When Does "Swan Town" (2006) Take Place?

"Swan Town: The Secret Journal of Susanna Shakespeare" is a historical fiction novel written by Michael J. Ortiz that released February 28th, 2006. So when is "Swan Town" set? 

It takes place in the years: 

1597 AD - 1598 AD 

We know this because Susanna Shakespeare (1583-1649) [real-world daughter of the playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616)] appears as the main character and she was born on May 26th, 1583 AD in the real world. So it must be after late May of 1583 AD. 

More specifically, in chapter one she writes about herself that "My years on this earth are thirteen and three quarters." So it is roughly February of 1597 AD. 

5.1,583 + 13 years and 9 months = 2.1,597. 

Specifically, the whole thing is epistolary and the diary entries are dated. 

The first one in chapter one is dated for "March 2, 1597." right at the top of the page. So we begin in March of 1597 AD. 

[HOWEVER, her brother Hamnet Shakespeare (1585-1596) tragically dies in chapter one on the day her diary is dated for "June 6, 1597." but he was buried on August 11th, 1596 AD in the real world. So it is apparently June of 1597 AD though it should be August of 1596 AD at this time. Presumably, this event simply happens later within the fictional world [diegesis] of "Swan Town".] 

From there, most days are accounted for and the final entry at the end of chapter five is dated for "January 1, 1598." so it is very early January of 1598 AD at the end. 

Furthermore, the "Author's Note" at the end of the book declares, "While trying to be faithful to many historical details of the period, I have nevertheless invented most of this story. But Susanna was an actual person, and her struggles were no less real than our own." and continues, "Because the Globe theater is so identified with Shakespeare, I have moved the date of its construction back a year or so"... and "I have also moved the traditional dating of Shakespeare's Hamlet by two years"...