Back in the late 90's, when Harper-Collins launched its revival of Dark Shadows novels, I hoped to make my mark by maybe penning a few. The first, called Dark Shadows: Watcher on the Hill, I completed in first rough draft. It was set in 2000. Carolyn, who remained widowed, and her cousin David, married with two young sons, were the owners of Collinwood. The entire great estate had been fully restored and Carolyn, through her found business savvy, turned Collinsport into a thriving tourist town with resorts, boutiques, cafes, etc. Her elderly Uncle Roger lived with them as did Quentin. In the modernized Old House lived a retired Barnabas and Willie with a satellite dish on the roof and Barnabas scouring the internet. Maggie Evans returns from California, divorced with her children grown, and Barnabas helps her arrange a showing of her deceased father's work at the New York Metropolitan of Art. And a totally reformed Angelique, who survived her death in 1841, also returns and she and Barnabas rekindle their romance with plans to wed. And then something dark and evil returns to create havoc in the family...
I started a rough draft of a second novel, Dark Shadows - Occasion of Sin. It was designed to be an "epic," Gone-With-the-Wind work with a prologue set in 1918, the major part set from 1927 through 1949, and an epilogue in 1966. At that time, I was a constant pen-pal with Denise. I told her of my second work and that Nora would be a major character (from 1927 until her tragic death in 1935). Denise was thrilled with the idea. She "collaborated" with me on fleshing out Nora, even as to how Denise thought Nora would look at that time period. It was a fascinating exchange. Then, of course, the Harper-Collins series collapsed. I had issues dealing with my parents' rapidly declining health, had to move back "home," and needed to deal with that. Time didn't allow a continuance. But I'll never forget that time when I was "pals" with Denise. Such a marvelous woman.
Gerard
