The Witch of Belladonna Bay (38 page)

  6. Naomi says Jackson's alcoholism won't kill him, that “pirates don't drown.” That's an interesting juxtaposition with her as a mermaid, the siren. Who leads who astray?

  7. At the beginning of the novel, Bronwyn is scared to revisit the person she was when she was growing up. Have you had any experiences where you had to revisit bad decisions in your life in order to move forward?

  8. The theme of forgiveness is front and center in the narrative. Why is forgiving the people who have hurt us most so crucial to living a peaceful life? Do you think before forgiving one another all the characters ultimately had to forgive themselves? If so, why, and how does this play an important role in allowing them to move forward together?

  9. Bronwyn consistently says things such as “Time lies.” How do these moments in the novel reflect the transformative power of honesty?

10. How does the setting of the novel influence the narrative arc of the story? The author creates “characters” out of architecture as well as nature. Would the dynamics between the family members be as poignant if this novel were set somewhere else? Discuss.

 

St. Martin's Griffin

 

Acknowledgments

 

This novel was a journey for me. A test of sorts … its own magic spell. I needed to write a story that was linear and still layered, and I couldn't have done it without the help of Erica Olivier, who read
The Witch of Little Italy,
critiqued it, and noted things I still needed to learn about the craft. She helped me edit this novel, and made it shine. Writers who also read this book in its many incarnations: Loretta Nyhan, Heidi Shultz, Adriana Cloud, and Sarah Wylie. Thank you for your time and epic patience. A huge thank-you goes out to Grace McCrocklin for giving me a few Southern sayings that helped me place myself squarely inside many unruly moments.

Thanks also to John Valeri, the Hartford Book Examiner, and Casey Heyer Schwing, both of whom read advance copies and whose enthusiasm for the story made my heart soar.

Living in Alabama was the single most important part of the writing process. So, to the people of Baldwin County, Alabama, thank you. The residents and shop owners of Fairhope, Gulf Shores, Bon Secour, and, most of all, Magnolia Springs (especially the owners of Jesse's), this book would not exist without you. You welcomed me into your community and “took care” of me and my little witches while I lived there. To Bev Overton, Ellen McDonald, and Butch Mannich. To the mayor of Magnolia Springs, Ken Underwood, his lovely wife Miss Helen, and their beautiful children and grand-babies, especially their daughter, Carrie. To Stephanie Winkler who printed, posted, and took care of all my office needs while calming me down. And to Carla and her daughter McKenzie. Friends made on the Gulf Shore seaside remain friends forever.

The magic I found (not five minutes from our cottage) at the Swift-Coles house in Bon Secour, is a novel in and of itself. Many thanks to the Baldwin County Historical Society and to all the tour guides who painstakingly answered a million zillion questions. Special thanks to Harriet Outlaw and the indomitable Micky Blackwell McConnell, whose eyes sparkled even more than her stories.

To my literary agent, Anne Bohner, who loved this book right from its meager beginnings. To the entire team at St. Martin's Press for your enthusiasm, hard work, and your belief in me. Especially my Glitter Editor of All the Things, Vicki Lame. Look, Glitter! Another book, baby!

To Don Roy King, who delivered a eulogy I attended and allowed me to use the term “an oxymoron of a man.” It was the best way to describe Jackson Whalen. I love you, Donny.

To my mother, Theresa Anne, and her mother (my gram), Philomena (Fay), for teaching me how to long for what
was
and still live in what
is
.

To my husband, William, and our three daughters, Rosy, Tess, and Grace, who helped me find my balance this year. To my northeastern family: Robert Mele (godfather extraordinaire), Uncle Michael Mele, Rita Palmieri, Margaret Palmieri, and the entire Palmieri and Mele/DePaul clans. Your support for this literary adventure has been one of my greatest joys.

Mostly, this book belongs to my Cooper family down South. To my father, James Sterling. Your generous love has overcompensated for any hurt. Thank you for moving me forward. My brother, Talmadge James. You are the Moon in my sky. To my “Bonus-Mama” and dear friend Kim Cooper for delivering me my past, present, and future. My Cooper cousins, Alex, Max, and his soon-to-be wife, Caitlin. And to my cousin Lana. You are the sister of my soul.

As my daddy once said: “You may be half Eye-talian, girl. But never forget, you're also half redneck cracker.” I think that about sums it up.

 

Also by Suzanne Palmieri

The Witch of Little Italy

I'll Be Seeing You
(as Suzanne Hayes)

Empire Girls
(as Suzanne Hayes)

 

About the Author

Suzanne Palmieri is the author of
The Witch of Little Italy
. Writing as Suzanne Hayes, she is also the author of
Empire Girls
and
I'll Be Seeing You
. She lives with her husband and three daughters in Connecticut.

 

Visit
www.suzannepalmieri.com
.

 

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

 

 

THE WITCH OF BELLADONNA BAY.
Copyright © 2014 by Suzanne Palmieri. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

 

www.stmartins.com

 

Excerpt from THE LITTLE PRINCE by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, translated from the French by Richard Howard. Copyright 1943 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Copyright © renewed 1971 by Consuelo de Saint-Exupéry. English translation copyright © 2000 by Richard Howard. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

 

Cover design by Olga Grlic

 

Cover photographs: girl by Aleshyn_Andrei/
Shutterstock.com
; lake by Elegeyda/
Shutterstock.com

 

eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].

 

The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

 

Palmieri, Suzanne.

    The witch of Belladonna Bay / Suzanne Palmieri.

            pages cm

    ISBN 978-1-250-01553-2 (trade paperback)

    ISBN 978-1-250-01552-5 (e-book)

  1.  Families—Alabama—Fiction.   2.  Young women—Fiction.   3.  Homecoming—Fiction.   4.  Murder—Investigation—Fiction.   5.  Alabama—Fiction.   6.  Mystery fiction.   I.  Title.

    PS3616.A353W576 2013

    813'.6—dc23

2014008058

 

e-ISBN 9781250015525

 

First Edition: May 2014