Jessie: Delighted to be breathing the salty air on the coast of Maine.
Several years ago my family started spending summers in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Almost immediately, I thought of an idea for The Change of Fortune mysteries series set there in 1898, the year the original pier opened. One thing led to another and before long the book sold.
I just loved working on this book and writing about life in such a magical place at such an exciting time. I also adore the cover pictured at left. Here’s the publisher’s description of the story:
First in a dazzling new historical mystery series featuring Ruby Proulx, a psychic with a questionable past who suddenly finds her future most uncertain…
Canada, 1898. The only life Ruby Proulx has ever known is that of a nomad, traveling across the country with her snake-oil salesman father. She dreams of taking root somewhere, someday, but, until she can, she makes her way by reading tarot cards. Yet she never imagined her own life would take such a turn…
After one of her father’s medical “miracles” goes deadly wrong, Ruby evades authorities by hiding in the seaside resort town of Old Orchard, Maine, where her estranged aunt, Honoria, owns the Hotel Belden, a unique residence that caters to Spiritualists—a place where Ruby should be safe as long as she can keep her dark secret hidden.
But Ruby’s plan begins to crumble after a psychic investigator checks into the hotel and senses Ruby is hiding more than she’s letting on. Now Ruby must do what she can to escape both his attention and Aunt Honoria’s insistence that she has a true gift, before she loses her precious new home and family forever…
The book won’t be available until September 6, 2016 but I have just received a box of advance reading copies and would love to celebrate their arrival by giving away one of them to a commenter. So, share a memory in the comments below about Old Orchard Beach, a visit to Maine or something you love about history and you’ll be entered into the drawing for a copy. Good luck!
Kait Carson
Charlene D’Avanzo 
My daughter, Gina, attended college iin Bar Harbor, Maine. You can imagine, we made many trips to that beautiful state during those four years. Each late August, after dropping off Gina at her campus, my husband and I visited a southern Maine shore point. Of course, one August we stayed at a B&B in Old Orchard Beach. I loved the pier and the beach, of course, but I must mention another Old Orchard Beach favorite: the game store! We are a family that plays board games! What a great find for us!
Board Silly! Such a lovely shop. My family loved it too!
Lost In OOB. I was a young teenager. I had gone to Old Orchard with a neighbor friend and his cousin. Chaperoned by my friend’s father, we trembled as we bought tickets to the “Giant Slide.” On sacks of burlap we swooshed, leaving our stomachs somewhere above. Adrenaline flooded our bodies and fear gave way to excitement. We did it, again…and a third time.
I can’t tell you if I hit my head, but something was amiss. Upon coming to rest at the bottom of the slide, I was dizzy, disoriented. Who are these people? They seemed familiar, intuitively I knew I had to stay with them. But, who are they, who was I ? Through “Pier Fries” and pizza I walked in a spinning world of uncertainty. I said nothing!
I think his name is Francis. My head was clearing up. Maybe an hour or two had gone by when we made our way back to the car. Did I have a concussion? I don’t know.
The slide is gone, the pier as I knew it is gone, Old Orchard Beach has dramatically changed. Yet, that night is an indelible memory as clear as it was foggy on a night over fifty years ago.
Isn’t that just the way, Peter? The whole worl is spinnning and out of whack but Pier Fries remains a constant! Thanks for sharing your memories!
Nearly 20 years ago, my daughter and I vacationed in Maine, driving around the state in our rental car, staying in various B&Bs. Our last night before flying home was spent in Old Orchard Beach. It was a most memorable night. A malfunctioning smoke detector in the hallway outside our room went off in the middle of the night, sending us in a groggy panic to find the owners. Finally, alarm disconnected, we slept a few hours and made it to the airport on time. Within two years, we had moved to Maine and now live only a short drive from OOB. And when my sister and her husband visited us, we recommended that same B&B – where they had a lovely, peaceful stay.
How terrifying! I am glad the incident didn’t put you off Maine forever!
I love historical novels and Maine is a favorite setting for me ! kathambre@yahoo.com
I love them too! Thanks for commenting.
Ooooooh, this sounds fascinating! I used to get to go up to Old Orchard Beach with my aunt when I was little, back in the Jurassic Age. While it’s similar now, it’s lost the sort of trapped in time state it used to have. My favorite memory is walking on the pier with my aunt and cousins eating dripping cones of peach ice cream! 🙂
Peach ice cream on the pier! How lovely. My favorite is peppermint stick. Thanks for stopping by!
My family and another went to the White Mountains and then to Old Orchard when I was 13. I really enjoyed it then, but haven’t been back since as we usually go to Drakes Island.
You should come up again, Gram! I’ll be the one sitting on the beach in an enormous hat, reading a mystery:)
Sounds like a winner, Jessie! I’ve always been fascinated by the famous people who visited Old Orchard Beach .. or called it home. Perhaps your series will include a few …:)
There are so many famous people that have been a part of OOB’s history. Even chosing an era for the series was difficult.
Sounds like a great book! My husbands Grandfather was from Canada but when he moved to Maine in the early 1900’s he changed it to Prew.
Thanks for stoppign in and sharing this Donna. I suppose Prew is easier to spell for native English speakers but I really love how the name looks as Proulx. Thanks for sharing your story!
The book sounds wonderful Jessie as wonderful as the memories I have of spending summers past up in Booth Bay Harbor as a child. Those were simple and wonderful times.
Boothbay Harbor is so lovely! I’ll be there along with Lea Wait, Barb Ross and Jen Blood ( have I forgotten any blog mates?) at the Books in Boothbay Festival. Maybe we’ll see you there?
I am so looking forward to this book! As I’ve traveled around New England doing book talks and panels, I’ve discovered many roads lead people to Old Orchard Beach, a fascinating crossroads with a palpable energy.
OOB is sort of the Rome of Maine isn’t it? I am constantly delighted to encounter people with memories of this special place!
This sure sounds like my kind of book!
Thanks, John! I hope your sentiment will be shared by many:)
This has such a wonderful theme, and the historical aspect gives it credence. I have never been to Maine; had several opportunities, but I have traveled through other New England states, and my town in NJ is historical. I like books placed in certain periods of time. As a child, I adored reading historical sagas and mysteries set in historical periods. I like the psychical aspect of this book.
Congratulations Skye! My able assistant pulled your name from a hat so I would be delighted to send you a copy of an ARC. Please get in touch with me at:
jessie at jessiecrockett.com to send me your mailing address and I will ship it right out.
I am so very thrilled. I will send you and e-mail right now. Thank you so much!
Jessie: my e-mail to you was returned. Try mine~
skyecaitlin@aol.com
Sadly, I’ve never been to Maine, but I love history — my undergraduate degree is in history. It’s fascinating to me to go back and study people and events from the past and to trace the results to our lives today. Everything that happens in today’s events has its roots in the past. It’s like a giant jigsaw puzzle that we can slowly piece together to find our whole.
History is so inspiring fo rfiction and especially mysteries, isn’t it. Maine is full of it. I hope you find a way to visit someday!
My son adored Maine and nearly went to college there many years ago, but his wife didn’t like the colder weather patterns. I also know people from NJ who vacation in Bar Harbor every summer; they liked it so much, they bought a summer home there. I love this blog because the members seem so friendly and much like people of the past—my past, when I was younger and people were congenial and caring.
I’ve never been to Maine, but I love reading about it. I have several friends who came from Maine. I also love history-mysteries, and your book sounds fascinating.
I’ve never been to Maine, or anywhere really fun for that matter. My parents were never travelers and I’ve not committed to the travel bug financially to make it happen yet…but someday I will. And as for history, I love it. Everything about it. Although my brain doesn’t like to retain it all that well, I love to read fiction and non-fiction stories about how things happened and why they are that way today. It’s interesting to learn where we came from.
Jessie:
Thank you so very much! I received your book today!!!!! I am thrilled, too.