Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 30, 2013

One of the intriguing museums in Cheyenne is the Depot Museum.  As you can guess from its name, it's housed in the Union Pacific depot, and the exhibits focus on the railroad and its impact on Cheyenne.  While the first floor details the actual construction of the railroad, the second floor of the museum houses an ecclectic collection of items that travelers left behind. 

Can you imagine forgetting to take your cheval mirror, your suitcases or even your music stand?  As I wander through this part of the museum, I always find myself spinning stories about the people who once owned and then abandoned these objects.  Who do you think once owned that mirror?

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 23, 2013

Although the Snowy Range gets its name from the white colored rocks, it's also a place with more than its share of frozen precipitation.  During the winter, when Cheyenne's forecasts call for an inch or two of snow, the Snowies routinely measure their snowfall in feet.  As a result, the primary road is closed for many months, leaving the area accessible only by snowmobile or cross-country skis. 

In case you were wondering, the reason there's so little snow in this picture is that it was taken in the middle of October. 

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 16, 2013

Thermopolis is best known for its hot springs, the largest mineral hot springs in the world.  It's also the location of the state bison herd.  (How many states have their own bison herds?  Probably only the one whose state flag bears the image of a bison: Wyoming.)  In addition to those attractions, did you know that Thermopolis has its own version of a popular board game?  It's an interesting place to visit for any and all of those reasons, not to mention its proximity to the beautiful Wind River canyon.

Who Reads Amanda Cabot's Books? -- Debbie Darroch Does

One of the exciting things for me is knowing that I have readers all around the U.S. and, in fact, in many different countries.  I'm looking forward to showcasing some of them this year and, depending on your reaction to this series, may expand from once to twice a month next year.

I'm delighted to begin the year with Debbie Darroch, who lives in Hernando, Florida.  I have to admit that as the cold wind howls in Cheyenne, the thought of living in the Sunshine State sounds very appealing to me.  So, let's learn some more about this avid reader.

Debbie, I couldn't help noticing that you had several of my books on display.  Needless to say, that made me smile.  I also noticed that your house is immaculate.  Wish I could say the same!

             What was the first of my books that you read?

            Paper Roses

2        How did you discover that book?

            Your website

I'm glad to know that the website is helping readers learn more about me and my books. 

             If you have a favorite Cabot book, which one is it?  (And why is it your favorite, if you’d like to share that with others.)

            I find them all equally enjoyable.

Is this a bit like mothers being asked which child is their favorite?  I have to admit that although I have favorite scenes and favorite characters, like you, I couldn't choose just one as an overall favorite.

4         Who are your other favorite authors?

            Maeve Binchey, Rosamunde Pilcher, Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, and most classical authors.

What an intriguing list!  I'm also a fan of Maeve Binchey and have read the other authors you mentioned, but I definitely cannot read Poe too close to bedtime. 

5       What do you enjoy doing when you’re not reading?

            Walking, cycling, boating and fishing.

And now I know why you live in Florida.  It's got to be one of the best places to do all those wonderful outdoor activities.  

             Is there any other information about your life that you’d like to share with other readers?

            I have been married to the love of my life for forty three years.

That's wonderful!  Congratulations to you and your husband on a love that's not simply survived the decades but has grown stronger with time.  Your real-life story is better than any I could write.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 9, 2013

For me, the primary attractions of the Historic Trails Museum in Casper are the interactive exhibits, because they give visitors a chance to experience at least a bit of what the pioneers did on their journey west.  To see what it was like to cross the Platte River in a covered wagon, we climbed into this wagon, sat on kegs and bounced our way across the river.  Of course, there was no real river.  Instead, we were watching a movie.  What I found fascinating was the length to which the museum went to ensure authenticity.  The modern river is deeper than it was when the pioneers crossed, so the film makers had the flow of water reduced during the time they were making the movie.

How many museums have you visited that pay that much attention to detail?

Wednesday in Wyoming -- January 2, 2013

This is quintessential winter in Wyoming: snow and the state's official mammal, the bison.  Since I've already told you that Yellowstone is my favorite place on earth, you won't be surprised to know that this picture was taken there. 

As much as I enjoy watching the bison from the safety of my car, I have to admit to being intimidated when I encountered them while cross-country skiing.  There's something about their sheer size, not to mention those sharp horns, that made me put as much distance between them and me as I could.  

Behind the Cover: Waiting for Spring

I've always known that a lot of planning and work went into a book cover, but nowhere was that more apparent to me than in the cover for Waiting for Spring.  One of the first steps is to select a model.  Normally I don't know who the model is, but this time, her mother contacted me, so I know that the beautiful woman who was selected to portray Charlotte is Eleanor Holm.
 
Once she was chosen, the next challenge became finding a dress that was appropriate for Charlotte.  Since Charlotte was the premier dressmaker and designer in Cheyenne, she needed a very special gown.  Enter Sally Clark of Sally C Designs.  She custom made this gorgeous silk gown for my cover.

And then there's the background design.  I was absolutely delighted when Revell's art director incorporated one of my photographs.  (Okay, I'll admit it.  I didn't take this picture.  My husband did.) It's a building that's still standing in Cheyenne, the Tivoli.

And then came the magic part -- the designer putting all the elements together to create the final product.  I couldn't be happier with it. What do you think? Is there anything you'd change?