Setting: A Best Book Breaker or Pusher? by Carole Brown

#NovelSettings #Writing #Reading

A novel’s setting can become like another character. It can set a mood or affect an event in the plot. I asked the author of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, Carole Brown, to share a bit about the setting of her book and why she felt it was right for her novel. Thanks, Carole.

(BTW, the Kindle version of this book is $.99 on Amazon through December 16.)

What would you do to avenge the murder of a daughter? 

The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman is a story about a cult, abuse, revenge and redemption. It’s a novel that shows Hope Shining Through the Darkness. 

The setting for The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman is rural West Virginia,where, in my novel, the ugly monster of abuse dwells alongside country roads, mountains, and beauty. I can certainly understand why they call West Virginia “wild and wonderful” because the slogan  aptly fulfills the description of the state! We’ve visited West Virginia many, many times. We’ve stayed in some of the resorts, traveled across the state and know many people who live there. In researching recipes for the “Go Along” book I plan for The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, I became friends with several West Virginia residents. They are friendly, helpful and down-home wonderful.

How and why did I decide on West Virginia as the setting? After my husband came up with the plot, I knew I needed to set it in a specific place. I first considered Ohio, but just couldn’t get that image to fit with the story. The next state that came to mind was West Virginia, and I realized immediately it was perfect.

The mountains would give the setting the perfect place for a cult to semi-hide from the world and create beauty with a sinister thread. The streams would be the perfect place for Caralynne and her daughters to picnic at, to wade and play in and yet provide the appropriate place to be spied upon.

To me, setting is the third most important part of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman. I want readers to feel the atmosphere, to sense the evil that lurks there, to feel the beauty in the romance as Dayne and Caralynne re-discover each other. Whether they are in Caralynne’s home preparing pizza, or waiting in the car for the next event to unfold, or sitting on a blanket watching her girls frolic in the shallow stream, the sense of loveliness and serenity needs to shine through to counter-balance the horror of the evilness that works against Caralynne.

Here’s the blurb:

Caralynne Hayman is angry and bitter over the abuse and death of her eleven-year-old daughter from the hands of her religious group, The Children of Righteous Cain. When her husband suffers a sudden heart attack, she does nothing to help him. In her eyes someone needs to pay, and if that means all of the men in the group, then so be it. 

Dayne MacFarland is sent away to college by the senior elder of the group to learn ministry. When he returns after finding salvation, determined to bring the truth to the people he’s known all his life, he rediscovers Cara and realizes the love he once felt for her is still deeply embedded within his heart.  

Dayne faces men unwilling to turn their backs on the cult training he despises. Cara faces men who follow their leader in abuse toward their wives and the young girls of the group. Cara is considered rebellious and inappropriate to befriend. Dayne is the apple of Elder Simmons’ eye—until he takes a stand against their teachings. 

Can Cara overcome the feelings that have governed her most of her life? Can she learn to trust Dayne, and most of all a God whom she sees as uncaring—if he’s really there at all? Only Dayne’s prayers and love can reach Cara and show her the way to redemption, and Cara must recognize and accept God’s love and forgiveness before she goes too far.

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?

Connect with her here:

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

I also am part of several other blogs:

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Barn Door Book Loft: http://www.barndoorbookloft.net/