Time lines of the Books -- and why.
Finding Shelter from the Storm: The book predominantly takes place between March and April of 1996 -- but Part two of "Shelter" largely takes place in the 1980's - as Will and Lidia grow up. I picked that period because I'm just one year older than Will and Lidia. The things that are so critical for them -- and are paramount for their plan -- are the exact same things that were critical for my own childhood. I won't discuss them here - due to plot spoilers but even if you're a millennial, the cultural references in the book will still work.
They're so etched within my life that writing the plot as Will and Lidia planned became both oddly familiar and a bit nostalgic.
The Milner Bridge: The second book continues after "Shelter" but it is a completely separate stand-alone book. Shelter doesn't "plot hang" into The Milner Bridge -- I hate that. Do they go together? Are they best read in order? Absolutely! But can one be read without feeling cheated? Yes.
By Any other Name: The third book takes place decades after the Milner Bridge. I've been writing the outline while I re-write The Milner Bridge.