The Hostess's Dilemma
The Hostess’s Dilemma, or When to Throw the Party Whenever I start plotting a historical novel, I always ask myself whether I want to include genuine historical events. If answer is yes, then I figure out when they occurred because I’ll have to schedule everything in my book around them. Sometimes this is so easy that it feels like inviting your best friends over for an al fresco dinner. Sometimes it’s so hard that it’s worse than including the in-laws from hell in your holiday at the beach – and you’ll rethink the entire party! THE SHADOW GUARD , my April release, is set in a thinly-disguised version of Alexandria, Virginia – a town with a very rich history. George Washington is Alexandria’s most famous son. Every year, the city graciously accepts the United States’ announcement of a three-day holiday in his honor and throws him the country’s biggest birthday party . There’s a parade with fife and drums – whose grand marshal this year was a naval commander – various races, cooki...