One of the sharpest tools in an author's tool chest is contrast. The world and those in it are subject to opposites. Black versus white. Cold versus hot. Peace versus war. Selflessness versus selfishness. Anger versus calm. Raging winds versus gentle breezes. Faith versus doubt.
I am often asked what I am reading. Right now, it is reading a series of twenty-four books. Before the Dawn, the launch title, hooked me because of the contrast on which the HOME TO HEATHER CREEK series is based.
Youth versus age, complicated by culture shock
a world away for three heart-broken kids forced to live on their grandparents' farm after their free-spirited mother dies in a car wreck. If only their father had not abandoned them years before.
Sixteen-year-old Sam, fourteen-year-old Emily, and ten-year-old Christopher are no more prepared for small-town life than their sixty-something grandparents are ready for two rebellious teens and a frightened young boy. Everything is new and strange: the way of life, school, the lack of entertainment and stores, getting up at the crack of dawn, dial-up Internet, sporadic cell phone reception, lack of spending money to get what they want. Worse, the kids are expected to do farm chores, including collecting eggs, cleaning the chicken coop, and mucking out the barn.Charlotte (Grandma) Sorenson is one of the strongest, yet most vulnerable, characters I've encountered. She prays that mutual grieving for daughter and mother will bring hope and healing into her new family. She seeks wisdom in dealing the children, lest she make the same mistakes that partially led to their mother's running away as a teenager. My heart ached for her and for Grandpa Bob, fighting diabetes, the problems inevitable to farming, and wondering if he and Charlotte are too old to take on raising the children.
I wouldn't have believed I would ever read 24 books set on a Nebraska farm--or for a second time! Yet the series has so many contrasts and challenging situations for the characters that range from lovable to irascible, I bought the entire set on Amazon after reading Book One: Before the Dawn. I felt for Sam, who hopes his father might one day come back and make a home for him and his siblings. For Emily, far from her friends and standing out as different. For Christopher, a lost, lonely little boy. I recommend this series to anyone looking for inspirational, slice-of-life-with-family-values reading. This second time around for me is like visiting old friends. I drop in, sit at Charlotte's kitchen table, and wish I had a piece of her wonderful homemade pie.
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5 comments:
An interesting post as usual, Colleen. There certainly are a lot of contrasts in that series. This post will be most inspiring for your fans.
Thanks. I hope so!
Sounds like a series I'd enjoy. Thank you for the reminder to add more contrast in my writing. Contrast can really create conflict for characters, can't it?
OK, you talked me into requesting Before the Dawn from the library (: Thanks for the writing tip about contrasts, too!
Thanks, Sandy and Judy. I was surprised that a series of novels whose lead character is a 60-something Nebraska farm wife would hold my attention. The variety of characters and contrasts between them is what did it. I also like this series better the second time through than at first reading. There are 6 authors in the series who are so familiar with each other's work,each title flows seamlessly into the next yet solves the major problems in the title. And contrary to romance where POV is limited to heroine and hero, Chapters and major scenes feature kids at school, townspeople, etc., which brings life to the books.
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