19 Comments
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Joan Sheehan's avatar

I have lived in CT my whole life and it never dawned on me why Ivoryton had that name. This is awful but fascinating. I can’t wait to read your book!

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Carol M Robinson's avatar

Me too! Not to be confused with the movement but … I need to think about that or this

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Paul Ashton's avatar

Phew! Your son. He’s a good boy!

I like to think I’m tech savvy but, like Charlene, I can’t warm up to the cloud. Consequently I have one very large external hard drive for back up and several unlabeled thumb drives which sit on the desk competing for my attention.

That stretch of towns on the river, Chester, Deep River, Ivoryton, Essex have an otherworldly/time warp quality to them. Especially in the off season. One of my favorite photographers and an extraordinary guy, the late Al Malpa, lived and had his gallery on the creek that comes down the hill in Chester. Going there was a real treat.

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Paul Ashton's avatar

You probably thought of this but I was thinking that there must be photographs of the ivory workers. The historical society? Maybe have the granddaughter help go over them to ease the confusement.

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Susan Campbell's avatar

I'm on the board of my local library and we have tons of the stuff, plus all the records from the old companies that processed the ivory. I haven't hit up the local historical societies yet but I'm sure they have a treasure trove, as well.

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Jac's avatar

I LOVE how you tell a story. Is there a place for this in your book's Foreword, or somewhere?

I can't wait to read your novel!

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Susan Campbell's avatar

I could write a book on writing this book. But yes, I think there's a place in the foreward. To me, this is about testing my own limits. I already proved myself in journalism. Now I want to prove (to myself, if no one else) that I can still be a child and make shit up.

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Jac's avatar

Ha! I think you'll be fabulous at it!

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Sharon Foster (CT)'s avatar

Looking forward to the new book. I knew of Ivoryton, but it never clicked how it got its name. I only found out after you moved there.

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Susan Campbell's avatar

Everywhere has a back story.

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Deacon Art's avatar

Sounds like life.. lost but now found.

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Charlene L. Edge's avatar

OMG, Susan, I'm so thrilled your son recovered your manuscript. I'm writing my second book and the thought of losing it at this stage terrifies me. I'm backing it up on an external drive right now. (I don't trust the Cloud). Am cheering you on from afar. I'll be the first in line for a copy of your fascinating novel!

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Susan Campbell's avatar

I'd had good luck with Dropbox and still don't know what the hell happened, but yes, I'll be using my lil' thumb drive from now on. And congratulations on your second book!

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Rich Colbert's avatar

I lived in CT all my life and did not know this about Ivorytown, thanks for sharing and am so happy your manuscript was recovered.....

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Susan Campbell's avatar

It's a fascinating little town.

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B Keck's avatar

I love this one, Susan -- from the local color (which I totally get since I live in a nearby town that once manufactured metal products in its mills) to the what-me-worry attitude you adopted after an event that would devastate my psyche. Thank you!

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Susan Campbell's avatar

Thank you, friend. It was A Moment.

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Gaby's avatar

A dear friend of mine had the very same thing happen to her this week. She has lived an extraordinary life, and had written 1000 pages as an autobiography. She had a traumatic brain injury, and struggles with memory issues. She messaged me in a panic. I asked her to stop. "Just stop and imagine how good it will feel when you find the manuscript. Feel that joy in your bones.". It took her a couple of days of breathing and meditation, and then...as if by magic, it appeared in her inbox. She had sent it to a mutual friend for editing a year or so ago, and now, here it was, edited even. The universe and your friends have your back!

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Mary Ann Dimand's avatar

Hurrah! I love this wonder story!

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