what they saw came true ?” I sat with the idea in my head for about six months . I sent the idea to a publisher and an agent I was already working with , and they told me that they weren ’ t sure about it yet . When I knew that I wanted to write the story , I decided that it was better to make the book about a woman . Then I got the idea for how this woman who has never been to Manchester , Vermont ends up there . I developed a story arc of a young woman on the west coast , who grew up in a modest family . She collected scenic calendars that she bought for a discounted price at the shopping mall . I pictured the girl putting the pages of these calendars on her bedroom walls , and looking at them and dreaming about the life that she wanted to live one day . One year , she picks a New England-themed calendar , and she sees a picture of Manchester at Christmas time . She falls in love with the beautiful snow and the lights . She loves the image of Christmastime in Manchester so much that she never takes it down . She leaves it up on her wall for years . One day , she becomes a successful writer . She decides to get in her car and go to Manchester to experience it for herself . That ’ s how the story begins , when she ’ s coming to Manchester . I don ’ t want to give it all away , but she meets some interesting people , and the moment I spoke about in the church from my dream comes into play later on in the story as well .
Sherman : Different writers enjoy different parts of the process . Some authors write very fast , but it takes them a long time to edit . Some people are the opposite . What ’ s your process ?
Gray : It ’ s different depending on what I ’ m writing . I ’ ve written novels , and I ’ ve also written children ’ s books . The children ’ s books were pretty fast , but I didn ’ t start writing them until I had the story outlined in my head . That ’ s probably why it was fast . When I wrote the novel , I had never written anything like it before . I didn ’ t know if I could even do it . I just had to sit down and start writing one day , once I felt that I was ready . I didn ’ t know where the story was going to go initially , but the process of developing it was a lot of fun . I didn ’ t write it fast , because I was writing it part-time due to my full-time job . That forced me to slow down , but I ’ m honestly grateful about the fact that it was a slow process for writing the novel . It gave me the time to develop the story .
Sherman : What are you working on next after Manchester Christmas ?
THE VIOLIN PLAYERS
When hate is dismissed and bigotry ignored ……. A Jewish Girl ’ s High School Introduction to Antisemitism
A teen romance read by the author
5-Star Reviews from Readers ’ Favorite “.. Sherman shines a light on discrimination with an enthralling narrative .”
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Vermont Scenes by Marion Wilcox Fleming
Raised in Arlington , Vermont , Marion Fleming deeply enjoyed portraying her surroundings on canvas . Covered bridges , seasonal foliage , and the wellknown Mt . Equinox were all a part of the Vermont scenery she cherished . Visit her website portfolio to see more lovely creations .
MWFleming . com • Julie @ mwfleming . com
VTMAG . COM HOLIDAY 2020 31