I’ve been lucky. Years ago, I wanted to live on a farm, and my husband said “Let’s do it.” When personal computers were introduced, I wanted to know about them and own one, and lucky me, the school where I taught offered a course in Basic. When we bought our first computer, I discovered the writer’s best friend–word processing. Before word processing, I could not write without crossing out most of a typewritten or handwritten page, and progress seemed impossible.
When I wanted to shift from teaching to writing, the first Macintosh computers came out, and I was lucky enough to have the first “desktop publishing” service in my county. And when finally I had the leisure to give a lot of time to a novel, my husband didn’t merely tolerate my commitment, he encouraged it.
My first inspiration for The Girl on the Mountain was the mountain wilderness itself, because West Virginia’s terrain and flora have always challenged and tested those who live here. Second, I was inspired by the history of industry and everyday life in the 19th century, the forerunners of today’s technology and culture. When I read Roy B. Clarkson’s non-fiction account of lumbering in West Virginia, (Tumult on the Mountain, 1964, McClain Printing Co., Parsons, WV), with more than 250 photos of giant trees, loggers, sawmills, trains, and towns, I found the setting for this story. Finally, I was inspired by men and women of previous generations who faced difficulties unknown today. Researching and writing this novel, I felt closer to the lives of grandparents I never knew.
Welcome to the Mountain Women Series 
Looking good, Carol. I’m jealous; my novel has gone nowhere for a long time. Oh, that’s right, one actually has to sit down and WRITE beyond chapter one…
Harvey Lee
You ‘first’ novel? Ah, your first released one. Yes, I’m lucky to have read one of your previous gems. Release Whacky Road! 😉
Eamon, Nice to hear! Maybe I’ll give Wacky another whirl.
Hi Carol. Love the new cover!!!
Talk to you soon. 🙂
Great. Talk to you soon.
Hi Carol
Thanks for signing up for my blog posts. I’ll enjoy viewing your blog as well. Good luck with the writing!
Keep awritin’!
Carol, I am here in Grafton visiting my parents (from Hawaii). I stumbled on your first book, which I loved, and was thrilled to see that the third one takes place here. I read the second one quickly so I could get to the third. Did you live in Grafton?
Sandra, I haven’t lived in Grafton, but often drive through, and have found it an interesting town. So I adopted the setting for the first part of Midwinter Sun. I’m certain its history is much richer than the slight treatment I gave it in the novel. There are many wonderful old photos, but in research, I found no history of Grafton, WV.
Thanks for your comment. I hope you enjoy the story.
Challis is grinning ear to ear XOXOXO
XOXOXO to you as well, LV.
Hi Carol,
I just finished reading your Mountain Women series. What’a gifted and wonderful writer you are. I too have finally found time to write in my later years. In the last four years I have written three works of fiction. Have not published, but maybe I will figure that out. I look forward to reading your other books. Karen
Good luck in your writing, Karen, and thank you for your kind words. Coming soon, book 9 in the series, “Hearts and Souls.”
Hi Carol, just finished book 10 of your Mountain Women series & have loved every book in the series. Growing up in a small WV town (Rivesville), reading your book brought back many memories of those years..
Please keep writing!
Sincerely,
Jan Wegfahrt
Janet, I’m so glad you loved the series. Stay tuned…#11 is in the works!
Carol,
I love the mountain women series!
I’ve downloaded three of the five books on audible. Tiffany Morgan does a great job reading the books. When can we expect more on audible and please please have Tiffany read them! Thank you!
Hi Carol. My name is Chai Voris. I just read the article about your book series I. The Pine Island Eagle. I’m the President of the Pine Island Writers group. We’d LOVE to have you check out of meetings. We currently meet on Zoom because of Covid. We meet on Mondays at 7pm. We have a critique meeting where we read about 700-1000 our writing and the group gives feedback. We also have a special topics meeting on the 3rd Thursdays. We are starting a Writers Cafe where you get together for an hour and all write together for an hour-either your own writing or a prompt which will be posted. Then everyone can talk about it.
Please contact me directly and/or check out our website. http://Www.pineislandwriters.org. We’d love to have you visit and/or share your journey of writing at one of our special topics meetings.
Hi Carol! My mother Carole Zay (Hines) was so excited to see that you are doing well and writing books. She was sharing stories with me of your time together in the high school band and visiting when you lived in Alliance.
Give your mother my love. We’ve been friends forever.