Pick one of your favourites among the settings from your published fiction stories or a setting which is an interesting example from your published fiction. What makes this setting one of your favourites or an interesting example from your fiction?
Setting is vital to a story. In my own works, my most memorable setting takes place in my recently released novel, THE PUB ACROSS THE POND. It takes place in a fictional village on the west coast of Ireland. It revolves around an Irishman who loses his family pub in a game of poker, and the American woman who wins it in a raffle. It is one of my favorite settings because I absolutely fell in love with Ireland when I went to research the book. I also love the culture and feel of an old fashioned Irish pub. Both the lush landscape outside and the dim lights, cozy wood and comfy stools inside, conjure of feeling of excitement, beauty, music, banter, and belonging.
What is a setting from a published fiction story by another author you would compare this setting to and why are they similar?
There are a lot of other authors who set books in Ireland. Romances and murder mysteries head the list. Although I’ve read several books set in Ireland in the past (James Joyce, Miriam Keyes, Tana French, Patrick McCabe, Paul Murray etc. etc.) while writing my own I made sure not to read them. I wanted my take and descriptions to be unfiltered and organic.
How would you describe the way you introduced this setting to readers of your story?
I introduced the setting through the regulars who live there, and the visitor—Carlene. Carlene sees Ireland for the first time very much the way I did. I saw the sights, went to pubs, drank in the scenery, and the history, and the Guinness, and talked to people on the streets. Carlene sees Ireland before she even arrives, through her own preconceived thoughts, the “dream” of what she thinks Ireland is like, one she has been carrying with ever since her grandmother sang her Irish songs and lavished her with stories of a homeland far away.
How would you describe the integration of characters and setting in this story?
Ensconced in setting are the characters who live and breathe there. When it comes to writing about a pub, and a small town, the “regulars” are very much a part of the setting, down to the stools they sit on. Irish people are extremely proud (as they should be) of being Irish. They love their country, even the ones who move elsewhere and say they would never move back, still hold a fierce love of it in their heart. It would be impossible to separate the Irish countryside from the people who live there. And there’s something about a lot of rain that produces not only green fields, but hearty souls as well.
How would you describe the interaction of story and setting in this story?
Story cannot be separated from this setting either. In my own novel, the plot revolves around Carlene exploring her new surroundings, and through it getting to know the people, and ultimately herself. I think a lot of Americans often feel adrift when it comes to their culture. We’re all here from somewhere else. There is a fascination with our ancestors and where they came from. Carlene’s journey throughout this story is deeply embedded in this search, and her attempt to belong to a place where she’s never lived but always felt at home. Generations later, a connection to a culture and a place can be so strong, even if it just simmers as a silent longing, a quiet devotion to a place you’ve never been, and people you’ve never even met. That’s the power of cultural identity. It’s remarkable. I don’t think people who grew up where generations of their family grew up understand this longing in Americans. We can come across as “wanna-bes” longing to belong somewhere we don’t. I think it goes much deeper. I think it speaks to the strength and passion of a people. Traces of it remain, no matter how many generations have passed.
How much research did you do for the setting of this story, and what did that involve?
I traveled around Ireland for a month. I visited pubs, tourist attractions, and talked with the locals. I also spent considerable time in the Irish pubs in Queens which has a whole cast of Irish regulars. I read books related to soutterrains in Ireland, hidden underground spaces which play a part in the novel as well.
To what extent would you describe the setting of this story typical or atypical of the settings in your fiction stories?
This is the first of my novels that is set outside the United States so I would definitely have to say that it is atypical of my other fiction.
How do you usually decide on or develop a setting for your fiction stories?
It depends upon the book, the character, and the plot. I try to pick a setting that enhances and adds intrigue or emotion to the life of the character.
To what extent do the settings of novels you read have an impact on why you read them, and why?
Whenever I read a novel, I want to feel as if I’ve entered its world. Setting is vital to creating this experience, even if it’s just a tiny room, as in Emma Donoghue’s best seller THE ROOM. As a reader, we need to feel grounded in a space. We need to smell, hear, and touch it. My next novel will take place in a lighthouse that the couple turns into a bed and breakfast. I love working with settings that excite me. It’s the foundation of a story, the cornerstone. It also helps inspire me as a writer, to explore and create a compelling backdrop for my characters to interact. Lastly, it can be a little bit of wish fulfillment, imaging yourself in a place you’d love to be, or trying to escape from a place you wish you weren’t.
Author website: http://www.marycarterbooks.com
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