they are good historical fiction.
Sometimes I find that on Amazon the “listmania” lists that people make can be helpful for getting ideas for new authors when you are on the page for a set of books that you like.
Oh, and Rosina, sorry that I encouraged the tangent that does not get you any closer to your FAQ list. I haven’t come up with any ideas yet.
oooo! I can’t believe I forgot one of my favorites:
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly.
This is probably the closest thing I’ve ever read to the Into the Wilderness series as far as a book with a mix of history, romance, adventure and the growth of a woman who faces adversity.
Huge fan here! I’ve read all your books, having just finished Tied to the Tracks. I’m wondering why you used a pen name for your Wilderness series? And I was also wondering if you’ve ever thought of writing a novel set in modern times, perhaps involving Bonners?
That’s too bad about Hearts and Bones, it’s such a great novel. I personally wouldn’t call the ‘evil’ person evil at all — he’s lost his mind, yes, but the reasons are there and I understood how he got to be where he was. All the men who fought in the Revolutionary War came back wounded in mind and spirit, but he couldn’t find his way back to the land of the living.
As for me, I generally avoid paranormal with a couple exceptions: I like Lynn’s Darkyn series, and I like two series by Patricia Bragg — Alpha and Omega (I’m sure I’ll be dreaming about Charles sooner or later); and the series with Mercy. Both series deal with werewolf packs. Normally not something I’d like, but I got sucked into A&O, and from there I was lost.
I’ll put your suggestions on my list.
Barbara — I hope you won’t mind if I don’t answer this directly. It’s a rather sensitive subject. I’ll gather my wits and post about it sometime soon.
Petzi — you’re the first person to mention the change in the diet over time. I’m so glad somebody noticed!
Thank you all for your book suggestions , I have already ordered some of them. I just got Endless Forests and am hesitant to begin reading ” the end ” of my favorite series.
Rosina -
I also noticed the changes in clothing, especially going from having everything made by hand to going to the Mercantile and finding ready made clothing available.
It’s all fascinating because we assume that our ancestors lived the same things over and over and yet their lives changed, perhaps not as much as ours, but certainly from their beginnings to their ends there were significant alterations.
This is also true of how they worship. From the Rev. Witherspoon’s view to the forced, but brief views, of Rev. Stiles. Elizabeth herself would say ‘Thank Providence’. The Quakers stayed to themselves at Meeting. The Mohawk would worship their Gods. In that one little town were several styles and religious inclinations. I thought that was neat.
thanks for annswering me Rosina I will what for your reply.Again thank you very much
I have to second the the Tea Rose and the next book, The Winter Rose. The end of the Winter Rose was especially sweet and gratifying. I am eagerly awaiting The Wild Rose.
Rosina, I also love the Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson books. Another good series is the Women of the Otherworld by Kelly Armstrong. I am talking specifically about the werewolf part of that world, Bitten, Stolen, Broken and Frostbitten. Ironically, I am not so much interested in the woman, Elena, after Bitten as I am in her Alpha Jeremy. An interesting character Ms. Armstrong has not really fleshed out yet and maybe never will.
By the way, I love your series.
Rosina,
What happened to Nicholas Wilde? Did he commit suicide? Bear attack?
I would also love to hear Blue Jay’s and Susanna’s story. But I am equally curious abour Gabriel and Annie…I hope we can hear their stories someday..
We all would like to hear a continuation of the story of our favorite characters, right?! Me too. I want more. But what I think might be an interesting follow up story (this just came to me) would be to pick up this familes stories a generation or so in the future. Maybe the children of Elizabeths & Nathaniels grandchildren. Somehow we could still be in touch with their lives (E & N) and also see who their children and grandchildren turned out to be. Maybe?
Imn- that would be awesome!! I’d like to hear how Luke’s and Ben’s sons do at college and beyond. Also how Hannah and Birdie’s medical practice is doing
persephone25 I agree. I’d love to hear how all the children are doing. But my suggestion would be to pick up the storyline further in the future. Maybe Birdies grandchildren, that generation. Somehow we’d still be connected but it would be different.
I still like the idea.
Just finished the last book last night – very sad about Jeanette – I know child birth was dangerous, but I am a sucker for a happy ending, and her “too soon” death was sad. I think Luke left because he just couldn’t stay without her, he was always a wanderer, but to leave four childen….Saw an error in one of the obits – they died in June but it was a beautiful Autumn day? Was I too sleepy or did the editors miss this? Thanks for the new series suggestions, can’t wait to dig back in!
I just finished The Endless Forest last night. Thank you for a great series. My questions: did the acupuncture work on Daniel’s arm? He was taking the treatments but we never know. And what really happened to Harper? I think Jemima said he had sticky fingers or something but who would have done him harm? He didn’t seem to have much function in the story except maybe as a red herring?
I support the recommendatin of the Beverly Swerling books. They’re great.
Martha here again. One more thing: what explains Ethan’s and Callie’s curious marriage situation? Initially they were rushed to be sure so that their agreement makes sense until circumstances got sorted out. However it isn’t clear that they ever had consumated their marriage. The only clue we get is that they didn’t have any children of their own at the time of their deaths. Were there other clues in earlier books about why they should both have this aversion to intimacy? Callie I can kind of understand, but it doesn’t seem characteristic of Ethan…
I believe that Ethan was gay. Callie might have been (she had a very strong attachment to Martha), but then again I don’t think she really understood her feelings. In any event, she and Ethan were very good friends and a physical relationship was not part of that friendship – I think it worked very well for them. But only Rosina knows for sure. And I also would like to know if the accupunture worked – I think it should have been for fully addressed.
I haven’t completely finished reading the series, so I’m not sure if this is in the books or not- but I’m still wanting to know what happened to Strikes-the-Sky! I wish Hannah hadn’t burned the letter from Manny! Could anyone help?
I’m at the point in the series that I’m hesitant on finishing because I just don’t want it to be over! It’s been the best series I’ve ever read- I don’t want to lose the Bonner family!
Allyson -
It is revealed in a “Queen of Swords” that Strikes the Sky was killed while trying to encourage the Potawatomi to join Tecumseh’s band. Manny was with him at the time but escaped injury.
I’m another reader wondering about Ethan — especially since near the end of The Endless Forest, Jemima says something to Ethan to the effect of “I’ve got secrets to tell about you…” What is Ethan’s secret and why would Jemima know what it is?
I just finished the last book. I cried off and on during the day because of the untimely deaths of Jennet, Simon, Ethan and Callie. Uggghhh!! But, the story was good. I do have some complaints about editing issues. Lorena was mistakenly called Leonore once and Daniel was referred to as Luke once when Luke wasn’t even in the scene. There were a couple of other times. I know it’s challenging when there are so many characters to keep track of, but that’s what editing is about, right?? A little irritating . . . As for Ethan, I thought he explained to Callie that he was Impotent. Maybe I just read that into it.
I third the Tea Rose books, just finished the first two! Still not as absorbing or complex as the Wildnerness series but very good nonetheless. Thank you all for your continuing suggestions. I just ordered Tied on the Tracks and can’t wait to read it!
I agree Jennifer. I just finished the Tea Rose books also. I really enjoyed The Tea Rose,…I LOVE, LOVED the Winter Rose (it’s sequel.) Not the same as the Wilderness Series but both my daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I look foward to the next one.