Readers often ask why I set a large portion of my second novel, Shadow Sister, in Bolivia.

The short answer is: I didn’t choose Bolivia; it chose me.

The longer answer is more involved.

This is the story behind that story.

Just as with my first novel, Her Memory of Music, in writing Shadow Sister I sought to explore the ways in which women from different parts of the world can figuratively—and sometimes literally—join hands across cultures and continents.

The idea for how I could accomplish this in Shadow Sister first came to me in the form of tragic news: the twenty-five-year-old daughter of someone I knew perished in Bolivia, in much the same way my character Jenna does in the novel’s opening pages. Although I did not know this vibrant young woman personally, her life, dreams, and untimely death left an indelible impression on me and my imagination. When I started to explore the what if questions that eventually bloomed into the book that became Shadow Sister, it made sense to maintain the Bolivian setting.

Bolivia lends itself naturally as a writer’s choice because it possesses a widely varied terrain, ranging from chilly heights to arid salt flats and lush rain forests. It’s also rich in paradoxes and extremes—the complexity of which offers plenty of scope for storytelling.

For example, despite its great natural wealth, Bolivia is the poorest country in South America—thus, its earned moniker: “a beggar on a throne of gold.” It also claims three official languages—Spanish, Amaya, and Quechua—and yet is one of most illiterate South American countries. And despite medical advances, it still has the highest infant mortality on that continent.

But alongside these sobering realities is the resilience of the people who live there—many of whom cling to a vibrant faith in the goodness and provision of a loving God, despite the harshness of their circumstances.

My research and interviews developed in me a deep appreciation for the people of Bolivia—their strength and creativity and ability to endure. They inspire me, and I hope that after reading Shadow Sister, they will inspire you too.

❤️ Katherine

For a limited time, Shadow Sister eBook is available for 99 cents here!