Carrie (McCarver) Burrows ’04 recently published her debut novel “The Fields We Called Home,” a historical fiction book about true events in Central Texas during World War II. She was inspired by her love of Texas history and her family connection to the events in Coryell County as Fort Hood was established.
Carrie had dabbled in writing short stories, Sunday School curriculum, and day camp curriculum for churches through the years. Writing her first novel, however, was a big undertaking. In 2015, after the passing of her maternal grandmother, she realized she had a story to share about her father’s side of the family and she wanted to write it before the entire generation had passed away. She spent time researching, interviewing and writing her novel and completed it in about six months. Carrie went back to full-time ministry in 2017 and then in 2021, she decided the timing was right to self-publish her book.
The book is centered around families who lost their homes in Coryell County during World War II, due to the government’s right to eminent domain and the creation of Fort Hood. In the book, she addressed the struggle between patriotism and family legacy through a fictional family.
Since publishing the book, Carrie has attended several events in the Gatesville area and connected with families who were personally impacted by the story.
While a student at Howard Payne University, Carrie majored in English with a minor in Christian Studies. She loved her English classes with professors like Dr. Glen Hopp, Dr. Donna Burney and Dr. Evelyn Romig. Her favorite class was a creative writing class taught by Dr. Hopp. “It sparked some interest in wanting to write more and was a key class for my writing now,” she shared. “He gave us the freedom to express ourselves and be creative.”
She also worked in the Christian Studies department and loved her interactions with Dr. Gary Gramling and the other faculty.
Her experience in ministry classes helped prepare her for her current role as Associate Minister of Discipleship at First Woodway Baptist Church in Woodway, Texas.
“Howard Payne has prepared me through God’s calling in both writing and being involved in ministry,” Carried said. “I love seeing both of those come together where I am today.”
Carrie met her husband, Brandon, when they were students at Truett Seminary. They were married in 2005 and Brandon now serves as a hospital chaplain. They have two daughters, Katelyn and Sophia.
“The Fields We Called Home” is available on Amazon Kindle and paperback, Apple books, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.