Claire Nicholls

Exactly.

But Whistler is about a New York woman.

Her name's Daphne and her one-time stepdad, Eddie.

And it opens in the Metropolitan Museum of Art where Daphne seems to be getting followed through the rooms of the gallery.

What exactly is happening in this opening scene?

So Daphne's mom had married three times while Daphne was a kid.

And as you say, Eddie was only Daphne's stepdad for about a year.

So what was their relationship like in that very, very small amount of time?

Yeah, it's incredible to think that they had this relationship, which was so important, and then just ended, like absolutely cut off.

And as an adult, Daphne's never thought to look up Eddie Triplett, this man that meant so much to her for this short time.

Yeah, and it's so wonderful.

I was reminded just as you were talking about the step parent that, of course, the Dutch house has this very strong step parent narrative.

And Patchett, are you interested in rewriting some of the stories that exist around step parents and the relationship that can exist with them?

I love that you were so determined with that because I had that thought for a moment too and I love that on every page, Anne, you're like, no, this is a good man.

We love Eddie.

Yeah, yeah, it's true.

One of the observations that's made in the book is that children of divorce have a certain resilience to them.

They almost have to and that's certainly been true for Daphne and her sister growing up.

What are your reflections on that coming from that big, sprawling family?

Is there something in being a child of divorce that makes you maybe a little bit tougher than other kids?