This is only one of the many revelations in Eugenia Price's intimate
account of the many months she spent sorting through voluminous
historical research and writing Margaret's Story, the third novel in
her Florida trilogy.
Published as a companion to the novel, this journal offers a fascinating
view of the author at work as the novel developed week by week.
Here, for the sharing, is her excitement as her story's characters
emerge-living, breathing "people" who become for the duration more real
to her than those who are part of her day-to-day existence. Here, too,
is her joy on "good" writing days, her anxiety in times of creative
uncertainty, her frustrations at unavoidable interruptions-and her
courage in resisting discouragement and discomfort (through most of this
period she was plagued with vertigo caused by labyrinthitis). From time
to time she isolated herself in a St. Augustine motel to work
undisturbed, but when at home on St. Simons Island she managed to
continue with the novel and be at the same time a caring friends to
everyone who needed her.
In Diary of a Novel the reader will encounter many of the friends met
in St. Simons Memoir and make, with the author, some new friends as
well. Most of all, this behind-the-scenes narrative will give a new
dimension to the experience of reading the novel Margaret's Story.
