In The Notebook, the lead characters paddle through a cypress swamp in the South Carolina Lowcountry; in A Walk to Remember, the young lovers stargaze in small-town North Carolina. Throughout the books that Nicholas Sparks writes (and the films they often become), place and people interact in ways that inevitably add to the romance. His new novel, Counting Miracles, is no exception. Set mostly in Asheboro, North Carolina, it weaves together a love story as well as elements of family heartache and renewal.
Sparks has long used the modern rural South as his muse, but it turns out that Southern storytellers influence him as well. Here, the best-selling novelist shares more about his latest work, a few secrets behind his writing process, and the spots he can’t wait to visit on his book tour, which kicked off in New Bern, North Carolina, the town he calls home.
Why has the South inspired so many of your settings?
Not only do I live in North Carolina, thus allowing me to fall into the admonition to “write what I know,” I believe there’s a culture of storytelling that’s unique to the South. Writers from William Faulkner to Truman Capote to Harper Lee—and modern authors such as John Grisham, David Baldacci, Patricia Cornwell, and James Lee Burke—all either live or lived in the South. Even today, if you’re at a party or sitting with friends, you’ll hear people discussing people or events in an almost story-type way, with beginnings, middles, ends, often complete with unexpected plot twists, and unique characters.
Got a favorite Southern story or character?
I’ve always been a fan of Terry Kay’s To Dance with the White Dog, in addition to The Lords of Discipline and Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy.
If someone is telling a story, what makes you stop and listen?
Plot, characters, and voice. In the end, great stories excel in those three areas.
You’ve focused more in this new book and recent ones on familial love and kindness among generations. What makes those themes so powerful to you?
I believe that themes of familial love and kindness are timeless themes that add depth and resonance to a story. After all, people in different generations tend to view the world from different perspectives that have been largely shaped by time. Young people, for instance, tend to think about the future, while elderly people might spend more time reflecting on the past. When you add in the accumulated wisdom and experiences associated with age, it can make for interesting dialogue when people from different generations get together, while it also allows for varying perspectives regarding any events that take place in the story.
Which scene or element are you most proud of in Counting Miracles?
I’m proud that the relationship between Kaitlyn and her children, Casey and Mitch, feels very real to me. Jasper’s history, too, is something I think will linger in the reader’s memory long after the final page is turned. I also think that veterans—or their friends or family members—will relate to Tanner’s unsettled feeling in life.
What have you been reading lately?
I’ve been on a bit of a philosophy kick lately. I’ve particularly enjoyed The Greek Philosophers from Thales to Aristotle, Early Greek Philosophy, Meditations, and Ancient Greek Philosophers. I find the discussions regarding morality and ethics valuable, even enlightening, in this day and age, and find myself continually impressed by the depth of thought, care, and logic brought to the arguments.
I’ve also been working through a list of great, classic novels that I hadn’t yet read. In the past couple of months, I’ve finished Last of the Mohicans, Ivanhoe, Darkness at Noon, and The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. I find the variety of writing styles and narrative fascinating.
Writing Lessons
Got any secrets, tips, or tricks for…
Telling an engaging story?
Concentrate on theme, plot, character, voice, perspective, writing style, pacing, structure, and length. In other words, an engaging story succeeds at every level, not just one or two.
Writing about love?
To realistically write about love, you have to include the transitions in honest, believable ways. By that, I mean you’ll never read a great love story that begins with the following dialogue, unless perhaps, the latter character is insane.
“Hi. Nice to meet you. I’m Alice.”
“Hi Alice. I’m deeply in love with you and want us to be together forever.”
Love is all about transitions, those step-by-step changes in thought or feeling. Perhaps there’s an initial attraction, then a reminder that looks can be deceiving, then perhaps an interesting comment follows, that leads to more conversation. Every change or transition has to feel real to the reader. Love starts and builds and might pull back and then build some more, from interest to attraction to enjoying and then, finally, to love.
Making believable characters?
Voice and honesty are the most important elements when it comes to character. Ideally, voice amplifies the believability and uniqueness of each character. It includes the words they use in dialogue, the way their inner thoughts are phrased and processed, their behaviors, and their motivations. Honesty is simply that: The reader has to believe the character is real, and that requires honesty, even if the character happens to be dishonest.
Going from idea to first draft?
That’s a process that can take anywhere from a week to years. The Wish, for instance, was a story that took years to develop, while A Walk to Remember took only a few days. As a general rule, I need to know how the story begins and ends, a few of the plot-turning points, and a bit about the characters before I begin to write.
Painting the South in an accurate way?
It might be best to attempt a description of the South in the same way a person might describe any other vaguely exotic place. To me, that means taking into account the ways in which history, geography, weather, and population influence the pace of life, behaviors, and social interactions of the people who live there.
Book Tour Preview
You kicked off touring in New Bern, which we’ve discussed before. So many people travel there now in honor of your books. Any new spots there you’ve been loving lately?
Trent Woods, the neighborhood in New Bern where I reside, has recently constructed sidewalks, which are great when it comes to walking my dog. While that might not be considered glamorous, I very much appreciate them.
But perhaps the best “undiscovered secret” in New Bern is just outside of town, in the Croatan National Forest, where it’s possible to find Venus fly traps, one of the few places on earth where they still grow in the wild.
You added Detroit to the book tour list this year. Got anywhere you’re excited to see there?
I went to Detroit on a book tour early in my career, and I’m looking forward to returning. As far as places to visit while I’m there, I’m not sure that people understand what a book tour is like. I’ll generally arrive late the night before (usually around midnight), spend the morning doing media, and start signing books early in the afternoon, in preparation for the event, which lasts anywhere from three to four hours. From there, I head to the airport and start over the following day in a new city.
If I do end up having extra time, I’d likely spend it walking on the Blue Heron Lagoon trail. A little time spent in nature is always a good thing.
Shouting out a couple more stops, what are your favorite spots in…
Houston, TX: Gotta go with Space Center on this one.
Greenville, SC: Downtown.
Charlotte, NC: Whenever I’m in Charlotte, I do a Segway tour. It’s a fun way to spend a couple of hours.
Charleston, SC: Historic downtown, Boone Plantation, and the Citadel.
Southern Pines, NC: I’d take a walk on one of the golf courses, if I had time and I was allowed to go.
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