How did the RC Investigations team wind
up in a small, Southern town?
Why, with all the beauty that is Maine
at my fingertips, did I create Haleswood for The Thief and
ensuing RC Investigations novels, basing my small, fictitious town on
the real charm of Hartsville, South Carolina?
It started with a road trip to visit
family in the Florence area. That turned into a tour of a nearby
boarding school for high school juniors and seniors where a friend’s
nephew was in attendance.
You can’t get from point A to point B
in that part of South Carolina without passing stands of tall
loblolly pines, wide lakes, and acres and acres of cotton. But when
you reach the gem that is Hartsville, you discover it was worth every
minute.
Hartsville is real. Some might call it
quaint or a throwback to an earlier era. The pace is calm, but not
exactly slow. During my visit, there was a great deal of talk about a
recent crime that had shocked everyone. It was obvious how residents
(both permanent and students) rallied to support one another as the
investigation carefully unraveled the truth.
There is a community pride and
deep-seated integrity in Hartsville that became the core inspiration
for the setting of The Thief. Both my lead characters (as well
as the supporting cast) know first-hand the pros and cons of small
town life.
Exploring new settings is a big perk of
being an author and Hartsville was an unexpected treat along the
writing journey for the RC Investigations novels. It’s always great
to hear when readers enjoy taking that journey with the characters.
You can find a full list of my books,
collections, and short stories at my Amazon author page:
http://www.amazon.com/V.R.-Marks/e/B009KLZKEG
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