Gosford's Daughter (65 page)

Everyone cheered lustily at his somewhat cryptic
words, even Father Adam, who made no request to water his whiskey
this time. The conversation grew less formal and more raucous as
the whiskey decanter was emptied, refilled, and emptied again.
Outside, the rain dissipated into a fine mist, and the heavy gray
clouds began drifting out to sea. In the nursery, Magnus’s son and
daughter slept in their cradles next to little Adam’s brand-new
trundle bed. And in her wet nurse’s arms, wee Dallas Napier suckled
greedily, her tiny fists swinging as if she were impatient not just
for the flow of milk, but for the future.

* * *

S
eattle native Mary
Richardson Daheim lives three miles from the house where she was
raised. From her dining nook she can see the maple tree in front of
her childhood home. Mary isn’t one for change when it comes to
geography. Upon getting her journalism degree from the University
of Washington (she can see the campus from the dining nook, too),
she went to work for a newspaper in Anacortes, Washington. Then,
after her marriage to David Daheim, his first college teaching post
was in Port Angeles where she became a reporter for the local
daily. Both tours of small-town duty gave her the background for
the Alpine/Emma Lord series.

Mary spent much of her non-fiction career in public
relations (some would say PR is fiction, too). But ever since she
learned how to read and write, Mary wanted to tell stories that
could be put between book covers (e-readers were far into the
future and if she hadn’t seen her daughter’s iPad, she might not
know they exist). Thus, she began her publishing career with the
first of seven historical romances before switching to mysteries in
1991. If Mary could do the math, she’d know how many books she’s
published. Since she can’t, she estimates the total is at least 55.
Or something. See below—count ’em if you can.

At the time of her husband and mentor’s death in
February 2010, David and Mary had been married for more than 43
years. They have three daughters, Barbara, Katherine and Magdalen,
and two granddaughters, Maisy and Clara. They all live in Seattle,
too. Those apples don’t move far from the tree …
literally.

For more information, go to:

www.authormarydaheim.com.