The Summer Hideaway (33 page)
Dear Reader,
The Lakeshore Chronicles have taken on a life of their own beyond the pages of the books, thanks to readers like you. I’m very grateful for the enthusiasm and support. Some of you have even created hand-drawn maps of Avalon and family trees for the Bellamy clan. I love hearing stories about your own towns and the friends and families in your lives. It’s what keeps me spinning fresh tales, day in and day out.
Thank you so much for reading
The Summer Hideaway
. I like to think old George Bellamy would approve of the way things turned out. This October,
Lakeshore Christmas
will be published for the first time in paperback. Many readers have written to ask about a longtime continuing character, Daisy Bellamy. Although she was conspicuously absent from the current book, rest assured that she will be the main character of the next installment. At the time of this writing, the title and publication dates have not been finalized for that novel.
To receive updates about this or any other book, you can subscribe to my reader newsletter at www.susanwiggs.com or write to my regular mail at P.O. Box 4469, Rollingbay, WA 98061–0469.
This year, I’m excited to bring you a gorgeous trade paperback edition of a reader favorite,
The Ocean Between Us
, coming from MIRA Books in May. This new edition will feature bonus material and updates, as
well as a guide for reading groups. July, August and September will bring the return of the award-winning Chicago Fire Trilogy—
The Hostage, The Mistress
and
The Firebrand
. Also in August, I’ll have a story in
Summer Brides
, a collection of novellas with two of my favorite writers, Susan Mallery and Sherryl Woods.
Wishing you happy reading as always,
Rollingbay, WA
March, 2010
Deepest gratitude to my friends and fellow writers—Anjali Banerjee, Carol Cassella, Sheila Roberts, Suzanne Selfors, Elsa Watson.
Special thanks to the team of experts—Dr. Carol Wiley, Bob Mayer, Robert Dugoni and Andy Watson—for help with researching and brainstorming such disparate topics as helicopters in combat, airborne medical evacuation, brain tumors and legal matters. Any inaccuracies found herein are my own. To my friend Carol Kovac—just talking to you frees the mind.
Thanks to Sherrie Holmes, Joelle Klist, Bree Ogden and Lindsey LeBret for keeping all my ducks in a row. And a very special thank-you to the Jacobi family for their support of P.A.W.S. and for providing inspiration for the fictional pets in this book.
Thanks to Margaret O’Neill Marbury and Adam Wilson of MIRA Books, Meg Ruley and Annelise Robey of the Jane Rotrosen Agency, for invaluable support, advice and input.
Thanks and love to my family—the reason for everything.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4958-9
THE SUMMER HIDEAWAY
Copyright © 2010 by Susan Wiggs.
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, MIRA Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
MIRA and the Star Colophon are trademarks used under license and registered in Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries.
