IN THE LIGHT OF SILENCE

A heart-rending struggle with bodily injuries and a cultural crisis of conscience collide in “In the Light of Silence” by Linda Carrillo. Main character Katherine “Kate” Solterra has survived a collision with a drunk driver, but her troubles are just beginning. After months of rehabilitation she rents a cabin in the village of Drake’s Springs, Virginia. On a sabbatical from her job as a biochemist, she hopes to untangle the snare of her research project and return to some level of normal in her life.

Like most fictional villages, Drake’s Springs teems with quirky characters: the nurturing mom who runs the local five and dime store and luncheon counter, the older couple who take Kate under their wing and even an attractive farmer who may prove more than a friend. A large percentage of the village’s inhabitants belong to a group of Friends, or Quakers. Kate starts attending their Meetings. Much of their meeting time consists of silence. Kate sometimes finds peace there but sometimes deals with her own personal demons.

The Friends have broken American immigration law by aiding a family of refugees from El Salvador, where violence rages. A bombing there, which kills 23kids and their American missionary teacher, shows the desperate need for intervention. When another family member asks to be rescued, disagreements among Friends reveal a fascinating process through which they come to consensus. A peek into the roles and processes of the Meeting adds a unique and intriguing factor to the story.

The phrase “speak truth to power,” used in the novel, originated with Black Quaker Bayard Rustin. Rustin advocated non-violent methods in the fight for justice during America’s Civil Rights Movement. He used the phrase in a letter he wrote in 1942. Kate’s conscience prompts her to get involved, which causes concern because of her physical issues and because she is only an “attender” and not a member of the Quaker Meeting. Nonetheless, she makes the trip with the attractive farmer to rescue the endangered man.

Kate considers herself an atheist, but these believers welcome her into their circle with warmth and concern. After she is almost the victim of an intentional hit-and-run by men who want to stop immigration, pairs of the village men park in her driveway every night to ensure her safety. While it’s sometimes a challenge to keep all the characters straight, they help Kate grow and change. She learns about the value of forgiveness to the forgiver. She doesn’t quite reach that pinnacle toward the drunk driver who upended her life, but she begins to consider possibilities other than hatred and revenge.

Experiencing The Redemptive Power Of Forgiveness

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: A writer and former English teacher, Linda Carrillo has taught elementary school through college levels in Virginia and North Carolina. She has also taught deaf students and those with hearing impairments. She resides in Keller with her husband, a merry little beagle, and a grumpy kitty. “In the Light of Silence’ is her debut novel and she’s now writing the prequel to it. Linda is available to meet with book clubs in the area in person or by Zoom. You can email her at lcarrillo024@yahoo.com. You can buy “In the Light of Silence” through Amazon or your neighborhood bookstore.

Are you a published author who lives in Northeast Tarrant and would like your book considered for a review, please email: elena@societylifemagazine.com

PHOTOGRAPHY ............... Lorraine Haan-Stewart

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