A Coastal Escape
The ladies of Summer Triangle, Natalie, Eliana, and Allegra, spend the summer at a gorgeous home by Silver Lake - but they don’t stay inside. Many of the most crucial plot points happen at a specific (often iconic) destination on the Delmarva Peninsula. One of the great joys I took in writing this novel was the opportunity to reconnect with some of my favorite haunts and to discover new gems in the area.
Throughout Summer Triangle, readers will note references to local landmarks. Often, these settings establish an atmosphere at the outset of a scene. The characters’ exchanges can take cues from the setting that cradles their action. On the other hand, their experiences and behavior also at times sharply contrast with the ease of their environment. When Natalie becomes overwhelmed with nostalgia at the Rehoboth Bay Marina, she’s only partially thinking about sailing. When Eliana strolls past Browseabout Books and Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, she only looks the part of an ambling tourist - her inner world is on fire. When Allegra forgets all about her drink at The Cultured Pearl, she’s in shock, digesting a stunning piece of information from her date.
In any story, setting should serve as connective tissue for the reader - and maybe especially with a novel that takes place at the beach. For those unfamiliar with the Delaware beaches, I hope that Summer Triangle is a greeting of sorts for you, potentially whetting your appetite for exploring a new coastal locale. For locals and loyal visitors, I hope this novel anchored to your beloved spaces gives you a sense of ownership. Because, of course, this beautiful area belongs to you as much as it does to these characters. You were there first, though I have my fingers crossed that these ladies might nudge you to see these compelling vistas and these local institutions with new eyes.
While I wasn’t always certain as to how Summer Triangle would unfold (I do like when characters surprise me), I always knew where it would take place. Writing a novel is productive form of escape, and this landlocked writer welcomed every opportunity to retreat to the beach. My longing for a sea breeze is probably stamped onto every page.
Its setting is also (yes, this is the boring bit) quite practical. Writing a novel set in a place I knew well often felt like retracing the lines on my palm. I’ve crossed the Bay Bridge countless times, my gut churning with mixture of anticipation and vertigo. I’ve walked the streets of Rehoboth Beach, patronized the restaurants and quaint shops. I’ve spent so many hours on the beach, by the bay, and on the boardwalk that I was fortunate to have the book’s scaffolding in place before I ever wrote a word. Even from far away, the path forward appears more readily when you know your way around.
As an aside, that nightly decision on vacation as to where to go to dinner? As an author, that one is all mine - ditto for the mayhem that occurs when the characters finally arrive there.
In the graphic above, you’ll see some (but not all) of the local landmarks referenced in Summer Triangle. Every destination in the book is genuine - with one notable exception. In Penny Lane, Damon’s Backlit Gallery is entirely fictitious. There is a gallery in Penny Lane, Sean Kelley Art, and you should take a minute to visit it if you’re in town. Apart from its enviable location however, this space has nothing to do with the one presented in Summer Triangle. I promise that every other destination mentioned is real and ready for you to stop by.
In a recent article for Delaware Today Magazine, Sydney Livingston described Summer Triangle as my “love letter to the Delaware beaches.” I couldn’t love that interpretation of my book more. And the affection I feel for the area is, hopefully, wrapped up in my determination to nail down its specifics. I believe that part my job as an author is to prove to readers that I’ve been paying attention, that their time spent within Summer Triangle is a solid investment, and that I will do my best to transport them to a new reality.
The poet Mary Oliver noted that “attention is the beginning of devotion.” My devotion for the Delmarva Peninsula has never wavered. For so many reasons, this region holds a very special place in my heart. I hope, after reading Summer Triangle, that it’ll have a bit of yours, too.
