My novel is populated with
composite creations. I’ve mentioned before that I used bits and pieces of the
many people I’ve known throughout my life, plus a few total strangers, to
create characters. I did this to ensure that I wouldn’t annoy my friends and
neighbors.
By using the setting of Bishop Hill , Illinois ,
my book probably merits a regional stamp. I’m fine with that. Fine with
portraying the class, style, and wit of a unique section of America . Not
every story has to happen in a large city or some other well-used location.
Should readers even care
about location?
No, not really. After all, storytelling
uses themes that cut across the boundaries of geography, class, and culture.
For instance, Shelley, my
protagonist, is a new adult who is given a heroine’s quest. She has to find
something. The quest forces her to grow and mature. By the end of the book she
is faced with a difficult decision: will she or won’t she? The important thing
is her choice. Location doesn’t matter.
My theme of preservation also
isn’t limited to one area or region. People everywhere struggle to protect
buildings, artifacts, habitats, and, on the most personal level—families.
Forgiveness, as a theme, is a
kindness that I believe bears revisiting.
So is finding a way back home
after yearning to breakaway.
Universal themes such as
these unite our stories by finding common ground. The spice and flavor of the
storytelling comes from the different vantage points on an infinite spectrum of
possibilities.
My place on the spectrum is a
quirky little place called Bishop Hill.
Should readers care about
location?
Yes! Expand the imagination and gain a broader reading
experience whenever possible. Take the path less traveled and see where it
leads.
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