What first sparked your fascination with time travel as a storytelling device?
I would daydream about how fascinating it would be to go back in time and meet long gone ancestors. But also to see the country when it was young and growing. I love touring historic homes. I imagine what if must have been like back then.
How did Time and Again by Jack Finney influence your writing journey?
When I read his book, it felt so real. I almost felt I was reading a non-fiction book.
Somewhere in Time is such a beloved film—what elements of that movie inspired your own stories?
Richard Collier’s amazement at successfully going back to 1912. What’s more, he had already lived it. He found his name in the hotel’s registration book. It’s like that in my Book 1. My characters were living what they had already done. Like, Lisa introduced Brian’s grandparents to each other.
What draws you personally to the emotional and philosophical side of time travel?
Experiencing first hand how life was back in the 1800s and early 1900s. Like my characters, they jumped forward in time generation by generation. They saw the changes and had to adapt, not knowing how long they would be in each time.
Can you give us a brief overview of your series and how the books are connected?
The first two books were written as one long novel. It was available only on Kindle. When I decided to publish in paperback, it was suggested I split it into two books. I chose a spot where the first has an ending (I hate cliffhangers when I’m reading) but there are so many more surprises to be found in book 2, THE SECRET. After the surprise ending in THE FOREVER COTTAGE, Brian and Lisa go back to the 1860s. They don’t know if it’s permanent or just a ‘time filler.’ THE TRIPLETS, Book 3 is a stand alone story but many characters come from the first two books. They need to be read in order. I thought it would be fascinating having identical triplets going forward in time from 1906. The catch is, they don’t go to the same year. So, they find themselves no longer the same age or being identical. How would they feel about that?
What inspired the idea behind The Forever Cottage? Did it start with a character, a setting, or a “what if” moment?
It was definitely a “what if” moment. Or a “what if” daydream.
Without giving away spoilers, what new twists can readers expect in The Secret and The Triplets?
Characters are not who they appear to be. After completing THE SECRET, the readers will probably go back and reread THE FOREVER COTTAGE to pick up on all the little clues. And the clues are there. Just not seen that way the first time through. In THE TRIPLETS, we find out who and why one of the girls dies in Chapter 2.
How do you keep continuity across multiple intertwined books with time travel at the center?
One reviewer of the original on Kindle said I was a genius. Haha. Another reviewer said she was a stickler for detail and the author never missed a beat. I check, then recheck, and double checked the years and events to make sure it was all accurate.
What are some challenges (or freedoms) in writing time travel fiction compared to other genres?
I can make time travel as dreamy or as real as I want. I have the freedom to go to any time that advances the story I want to tell. A lot of the stories weren’t even in my original story idea. The characters took on their own personalities and took me to new places. I just followed along on my keyboard.
How do you research or plan for time travel elements to make them feel believable?
I do exactly that. I research for accuracy. When buildings were built. Transportation of the times. Clothing. Slang words of the times. In THE TRIPLETS, I even check then double checked dates and locations of three Boz Scaggs concerts that the three triplets went to decades apart.
Do you outline your books in advance, or does the plot evolve as you write?
Plot evolves as I write with a definite plan of where it’s headed.
Have your characters ever surprised you by taking the story in a direction you didn’t expect?
Most definitely! In Book 3, Rose does something that I never planned for when I started writing that one.
What kind of feedback have you received from readers so far?
Thank goodness, very positive. While most readers are women, one of my favorite reviews came from a 73-year-old man. I’ve cut and pasted his review here:
”Unlike most of the reviewers of this marvelous book who are women, I'm a 73 year old guy who has read an enormous number of books in the Time Travel genre and I can say without question that Nan Adel has provided all who love this genre with an incredible read. Never has any novel touched me as emotionally as this. Her weaving of the most convoluted time travel plot lines amidst a family saga and timeless romance of our protagonists captivated me in so many ways. I had no idea what was coming next as the story evolved, which for me is the essence of great writing. I loved this book.”
- Jody Gorran
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2023
What can readers expect from Book 4—and do you have a vision for how the series will ultimately end?
I’m writing Book 4, THE TRAVEL BACK, now. It will end the series unless a character or two wants to star in a future book. Although, the book will have a complete ending. And the ending ties in with THE FOREVER COTTAGE events and characters.
When did you join AllAuthor? What has your experience been like?
So far, so good. I joined sometime in 2021. Last month, my book cover for THE FOREVER COTTAGE came in at third place in the Book Cover of the Month contest. Being an unknown author, I need the exposure.
