Hillside the Novel, as it is called in my Word document, is 50,118 words long. That will certainly change as I combine, delete and add more to it over the next months/years. I have a 3 inch notebook full of chapters, history, character sketches, pictures, and landscape and garden information. It was amazing how much research I had to do to include things like seeing eye dogs, retinitis pigmentosa, gypsy history, spells and charms, antique pendants and rings, University of Connecticut Landscape and Design program, Farmington Connecticut, Miss Porters School for girls, Careers in Landscape and Design, pictures of what I thought my characters would look like, plants and animals of Connecticut, 55 Ford Pickups, how to build a Gazebo (my builder/car buff husband helped with the last two), and most of all the awesome HillStead Museum in Farmington Connecticut. My story takes place at the site of a Manor House turned Museum over 100 years ago and HillStead is my inspiration. I used information and pictures from their website http://www.hillstead.org/ to create my fictitional Hillside Museum. It's a beautiful place that I hope to visit one day.
This month was an amazing experience, one that I will most likely attempt again. Thanks to all my blog buddies for their encouragement and support. I truely appreciate your friendship.
