Greenville resident Elizabeth Wafler drew initial inspiration from a visit to the Grand Bohemian Lodge in downtown Greenville to craft her fifth novel and first romance work, “Christmas at Reedy Falls.”
The story follows Mamie Morrow, a fledgling Charleston journalist, who covers the Grand Bohemian Lodge at Christmastime. Morrow’s grandfather recently died and left her a mysterious box of objects from the time she spent with him in New Mexico when she was 3. While she doesn’t remember the visit, she knows her grandfather was Navajo and the Grand Bohemian is filled with Native American art, which she hopes will help her regain her memories.
The book also follows Robert Fitzpatrick, a photographer from South Boston who relocated to Charleston. He’s smitten with Mamie’s energy and pluck, but her career comes first. As Christmas Day approaches, the two grapple with the complications that arise when dreams confront reality – and witness the Christmas magic that can happen when you put your faith in love.
“On my first visit to the Grand Bohemian Lodge, I was surprised and then fascinated by its Native American art theme and décor,” said Wafler. “I loved the juxtaposition of elegance and rusticity. And the history, the stories behind the pieces! The lodge itself had to be a character in the novel.”
Wafler’s visit to the hotel led her to remember a long-forgotten photo from a family trip when she was a small child.
“My uncle, Gary Sumner, was a military judge stationed in South Dakota (and) we visited his family there when I was 5 years old,” said Wafler. “My memories of our parents taking my cousins and me to a Native American reservation are hazy, but we had the photo. As I grew, I wondered about the imposing but kind man who allowed us to be photographed with him. He became my inspiration for the late Tate Atwater character in the story.”
Wafler will appear to promote “Christmas at Reedy Falls” at Barnes & Noble on Woodruff Road Nov. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Barnes & Noble on Haywood Road Dec. 7 from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, visit elizabethsumnerwafler.com.
