Barbara Eppich Struna: Something New is Coming!

Monday, May 22, 2023

Something New is Coming!

This is our house.

This 1890 historical home sits on two plus acres and is surrounded by woods on three sides. It was the inspiration for my first novel,

The Old Cape House

And now, it is the inspiration, once again, for my fifth novel in

The Old Cape Series

I wanted to share some thoughts about

"The Old Cape Map"

When we first moved in, thirty five years ago, on our western side, was a large empty parcel. There were wild flowers in the spring like aconite and snow drops that covered the forest floor. On occasion, I admit, I shouldn't have crossed the property line but couldn't resist transplanting some of the flowers to our yard, thinking someone was going to clear cut and build. I wanted to save as much as I could.


I love my yellow aconite.

In my fictional novel, The Old Cape Map, Nancy Caldwell is visited by her two nieces from Ohio.

Here's a drone view of the Caldwell property in my fictional world.

The Caldwell Gallery is on the right. The story is all about the land between the Caldwell Gallery and a curmudgeon neighbor, Mrs. McPhee on the left.

Here's the view in present day.

As you can see, my stories are always inspired by what I see around me. Once I get an idea in my head, I begin to weave my characters around historical facts and the scenario of, it could happen.

The second location that is woven through the story is Millbury, MA.

Why did I choose Millbury MA? My youngest daughter lives in Millbury with her husband on Burbank Street. On the top left is the old Mayo Woolen Mill and you can see Burbank street as it winds and climbs to all the many houses along the road.

My novels are written using dueling storylines and timelines.

The Old Cape Map begins in present day Cape Cod with Nancy Caldwell and one of her nieces finding clues. In the following chapters you'll travel back to 1900 and meet the characters connected with the found items. As chapters unfold, two stories develop across different time periods in an adventure filled with suspense, history, and treasure.