North Star. I have a strong connection to this story as many of the situations parallelled my own life. I also found it interesting that since it’s release, I’ve had so many women contact me to tell me how much they related to the story—particularly the teenage daughter/mother relationship that unfolds throughout the story.
What genre(s) do you consider this story primarily to be, or how would you describe this story?
The rural backdrop plays a vital part in the story, so it would definitely be classed as rural fiction and although there is elements of romance, there is also elements of suspense and a touch of humour, so it could also be placed in women’s fiction—the reader wouldn’t necessarily have to be a lover of rural stories to appreciate this book.
What is a published fiction story by another author you would compare this story to and why are they similar?
I think my rural fiction is very different to many of the others in the genre being that even though they are set in a small rural community, the story is not focused on life on the land as in many of my contemporary’s books. I would probably say the closest story to North Star would be Bronwyn Parry’s ‘Dark Country’ or ‘As Darkness Falls’ Bronwyn’s books are set in small rural towns but have a darker edge to them as does North Star at times. They involve police officers and a conflict of interest the officers inevitably have to face as situations unfold throughout the book.
To what extent did you use any pre-existing story formula, template, paradigm, plot design, archetype, or theory or principle of story/plot structure in planning, writing, editing or rewriting this story?
Very little. This was my first major novel and as such, I was learning as I wrote.
How would you describe the first chapter, scene or section of this story in one paragraph?
It’s very much the defining of Kate Thurston. In order to give her children a better future, she must return to the place she ran from sixteen years earlier and face the ghosts of her past once and for all.
What makes this chapter, scene or section an effective opening for this story?
It gives a sharp insight to each of the main characters and hints at the dark secret Kate has hidden for the last sixteen years.
What major stages, twists or turns does the story conflict take in this story before the conflict is resolved (or not resolved)?
Probably the biggest conflict in the story is Kate’s desire to keep her kids safe and the main reason she takes them to North Star. The city held dangers because of its size—but the country holds its own dangers as Kate knows only too well. It doesn’t seem to matter how far she runs—trouble continues to follow. Her inner battle to keep the horrors of her past secret, are in vane when her ex husband tracks them down to North Star and betrays Kate’s confidence—placing John, a cop who has fought to clear his reputation for corruption, in a position no policeman ever wants to be in.
How would you summarise the major sub-plot or sub-plots in this story?
The diary Kate finds belonging to her grandmother reveals a twisted tale of passion, heartache and torment in her family’s history.
What does the story gain from the sub-plot or sub-plots?
It adds suspense and helps to give Kate’s family, who have all died, a voice. It adds depth and helps to explain the flaws in the two most prominent people in Kate’s childhood.
To what extent would you describe your story discussed here as typical or atypical of your fiction stories?
The backdrop is set in a small rural community. The main character has returned home to the place she grew up in and is forced to deal with issues that were left unresolved.
Author website: http://karlylane.com/
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