By Carrie Padgett, @CarriePadgett
I have the privilege of being a Sunrise Publishing draft author, working with Rachel Hauck. Our book, One Fine Day, released May 24, 2022.
The question I’m most often asked (after “Are Susie and Rachel as amazing as they seem?” Short answer: YES!) is “How was it writing in Rachel’s story world?”
Hearts Bend, Tennessee is the setting for several of Rachel’s novels and a Christmas novella. Readers of The Wedding Chapel, The Wedding Shop, The Wedding Dress Christmas, and To Save A King have fallen in love with the small town outside Nashville.
These readers also have certain expectations of what a Hearts Bend story should contain. Faith, certainly. Hurting characters who are open to God and love their hometown. Poignant moments of redemption and hope.
Was I up to the task? I hoped so. It helped that I’m a fan also and was already familiar with Hearts Bend.
While working on One Fine Day, I learned a few things I’m happy to share with anyone interested in writing in another author’s story world.
→ Ask questions. It’s important to get the details right. Fans know what direction the streets run and where the stores are located. You don’t want to get those things wrong, so don’t guess or rely on your memory. Ask or consult the previous books or if there’s a story “bible,” the answer should be there.
→ Don’t be afraid to add elements yourself. There are four of us now writing in Hearts Bend. We’ve added a restaurant, a grocery store, an inn, a Christmas shop, and an insurance agency. All with Rachel’s approval, of course.
→ Use regional resources. Gardenia Park is an anchor to Hearts Bend. I made sure several scenes took place in the park and mentioned seasonal decorations, hanging flower baskets, and community activities to remind the reader where the story took place. Also get the wording right. I live in California and if you want your tea sweet, you ask for sweet tea. In Tennessee, the tea comes sweetened and asking for sweet tea is redundant. Different parts of the country say pop, soda, coke, cola, coca-cola or pepsi and they all mean the same thing: a brown, fizzy, cold beverage.
→ Readers love it when characters from other books pop in and say “Howdy!” But don’t go overboard. In my first draft, I had all of Rachel’s characters coming into Haven’s Bakery where my heroine and hero hang out. In the final draft, I think we see three previous characters for a total of maybe a page and a half.
Writing a story set in another author’s world is fun and doable. It takes work and keeping in mind the audience who has been reading those books from the beginning. Respect their knowledge and passion. Then dive in and enjoy becoming a part of another world and making a corner of it your own.
All she wants is a fresh starts.
He’s not looking to fall in love.
But it’s a recipe for romance.
Carrie Padgett thinks nuts take up room where chocolate ought to be. She also believes in faith, families, fun, and happily ever afters. She’s an empty nester who lives in Central California, far from Hollywood, San Francisco, and the beach, but close to the mountains. She shares her home with her husband, a deaf dog, and entitled cat. When not reading or writing, she’s usually spending time with one or all of her six grandchildren or traveling. She writes contemporary women’s fiction with sweet romance, humor, and a touch of sass.