Do you like reading realistic fiction? Have you ever suffered from depression, or gone through a traumatic experience that makes you want to escape, or makes you question whether God is real?
Sometimes there’s a tricky line in writing fiction that feels real, where we want to offer an ‘escape’ through a story that feels authentic but doesn’t descend into the too-dark depths of reality. I wrote Muskoka Blue after the most wonderful trip to North America, which saw my husband and I visit places including Boston, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls and Chicago. I’ve used various of these locations in my contemporary series, The Original Six, with books such as The Breakup Project which is set in Boston, Montreal-set Hearts and Goals, and Chicago-based Checked Impressions. Visiting the beautiful lake-strewn region of Muskoka, two hours north of Toronto, was a highlight – and not just because this Anne of Green Gables fan was able to visit Bala’s Museum, a museum dedicated to the life and works of LM Montgomery.
Muskoka is a gorgeous area, filled with scenic lakes and trees, which were ablaze with color when we visited in October. I loved our time there.
But within a few weeks of returning to Australia we were in the midst of massive turmoil, which led to us resigning as pastors, which then led to questions about our purpose, identity, and ultimately, the dark spaces of depression. Writing Muskoka Blue became a form of therapy for me, as I struggled to reconcile what I thought I’d always known about God with my new reality. Life was hard. Pat answers felt trite and dismissive. The struggle really was real.
This much reworked and edited version of that book sees Sarah Maguire face devastating loss, which sees her seek solace on the other side of the world. Her struggle to work through her faith takes several twists and turns, something which both challenges and fascinates next door neighbor Dan Walton. And while I like keeping things raw and real, I found it necessary to temper some of the heaviness through flashes of humor (apparently some characters can be so real they’re unlikeable – who knew?). I like to write authentic sounding fiction, but I always want to thread it with hope, and I don’t mind offering some wit and banter along the way.
So Muskoka Blue sees scenes set in real places I’ve visited, incorporates real humorous situations I’ve experienced (hello, mouse and shop tag at teacher interviews!), and sees characters battling with some of the real issues I’ve faced, along with some of the real solutions God has shown, some of which I’m still learning. Muskoka Blue is basically my heart on a plate.
It’s rather special to see this book finally release to the world. And it’s very special to have readers already writing to tell me they love it, that they’ve connected with the characters and setting and issues. I love how as a Christian writer I can share some of the hope that God has given me, and see God’s truth permeate my fiction. Writing stories is really about writing about life, and so much of Muskoka Blue has been real for me.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading it too.
Here’s a bit about the book:
Two hearts, two secrets, one unforgettable summer.
An ice princess with a broken heart. A pro hockey player with a secret.
For Sarah Maguire, spending the summer at Lake Muskoka was supposed to be about finding the courage to put back the pieces of her shattered life—not falling in love with the charming yet unsophisticated hockey player from next door.
Daniel Walton may have been praying for Miss Right to appear, but Sarah’s ice princess act just cries Miss Wrong. Dan’s summer plans hadn’t included befriending a redhead with a sassy tongue and cute accent, but as Muskoka works its magic he soon discovers that underneath the frost and prickles is the funny, feisty, loving woman he’s waited all his life to meet.
As their friendship deepens, Sarah comes to appreciate Dan’s patience and kindness yet struggles to let go of the past and embrace the future, while Dan, only too conscious of the personal history he wants to forget, questions the wisdom of pursuing a girl whose heart may never be wholly his – who may soon return to live on the opposite side of the world.
Will past regrets lead to further heartbreak? Or can Sarah and Dan learn to leave the past in the past and embrace God’s promises for the future?
Muskoka Blue can be read as a standalone novel, and is the sixth book in the Original Six, a sweet and swoony, slightly sporty, Christian romance series from bestselling author Carolyn Miller.
Get your copy today at Amazon, Apple, GooglePlay & Kobo.
So let’s talk:
Do you enjoy reading heartfelt fiction? What are some books that have really stirred or challenged you? Do you like to read to escape? Where would you like to escape to in fiction?
Milla Holt says
I love realistic fiction. That’s probably why I enjoy your writing so much. I gravitate towards stories where the characters get to grips with living out their Christian faith when things aren’t going well.
Jeannette says
Thanks for being vulnerable and writing from a place of experience. So many fiction books have been a blessing to me when they have honestly addressed issues that are seldom addressed in real life.
Carolyn Miller says
Hi Milla – thanks so much for your comment, and the lovely compliment! And yes, I much prefer stories where Christians wrestle with matters of faith. That feels real to me.
Carolyn Miller says
Oh, thank you Jeannette. They say ‘write what you know’ so…
I appreciate your encouragement.
Trudy says
I love realistic fiction! God uses our experiences to help others, and what better way to help many but through books! Books can change my view of things by reading how another Christian views things, and the things they go through can help me when I go through something similar. A book that really touched home with me was Heather Blanton’s first book in her Burning Dress series, A Distant Heart.
Lori Smanski says
Yes I enjoy reading heartfelt fiction. Yes I like to read to escape. I like to escape to the old west, Oragen trail, etc.
Alicia Haney says
I enjoy reading heartfelt fiction. I love where books take me, they just whisk me away. Your book sounds like a great read and I love your book cover! Thank you for sharing about it. Congratulations on your new release! Have a great day and stay safe.
Jcp says
It depends on my reading mood.
Mary Preston says
I enjoy heartfelt fiction.
Reading is the ultimate escape.
Carolyn Miller says
Right? I agree that God uses our experiences to encourage and help others, and sometimes it’s a whole lot easier to ‘hear’ it in a book than in a sermon. I’m thankful for the experiences I’ve had – so much material for more books!
Carolyn Miller says
Ooh, yes. Reading to escape is fun! And it’s funny how it changes too, over time or according to our mood. Happy reading to you!
Carolyn Miller says
Thanks Alicia! (I might admit to kissing the paperback cover when my copies arrived yesterday – I love it too!) I hope you’ll get the chance to enjoy reading it one day soon. God bless!
Carolyn Miller says
Totally! The places we want to escape to, or how realistic we want things, can definitely depend on all kinds of factors. Happy reading to you.
Carolyn Miller says
I’m with you, Mary. I LOVE the fact we can disappear into other worlds without leaving home. And if it’s heartfelt, with issues and characters we can connect to, all the better. Happy reading to you!
bn100 says
depends how it’s written
Debra Pruss says
Yes. I enjoy heart felt fiction. I love to read to escape. I enjoyed Tacos for Two by Betsy St. Ament. I have also been reading romantic suspense with Love Inspired as well as Elizabeth Goddard’s suspense books. Thank you so much for sharing. Happy book birthday. God bless you.
Lilly says
I like both things… together, comforting stories where everything is light and cute are not so endearing if the characters are not realistic or have real flaws or without one or another problem even if it is small that breaks perfection.
The hopeless realistic stories where everything is horrible…is it really “realistic” for a Christian? God sometimes does not respond as we want or when we want, but all elderly or persecuted Christians in countries where there is no religious freedom ultimately find hope in him or show that they have seen God’s faithfulness. Realistic fiction can be hard but it can also serve to escape, for example I have had problems in my life but perhaps not the same problems as the protagonist.
Carolyn Miller says
So true! And it depends on what mood we’re in whether we’re up for the realism portrayed.
Carolyn Miller says
Thanks so much Debra. Heartfelt, relatable fiction that offers a chance to escape is the best!
Carolyn Miller says
Great points, Lilly. I’ve always felt it important to convey an element of hope in my fiction (my tagline is stories of hope, heart and humour) because as Christians we know no matter how dark things get, God is always there to offer light and hope. Thanks so much for commenting.