Sunday, July 4, 2021

The Settings of Hurry Home by Roz Nay

As I was reading Hurry Home by Roz Nay I was thinking about the settings of the book. When I was finished I wrote a message to her. She kindly replied. Our exchange of messages follows.

****

Roz


I recently read Hurry Home and reviewed it on my blog. A link to the review is at the end of this letter.


I enjoyed the book.


At the end you indicated you wrote most of the book at Empire Coffee in Nelson, British Columbia.


The book is set in the fictional city of Moses Springs, Colorado. While I have been there but once the city reminded me of Colorado Springs. 


The Van Ness sisters grew up in Horizon, North Dakota.


Ruth most recently had run-ins with the law in Pittsburgh.


As far as I could tell none of the settings were particularly unique to the United States. The primary setting could have been Nelson, The sisters could have grown up in Saskatchewan. Ruth might have fled from Toronto.


Though it has been some years since I represented the Department of Social Services or parents in Saskatchewan, Alex’s experiences as a child protection social worker were the same as I have seen in child protection proceedings in Saskatchewan.


I wondered whether you were “encouraged” to place the book in the United States instead of Canada.


A few years ago Saskatchewan author, Anthony Bidulka, advised me that he had been “encouraged” to set books in the United States rather than Canada.


If you are able to respond and are willing I would publish this letter and your response upon my blog.


All the best.


Bill Selnes


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Hi! It's so interesting because I always meant Nelson and Saskatchewan.


I don't think I knew where Ruth ran off to.


I chose to transcribe them to the states myself. I wasn't coerced.


Thanks for reading and being so astute tho.

****

https://mysteriesandmore.blogspot.com/2021/06/hurry-home-by-roz-nay.html


4 comments:

  1. Thanks, Bill, for sharing this email exchange. Your questions to authors are always interesting, and I like to know what goes on 'behind the scenes' when authors write. I'm glad to know there was no coercion to set the novel in the US. Authors ought to set their work where they wish, as that's where the usually envision a story playing out.

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    1. Margot: Thanks for the comment. I was equally glad Roz set the book where she wanted.

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  2. Sounds good to me. And it reminds me that family friends moved to Nelson, B.C. decades ago. I keep meaning to find them, but the names are common in the area, and it was too hard.

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    1. Kathy: Thanks for the comment. I think you would enjoy it. Sleuthing those of our past can be a challenge.

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