Clara's Way
My award-winning historical novel, Clara's Way, is set in 1904 Panama. It depicts the controversial first fourteen months of the United States’ occupation in the Canal Zone.
Want to get the story's vibe? Check out its book trailer. To order a copy, click here.
My award-winning historical novel, Clara's Way, is set in 1904 Panama. It depicts the controversial first fourteen months of the United States’ occupation in the Canal Zone.
Want to get the story's vibe? Check out its book trailer. To order a copy, click here.
Inspiration
This historical novel provides little-known details about Panama Canal history. Two things inspired the story: (1) In 2015, my husband and I sailed through the Panama Canal on a cruise ship (check out my blog). After seeing this man-made wonder up close, as well as listening to guest lecturers on board the ship, I knew the majestic waterway would eventually find its way into one of my novels.
(2) While sorting through a bunch of old family photos, this woman and her horse captured my attention. I learned she was my husband's aunt, Dora Carothers. Born in 1882, Dora grew up on a farm in Cutler, Ohio, the oldest of nine children. She graduated from nursing school in Cincinnati in her early twenties, and then served as a Red Cross nurse in Europe during the First World War. She later moved to Kentucky, riding a patient circuit to care for the rural population. Dora never married. She was a beloved, hard-working, career woman who paid for her younger siblings' education. She lived a full life, dying in 1969 at the age of eighty-seven. After realizing Dora served as a nurse at the same time the United States began work on the Panama Canal, I knew I had my storyline.
Next came research. I read David McCullough's intriguing non-fiction book, The Path Between the Seas. McCullough describes the construction of the Panama Canal as a “profoundly important historic event and a sweeping human drama.” I couldn’t agree more. That book led me to John M. Gibson’s book, Physician to the World: the life of General William C. Gorgas. Lastly, I read Florence Nightingale's book, Notes on Nursing. These resources allowed me to line up facts and fiction to create an engaging plot.
Check out the book trailer to get a feel for the story. To order a copy, click here.
(2) While sorting through a bunch of old family photos, this woman and her horse captured my attention. I learned she was my husband's aunt, Dora Carothers. Born in 1882, Dora grew up on a farm in Cutler, Ohio, the oldest of nine children. She graduated from nursing school in Cincinnati in her early twenties, and then served as a Red Cross nurse in Europe during the First World War. She later moved to Kentucky, riding a patient circuit to care for the rural population. Dora never married. She was a beloved, hard-working, career woman who paid for her younger siblings' education. She lived a full life, dying in 1969 at the age of eighty-seven. After realizing Dora served as a nurse at the same time the United States began work on the Panama Canal, I knew I had my storyline.
Next came research. I read David McCullough's intriguing non-fiction book, The Path Between the Seas. McCullough describes the construction of the Panama Canal as a “profoundly important historic event and a sweeping human drama.” I couldn’t agree more. That book led me to John M. Gibson’s book, Physician to the World: the life of General William C. Gorgas. Lastly, I read Florence Nightingale's book, Notes on Nursing. These resources allowed me to line up facts and fiction to create an engaging plot.
Check out the book trailer to get a feel for the story. To order a copy, click here.
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I spend months crafting a plot. Once I have a solid outline, I think a lot about my characters. I get to know them well: what they look like, how they talk, how they earn a living. I know their positive and negative traits, what motivates them, as well as their biases. I know their birthdates, their hobbies, all of their relationships, and goals.
After I've nailed the character profiles, I create a playlist to set the mood. The right song immediately draws me into a character's mind so I act and think like her or him. I also use pictures to guide me on the writing journey. Having these audio and visual prompts transport me mentally to wherever I need to go to write a credible story.
Here are some images that inspired Clara's Way. Enjoy the slideshow!
After I've nailed the character profiles, I create a playlist to set the mood. The right song immediately draws me into a character's mind so I act and think like her or him. I also use pictures to guide me on the writing journey. Having these audio and visual prompts transport me mentally to wherever I need to go to write a credible story.
Here are some images that inspired Clara's Way. Enjoy the slideshow!
Reviews & Recognition
1. "Well-crafted fiction that offers little-known details about the Panama Canal history." Kirkus Reviews
2. Honoree of a B.R.A.G Medallion
3. "Author Roberta R. Carr delivers many excellent qualities within this rich work of historical fiction, engrossing us in an emotive tale but also exposing and educating on less-known facets of historical importance at the same time. I would highly recommend Clara's Way to fans of immersive historical fiction that is well researched and exceedingly well penned." Readers' Favorite
4. Check out this review from a Foodie Lit blogger named Susan Weintrob. I guarantee her recipes will make your mouth water!
5. "I like how Carr fleshed out Clara's journey. It was enjoyable reading about the sacrifices she had to make for her brother and her consequent exposure to an entirely new world in Panama. Clara's experiences were full of highs and lows, and the author's writing conveyed the emotions in these moments. Clara's character was inspiring. She was resolute, strong, and brave, but she was also selfless and kind. These traits could be seen through her experiences. Some of them include how she tended to her brother and still had the strength of mind to carry on after he passed, how she triumphed over a severe bout of yellow fever, and how she stayed back in Panama to bring into effect policies to deal with the yellow fever epidemic. It's genuinely remarkable whenever I read a story with a brave and inspiring heroine, especially when the odds are firmly against her. Besides Clara, I also loved Amelia's character; her free-spirited nature endeared her to me, and her connection with Clara was one of the highlights of my reading." - Online Book Club
