“…where the wind comes sweeping down the plain, and the waving wheat can sure smell sweet when the wind comes right behind the rain…”
Oklahoma is great to sing about but not many people set their books here, especially historical fiction. That’s one reason Anne Mateer’s book Wings of a Dream caught my attention. Not only does it begin in Oklahoma, it’s also set during WWI. No, that’s not a typo of Wii, kids – it means World War One, a neglected portion of our history that’s full of dramatic potential.
And Anne Mateer finds some drama, no doubt about it.
Her heroine, Rebekah Hendricks doesn’t stay in Oklahoma for long, but goes to Texas to help her widowed aunt. Her sacrifice is bearable since it places her near her aviator sweetheart’s training base. (The question is, had he not been a thing of beauty, would she be swayed by quite as keen a sense of duty? – Name that musical.)
Rebekah arrives at her aunt’s to find the town devastated by the Spanish flu epidemic. Not only is Aunt Adabelle deathly ill, but Rebekah discovers that Aunt Adabelle is the sole caregiver of four motherless children and until their father returns from the war, Rebekah is the only one able to care for them.
Now, if you’re like me, you already see the potential. Fancy flyboy, war-weary father, and I didn’t even mention the kind-hearted Sheriff with big dreams who helps Rebekah hold it all together.
If only the story had stayed in Oklahoma… But hey, I can’t throw stones. My first three books are set in Texas. I confess the guilt is unbearable, especially now at the cusp of football season, but Texas has done a better job at PR. Until a few years ago our licenses were adorned with the motto “Oklahoma is OK”. Please tell me the Tourism Department had nothing to do with that.
So how about your state or region? Have you read any books set at your location? Were they realistic? If you write, how do you decide the setting of your books? Where’s your next one going to be?
Thanks for your sweet words, Regina! And if I have my way I’ll do an entire book with an Oklahoma setting someday as a tribute to my grandparents who both lived there until they moved to Texas in the 1950s. 🙂
Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the review.
All of my contemporary books are set up small-town Upstate NY. It’s part of my personal campaign to introduce the rest of the country to a New York that’s far removed from New York City.
I live in Connecticut and love when I find a book set here. Kristan Higgins has written a few. Luanne Rice has as well. It’s nice to read about places you know so well. I’ve written one that takes place in a fictional town here in CT. Because I live so close to New York City, my other stories take place there. But I do have my characters take off for Romania in my current WIP. My husband keeps saying to go and take a tour. Isn’t he sweet? But I’ve said until I sell my first book, I can’t do that just yet.
My home state is Nebraska and I love to read books set here. Stephanie Grace Whitson has penned some beautiful historicals. The books I’ve written are also set in Nebraska.
But I enjoy any western setting and get immersed in reading about small towns. I feel more at home within those pages.
Jean – I’m glad you’re reminding us there’s more to NY than NYC. I’d love to come visit, especially in the fall.
Katy – I hear Connecticut is beautiful. I haven’t visited the Northeast at all, only flown through. Romania would be a great tax write-off when you go. 😉
LoRee – Nebraska is another place that IMO gets overlooked, but I agree with you. The state lines don’t matter as much as the ambiance of the town it’s set in.
My two series are set in north western New York state and north eastern Minnesota. I grew up around the Great Lakes, so the region and lakes call to me.
Another book, as yet unpublished, takes place in an imaginery place very similar to Clayton, N.Y. so I guess the area’s in my blood!
Anne – I’ve only seen the Great Lakes from Navy Pier in Chicago, but I want to see more.
Not my hometown. Todd is from Ada, OK and they have at least one book. It was the one by John Grisham, called An Innocent Man. Not very flattering for the town.