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We’ll be building up to March 28 at The Met

We have to hit our marks between now and then to ensure that we’re ready, dressed in style and prepared to follow Verdi’s beloved La Traviata. Never miss an update from us — every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, get the Substack app.

Beyond March 28 we still have a whole novel to finish

We hope your interest in our Gilded Age journey extends well beyond March because we will have another 60,000 words to write. And then the editing starts all over again. We’ll share how that’s going, including getting input from our subscribers on choices we make in the narrative. I can already tell you I don’t want to cut stuff, but you may insist, so we’re bracing ourselves for your feedback!

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Community protocol: While we have you, note that we are leaving comments open to all. However, since we live in the world we live in and not 1899, here are three very modern policies we will adhere to. 1) We will delete any comment that is even slightly mean to anybody, there’s just no reason for it; 2) We’re not going to use this to engage in political discussion, you are welcome to do that elsewhere; and 3) Our comments are not a place to promote your business, even as we reserve the right to promote yours (without paid sponsorship) if we want to (looking at you, American Duchess, love the new boots!). Thank you in anticipation of your understanding.