Carolyn Dale
"The Hideout"
Read this recent story published in Interconnections, a Whatcom Writes Anthology, 2022
This novel is available in paperback and e-book editions at bookstores and online sites, such as Amazon.com
As a writer, I like to approach the natural world and how we as humans experience our place within it.
Environmental fiction
Second Rising (2019) is a suspenseful novel with strong environmental themes and a hopeful outcome. The narrator is an ambitious young chef who joins with members of a town in the North Cascades as they struggle to maintain their way of life and create a new kind of community. Along the way, they are aided by an itinerant band of Tibetan monks, a reclusive mountain woman, a legendary white deer, and a bit of magic from the land itself.
You can see reviews, locate a copy, watch the trailer, read an author interview, and more on this site's Fiction pages.
Essays
These occasional comments reflect on curious aspects of the natural world that I encounter, often while gardening, hiking, or traveling. A recent essay, "The Hideout," has been published in Interconnections, a Whatcom Writes Anthology, 2022. It tells how a mysterious shelter attached to a former home provided a connection to several people among our city's homeless. This piece, plus other comments, are available in the Essays section of this site.
Novel melds fiction with historical research to tell of a young woman's life on1830s frontiers
Sylvie's Chance is set in the 1830s and follows the heroine as she forges a life for herself on the frontiers of Illinois and Texas. Born into a traditional French community, Sylvie Pensoneau is orphaned young and knows that she needs to challenge the role society sets out for her, if she is to find the life and love she desires. Her quest takes her to colonies in Texas while it was still part of Mexico, and there she endures war and life as a refugee. But returning to Illinois presents its risks, as well. Read more about the plot and characters.
The novel is based on actual events and was inspired by several lines in a family history about my grandmother five generations back. So little was known about this woman, yet these few facts, plus a haunting photo of her daughter, launched me on ten years of travel and research that have resulted in this work of fiction. To learn more about the real historical figures and events, please see this site's Family history pages.