The Shadow Wife
The Shadow Wife, which is the reissue of my 2002 novel, Cypress Point, goes on sale today! (The e-book will be available December 1). You can read the prologue on my website. It’s one of my personal favorites.
The Shadow Wife is a story close to my heart in many ways.
First, the setting. Although I now make North Carolina my home, I lived in California for many years and I try to get back there every few years. On one visit, I drove along the stunning Seventeen-Mile Drive in Monterey, getting out of my car near the mystical “ghost trees” that cling to the rocky coastline. From there, I spotted a mansion high on a cliff. In my imagination, I saw two little girls on the mansion’s veranda. It was as if the ghost trees were offering me an image from the past. I thought about those girls and what it would have been like to grow up on a cliff high above the Pacific. From that seedling of an idea, the story for The Shadow Wife developed into something complex and, I hope, intriguing. 
Another reason this story is special to me is that I gave the central character, Joelle D’Angelo, my old job as a clinical social worker in a high risk maternity unit. I loved doing that work myself, being able to touch many lives in a positive way. Aside from her occupation, however, Joelle and I are not very much alike and I would hate to be confronted with the personal dilemma The Shadow Wife presents for her. She faces hard choices and makes them with a sort of nobility I hope I would possess if I found myself in her shoes.
Finally, I wanted to explore healing in this story. Having a serious illness has taught me that healing comes in many forms. It’s a loaded subject for me, and I suspect it is for many of you as well.
Many readers have asked me why I changed the title of this book. If it had been up to me, I would never have made the change, but my publisher was firm about wanting a new title more in keeping with the recent “look” of my books– that is people centered instead of place centered. I’m doing my best to make sure readers know that The Shadow Wife and Cypress Point are the same story, and was even able to get Amazon to add that fact right after the title! I hope you’ll help me spread the word. And I hope that, regardless of the title, this story of love and healing is one you’ll enjoy.
CYPRESS POINT was one my favorites Diane…and I say ‘one of’ because so many of your books have touched me in one way or another…The setting was what initially grabbed me and of course the story of the Healer and the Twins was brilliant in my opinion.
My original hardbound copy sits proudly on my ‘Diane Shelf’ with all your others. Now that it’s coming out as a reissue, I think I’ll pull my original down and reread it over Thanksgiving…can’t wait to be taken back to the beautiful Big Sur Coastline once again. (-O:
Cypress point was the first novel that I read
and since this time I can’t stop looking for
your novels. I just finished the bay at midnight
And I just loved it. Continue your wonderful
work for a long time Diane
That area of ca is my favorite
Love the book
To those who are looking for an incredibly unique novel to read over the holiday, I highly recommend this book…you will be swept away, not only by Diane’s poetic writing but by the beautiful sense of place…and endearing characters who seem so real, you’ll forget that they are in a book and not someone you know…enjoy it and savor it this weekend.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
For some reason, the pub date suddenly changed to December 1! This book is giving me fits!
Aaaaaaah, ok, now the confusion has ended! I was in Walmart yesterday and I saw The Shadow Wife and was excited for a new book, when I flipped it over I was confused to read the description of Cypress Point, my current read. Thanks for clearing up the confusion.
I am a homebirth midwife and I have enjoyed the birth stories in Cypress Point and Secret Life of Cece Wilkes. Keep up the good work Diane!
Diane,
This is the first book I have read of yours so I didn’t even know about Cypress Point. I really enjoyed it. I also noticed what you said about healing. I also have rheumatoid arthritis & have suffered w/it for 18 yrs along w/other health problems. I have a daughter that lives in NC too so I felt the need to ask what you do for your RA & does the humidity in NC make it worse? I have always wanted to live by the ocean.
kathy, I know some people’s RA is affected by weather, but mine is not. Sorry you also have it. I’m on Remicade and Arava and hope you’ve found good treatment for yourself. Glad you enjoyed The Shadow Wife!