How do you research a story set in a town that has no written history?

That was my conundrum for On Sugar Hill. The town of Sugar Hill, where I have lived for 25+ years, wasn’t incorporated as a city until 1939. My story takes place a decade before that.

My first stop was the Sugar Hill Historical Society. I even bought the book about Sugar Hill. It begins in 1939. I went to the neighboring town, Buford, where I found a smattering of information, mostly maps.

What I wanted to know … who lived where, how the streets looked, etc. Anyone who was old enough to remember what life was like in 1929-30 was by 2020 when I wrote the book, either senile or passed on.

Most of my research was done by interviewing the children or grandchildren of those who lived during that time. And I must say, I met some fascinating people.

I also had a few very interesting adventures. I went down into a gold mine—yes, I said down. The gold mines in Sugar Hill aren’t like any you’ve seen elsewhere. The entrance of the one I went into, gratefully led by Sugar Hill City Councilman Brandon Hembree, was a hole in the granite no larger than I was when sitting on the ground. I sat and slid down into the mine. Once inside, I could stand up. But it sure brought out any claustrophobic tendencies I had.

If you read On Sugar Hill, and you’re from the area, please don’t write to me to tell me that store wasn’t there, or which one was in its place. One of the most difficult pickles was pinpointing who owned which store during what years. All the accounts vary slightly. And so, once I had exhausted most of the leads I had, I did what any self-respecting author does … I took literary license for the sake of story.

On Sugar Hill

She traded Sugar Hill for Vaudeville. Now she’s back.

The day Cora Fitzgerald turned sixteen, she fled Sugar Hill for the bright lights of Vaudeville, leaving behind her senator-father’s verbal abuse. But just as her career takes off, she’s summoned back home. And everything changes. 

The stock market crashes. The senator is dead. Her mother is delusional, and her mute Aunt Clara pens novels that have people talking. Then there’s Boone Robertson, who never knew she was alive back in high school, but now manages to be around whenever she needs help. 

Will the people of her past keep her from a brilliant future? 

Ane is doing a give-away. Paperback or e-book is winner’s choice. Just comment below that you’d like to be in the drawing. This is such a well-written, fascinating read. I’ll draw the name on Friday and announce the winner on Tuesday. Whether you win or not you want to add this book to your TBR pile.

More about the author: Ane Mulligan has been a voracious reader ever since her mom instilled within her a love of reading at age three, escaping into worlds otherwise unknown. But when Ane saw PETER PAN on stage, she was struck with a fever from which she never recovered—stage fever. She submerged herself in drama through high school and college. One day, her two loves collided, and a bestselling, award-winning novelist emerged. She lives in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband and a rascally Rottweiler. Find Ane on her Facebook, BookBub, Goodreads, and Twitter.