KM Read any novel and you can’t fail to be struck by its
setting – when and where the action takes place - and the key role it plays in
the overall story. In some novels, the
setting is bold, clamouring for attention, a character in its own right, while
in others it may be meek, a mere backdrop to the action.
Writers know that creating the right setting is vital for
the mood and atmosphere of the story, taking readers where they want them to go
and making them experience the appropriate feelings along the way. The right setting adds another dimension and
helps to carry and support the plot. It also influences and reflects the
behaviour, reactions, and emotions of the characters.
Picking a familiar setting can create an instant bond
with readers, while opting for a more exotic one adds colour and heightens the
reader’s sense of escapism. My personal
preference as a reader is to go for the latter as I love being immersed in new
surroundings.
As a writer I have gone for the unfamiliar, the bold
option, in my two thrillers, Torn and Release, selecting the
contrasting land and seascapes of Sicily and Wales to provide a vivid and
dramatic setting against which the story develops and unfolds. Both areas are rich in culture and history relevant
to the themes explored in the books, as well as being breathtakingly
beautiful. Both places fascinate and
intrigue me and were wonderful to write about.
My latest novel, Release, opens in a serene
setting: a family barbecue on a beautiful summer’s day in Wales. That serenity is shattered by the
devastating news that Hanna’s estranged mafioso husband has been released early
from a Sicilian prison. She fears he
may come after her and her young daughter, Eva. The revelation leaves her with
a dilemma: she has been invited to Sicily to attend her best friend’s wedding,
but can she really take the risk?
But even staying at home in North Wales may not be
safe. As the lines between Sicily and
North Wales blur, Hanna uncovers a criminal operation that leads her to fear
for Eva’s life all over again. Caught
up in a web of intrigue and fear, how far will Hanna go to protect the ones she
loves?
In North Wales, the setting shifts from mountain to
coast, from Snowdonia to Anglesey, takes in a short trip over to Dublin in
Ireland, then shifts to Sicily, from idyllic boutique hotel out in the
countryside to the streets of Palermo, before moving to the coastal town of
Cefalù, and from there up into the Madonian Mountains.
 |
| Coastal town of Cefalù |
All this with a sprinkling of local cuisine, a prominent
feature of both books. One reader even
told me that she now drinks a certain type of Sicilian white wine after reading
about it in my first book, Torn.
I’m currently writing the third book in the series. Although some of the main characters remain,
the setting shifts away from Sicily to Rome and Calabria. And what about future books, will they
continue to be set in Italy? That
depends very much on the storyline and finding the most suitable location for
it.
Wherever it is, it will have to be a place I find
evocative and fascinating. For me, the
writing journey is just as important as the finished product. Writers spend so much time and effort on
their books, it’s vital that it’s a labour of love. If writers love their books, there’s a good chance that their
readers will too.
She has been writing all her life, mostly for work purposes, and is now delighted to be able to spend more time developing her own creative work.
Karen worked as a tour guide across Europe, North America and Canada, followed by a career in PR and marketing. She has lived in France and Italy and is now based in Cheshire, England.
Her debut novel, Torn, is a dark tale of intrigue and betrayal set in Sicily and North Wales. Her second novel, Release, has recently been published. Release is the sequel to Torn but is a stand-alone novel in its own right. Karen is now working on a third novel in the series.
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