About The Setting

If you read my "About the Author" page you already know I was born and raised in the Great Smoky Mountains in western North Carolina. I also state that this is the setting for most of my stories. With the upcoming release of Breaking Lacy fast approaching, I thought I would share a few thoughts on the world inside the book, the place where I am fortunate enough to call home.

First:  If you've never heard of the Great Smoky Mountains, go check out the basics on the Great Smoky Mountains Nation Park website. 

Second:  If you've never been and you're still looking for a place to go on your summer vacation, you should totally go for a visit. Especially if you are even remotely interested in the great outdoors. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

I'm not going to go all Chamber of Commerce on you except to say this: Not only are the Great Smoky Mountains spectacular to behold, between the horse-back riding, hiking, fishing, camping, tubing, rafting, kayaking, waterfalls, tourist traps, casinos, local breweries, (the list could literally go on ad nauseam) there's never a shortage of fun things to do, both outdoors and indoors. If nothing else, you could spend forever there with a camera and never get bored. 

Third:  I feel so privileged to have spent my childhood growing up in such a magical place. And I'm not just trying to be all poetic on you. For me, those mountains are truly awe-inspiring and wondrous on a deep, spiritual level. That's why I use them in my novels. I've lived coast to coast in the US, and even in Japan for a few years, and while there are undoubtedly some breath-taking sights to be found just about anywhere you go, nothing will ever compare to the beauty of "home" for me. 

There are no shortage of images online, but here a few that I personally took on my last visit. (Please do not share these without linking back here to give me credit.)