Some Stuff About Kiss River

Kiss River is the middle book of the Keeper of the Light trilogy and I’m happy that my publisher is giving the whole trilogy a second life by re-releasing the books one by one. The first book, Keeper of the Light, came out in April. Kiss River was published today. And the final book, Her Mother’s Shadow, will be out in 2012, although I’m not yet sure of the date.  There are ways you may be able to read the whole trilogy now, though. But first, let me tell you a few things about the books.

They were Never Meant to be a Trilogy

Keeper of the Light was my fourth novel, written nearly two decades ago, is set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. With a Gothic sort of intrigue, a romantic triangle, an elderly lighthouse keeper and a beautiful dead woman who pretty much runs the show, it quickly became the most popular of my books. Readers pleaded with me to continue the tale of the O’Neill family, but I was deep into writing other books. When I left Keeper’s publisher, the book was allowed to go out of print. I wanted my readers to continue to have access to it, so I suggested to my new publisher that if they would reissue it, I would write two more books to turn the story into a trilogy. My publisher agreed and that’s how Kiss River and Her Mother’s Shadow were born. This was around 2005.

Those books were written twelve years after Keeper of the Light, so I decided to write them in real time, aging all the characters twelve years. What fun that was! It’s not often an author gets to see how her characters turn out. In the case of Kiss River, they didn’t turn out too well! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had much of a story.

Here’s the original cover for the hardcover edition of Kiss River.

For Haseena and the Other Waiting Children

That’s the dedication in Kiss River, and I’ve often been asked who Haseena is. Well, she’s part of the inspiration for the story of Kiss River. One of my writing friends was in the midst of adopting a little girl from India when her adoption was targeted by Indian activists against international adoptions. My friend moved to India for eighteen months to fight for her daughter, Haseena. I was so inspired by her passion that I created Gina, a young woman on her own difficult journey to adopt an Indian child. When I wrote the book, I was optimistic my friend would succeed in her efforts, but that was not the case. This friend is writing her own book about her experience, and I hope one day soon you’ll get to learn more about her real-life struggle.

The Moto Sato Problem

Every once in a while, for a cause close to my heart, I’ll auction off a character name. Whoever wins must agree to allow his or her name to be used for good or evil. I had already written most of Kiss River when I decided to add a character name to the offerings at my church’s annual auction. I figured I could simply use the name for one of the many walk-on characters during the World War II portion of the story. No biggie. Until the winner was announced: Moto Sato. Oh no. How was I going to put a Japanese man in North Carolina’s Outer Banks during World War II? I stewed about it for days, but a solution began coming to me, and along with the solution, a subplot that turned out to be critical to the story. I love how things like that happen in writing! I’ll always be grateful that Moto won that auction.

The Paperback Cover, Back Then

Here’s the paperback cover for Kiss River. All I can say is that covers have come a long way!

You Want to Read the Whole Trilogy Now?

So, Keeper of the Light is available in both print and ebook format. Kiss River is available in print and will be available in ebook format December 1st. But, sneakily, you may be able to find the ebook format for it connected to the “old” edition, which is really the same as the new (complicated, I know). And you don’t want to wait for Her Mother’s Shadow to be re-released? You have a few options. Ebay. Your local library, which may be able to track down a copy for you through interlibrary loan. And again, you may be able to find the ebook connected to the original release. If all that is too complicated for you, feel free to ask questions and I’ll do my best to answer.

United Kingdom and Australian Readers

Hang in there! Keeper of the Light will be published in January and I hope the other two books won’t be long behind. I am not sure of the Australian dates, but they are usually around the same time as the UK.

Happy Reading, everyone!

 

28 Comments

  1. Christie Town on November 23, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    I am so excited! I have this little problem with reading too fast so I refuse to start a trilogy unless I have all 3 books available. I just found all 3 available on Amazon for my Kindle so I am all set for a couple days of bliss. My poor husband! We have a system where I read non stop until I finish the book and when I am finished he says “welcome back!” Now I’m off to warn him I’ll be departing soon.

    • joanna on February 27, 2012 at 3:36 pm

      Iv already read keeper of the light on my kindle but cant find the other two. I dont understand it. Can you help?

      • Diane Chamberlain on February 27, 2012 at 5:41 pm

        Joanna, Kiss River is out in the US, but it and Her Mother’s Shadow will not be released in the UK and Australia until 2013. I wish they would be published earlier, but unfortunately it’s not up to me. Sorry about that!

        • Charissa on April 28, 2012 at 6:02 pm

          I wish this trilogy could be made into a movie.

  2. Diane Chamberlain on November 23, 2011 at 8:47 pm

    I hope your husband will forgive me, Christie. Have fun!

  3. Connie Williamson on November 23, 2011 at 11:33 pm

    I’m fairly new to NC and I enjoy getting to know different parts of my adopted state through your books. Thanks!

  4. Nancy Ibarra on November 24, 2011 at 2:10 am

    iSteaming cant wait I am going into withdrawal, I have never been so addicted. Once I open the first page I can’t put your books down. keep them coming.

  5. Margo on November 24, 2011 at 8:09 am

    Of course KEEPER OF THE LIGHT is my all time favorite book. Diane, I was thrilled when you decided years later to write 2 more, making the series a trilogy. They are my favorites and I pull them down from my shelf practically once a year to re-read them. Like Nancy mentioned, I also go thru withdrawl and wait anxiously for your new books to come out each year…another reason why I keep everyone of your novels, so I can re-read them anytime. I am so addicted to your books and characters and every year buy new re-releases to give to friends as gifts.
    Happy Thanksgiving Diane, and everyone!

  6. Nic on November 24, 2011 at 8:44 am

    I can’t wait to get my hands on this trilogy.

    This is almost as exciting as the return to the Lockwoods was 🙂

  7. Cindy Matthews on November 27, 2011 at 6:55 am

    At nearly 40 I have only come to love reading within the last 2 years and most recently my favourite author is you Diane. I stumbled across one of your books ‘A Beautiful Lie’ at my boyfriend’s house, then on holidays recently at a secondhand book store was searching for another one of yours and discovered ‘The Midwife’s Confession’. My last and most recent find was in another secondhand book store ‘Keeper of the Light’ and let’s just say by the look of the cover it was one of your early books (found inside cover Coronet edition 1993) and loved it. I was disappointed that I finished it and thrilled to have just looked at your website to find out it’s part of a Trilogy. Thank you, love your style of writing, I can’t put your books down. Now I’ll always have a suggestion when people want to buy me a gift!

    • Diane Chamberlain on November 27, 2011 at 11:31 am

      Cindy, I can tell by the title of A Beautiful Lie that you’re in Australia or New Zealand. ( It’s The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes in the US) and I’m glad you’ve been able to find some of my other books. I believe Keeper of the Light will be out there (again) in January or thereabouts and the second book of the trilogy, Kiss River, later in the year. I’m glad you’re enjoying reading again!

  8. Donna Carter on November 29, 2011 at 10:57 am

    LOVE LOVE LOVE your books! Just finished The MidWife’s Confession – loved it!

    Just started (last night) Kiss River – i’m gonna put it down and pick up Keeper of the Light and read it first. I’m sure i will love these too. Anytime i see one of your books in a store, I grab it.

    My hubby knows, too, that once i start a book, i’m into it until i’m done!

    Keep writing!
    Donna

    • Virginia on November 30, 2011 at 1:41 pm

      Donna,
      you will just LOVE “Keeper of the light” I read it in about a day and 1/2 lol, my husband was wondering what planet i was on….hehe, “KIss River” is good too, and I loved how things got wrapped up in “Her mother’s shadow.” so poignant!

    • Hollie Baker on November 20, 2019 at 7:38 am

      Hi!
      I was wondering if anyone could help me ? I’ve just finished reading the trilogy for the 2nd time (oops) and have now finished “a summers child” too, they are set in the same place… is this sheer coincidence or is there something more to come ? I’m very intrigued !
      Thank you for writing such amazing books Diane!

  9. Coleen on December 1, 2011 at 2:48 am

    I love your books. I can’t get enough of them. I just wish that Barnes and Noble offered the same deal Amazon did with the three Kiss River books. I want to read them so bad but will not read them until Her Mother’s Shadow comes out.

  10. Georgie Baker on February 6, 2012 at 3:42 am

    I downloaded secret lives on my kindle five minutes before I was due to go in for a mastectomy,I read that in hospital, came home after two days and was rushed back in, I was kept in over night and down loaded keeper of the light I have enjoyed both books and would love to down load Kiss River but my kindle does not have it!

    • Diane Chamberlain on February 6, 2012 at 10:38 am

      Georgie, I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through! I’m glad I could offer you a little respite during that difficult time. You must be in the UK, where Kiss River is not due to be published for quite a while, unfortunately. Sorry about that! Take care of yourself.

  11. jess on February 12, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    Been trying to find Kiss River on amazon the Kindle Edition and dont seem to be able to, can anyone help me out

  12. Diane Chamberlain on February 12, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    Jess, you must be in the UK? Unfortunately they don’t plan to release Kiss River and Her Mother’s Shadow in the UK until 2013. I’m so sorry! To keep up with the UK and Australian releases, check out the International Page on the Books page of my website.

  13. tracy heath on April 16, 2012 at 4:43 pm

    hi diane

    I am trying to get a copy of ‘her mother’s shadow’ in theuk but cannot locate it anywhere. can you please advise when and if it will be released her. Have just finished the Keeper of the light and was so caught up in that. A fab read thank you . My friend is lending me kiss river and I want the third one. i look forward to hearing from you.

    Kind regards

    Tracy Heath

    • Diane Chamberlain on April 16, 2012 at 10:51 pm

      Hi Tracy, I’m so glad you enjoyed Keeper of the Light. Unfortunately, Her Mother’s Shadow won’t be out in the UK until the summer of 2013. I know that’s a while to wait, but if you think about the fact that there were 13 years between the time I wrote Keeper of the Light and Her Mother’s Shadow, it’s not so bad! Thanks for your enthusiasm.

  14. Robyn on April 28, 2012 at 3:08 am

    Oh no! The UK versions of the other 2 wont be out til 2013?! What a nightmare ! Kiss River was amazing, I’m so desperate to read the others I might just but the books on ebay, instead of waiting for the ebooks.
    You’re books are amazing! I love how the characters get written so well that I’m still thinking about them long after the last page

  15. patricia on October 12, 2012 at 2:44 pm

    hi there
    i love all you books ive read like 8 or 9 of your books all of them are very very very good actually i talk so much about your books that my friends and family started looking for them aswell
    cant wait for 2013 loved the keeper of the light im one of those people who actually live the book and i mean it its like its happening to me i always finish your books in 2 days and then go out and search for others and keep them all so when i want to read again

    thank you your are brilliant
    love
    patrcicia

  16. Christina Stebbins on November 4, 2012 at 7:44 pm

    I loved the book. I bought it at Cosco while my parents were buy the food for the week. They literally had to drag me away- I was sitting against one of the columns, so into it I didn’t hear them at first. Thank God I’ve got a phone! I then proceeded to put off my homework until I finished the book. Did it in one day! it was really good. Currently lending it to a friend. I hope she’ll enjoy it.

  17. Mel on February 21, 2014 at 8:04 pm

    Just finished the trilogy and did wonder why there was such a time gap (in the books) between the first and the second, but little time between the second and third – and now I know 🙂 Loved Her Mother’s Shadow, great story!

  18. Jess on July 31, 2018 at 9:14 pm

    I just read my Mother’s shadow but I didn’t know it was a trilogy. Should I go back and read the other two or will it all be spoiled? I am sad because the third book was so good I couldn’t put it down!!!

    • Diane Chamberlain on July 31, 2018 at 9:45 pm

      Hi Jess! Many people have read the Keeper of the Light trilogy out of order and they tell me they enjoy it. You do know some major secrets, but I think some of the elements in Her Mother’s Shadow will make more sense to you. I’m quite sure you’ll still enjoy reading them. The first two are Keeper of the Light and Kiss River. They take place 12 and 11 years before the book you just read, so everyone is a lot younger. By the way, on the Books page of my website, on the right hand side, you’ll find a printable booklist that will let you know the dates books were published, if any of them are linked, etc. Enjoy!

      • Jess on July 31, 2018 at 10:11 pm

        Thank you so much for you quick reply!! I really love all of your books your very talented ❤️

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