Author Carol McClain is an eclectic artist and author. Her interests vary as much as the Tennessee weather—running, bassoons, jazz, stained glass and, of course, writing. She’s a transplant from New York who now lives in the hills of East Tennessee with her husband and overactive Springer spaniel. She is also the president of ACFW Knoxville and the secretary of the Authors’ Guild of Tennessee.

She’s here to talk about her new novel–A New York Yankee on Stinking Creek.

Amazon Link:  https://www.amazon.com/New-York-Yankee-Stinking-Creek/dp/057849115X/ref

What was your inspiration for A New York Yankee on Stinking Creek?

So many things inspired me to write this novel. I moved to Tennessee about four years ago. A hamlet near us had a name that made me laugh . Who’d name their town Stinking Creek, especially as this sweet town has no malodorous water?

I’ve always loved Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. The novel is an anachronous romp into medieval times. I figured I’d play up the idea in a modern day world. I worked in Manhattan for many years. Then I considered Stinking Creek, a small rural village and wanted to play up the perceived differences of the liberal know-it-all and the conservative know-it-all and create a world where we see ourselves, see love and sacrifice, and see what really matters in life.

Which character in the book was the easiest for you to connect with, and why? Which, if any, character proved most difficult, and why?

Ironically, I connect more with Delia Mae “Lia” McGuffrey, the Southern conservative Christian. She’s bound by rules and the desire to please God and to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). I manage to get myself bound up in trying to please God (and others). I can make the whole world—even the Lord—crazy. I started the last paragraph with the adverb ironically. Most people who know me think I’m the more liberal, free-spirited, artistic protagonist. In reality, they’re two halves of a black and white cookie.

What did God teach you during the writing of Stinking Creek? What spiritual truths or nuggets of wisdom do you hope your readers take away from the book?

The extremes of anything are out of balance—extreme religion or no-religion, extreme liberalism or ultra-conservativism. The adage goes there’s a fine line between genius and insanity (which says I’m borderline genius). So too, only a fine line separates the radical liberal and fanatical conservative

What do you do when you’re not writing?

One might ask, what don’t I do? My passions are words and glass. When not writing, I create stained glass, glass garden flowers, and sun catchers.

I’m a member of ACFW Knoxville, and I am the current president. I am also the secretary for the Authors Guild of Tennessee. I love teaching. When situations arise and I can teach, I do so. Life is short. Grab it all.

When I’m not involved with the above, I play Candy Crush.

 

Thanks, Carol for being my writer of the day.  A New York Yankee on Stinking Creek sounds like a great read.

 

God Bless & Good Reading.