Final answer:
For the author, being an American writer involves a sense of place that is deeply personal, influenced by cultural background and experiences, as demonstrated by writers like Sandra Cisneros and Alice Walker. Therefore, the correct option is A. deeply personal.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the information provided from various literary passages, it appears that for the author in question, being an American writer means that her sense of place is deeply personal. This is notably reflected in Sandra Cisneros's account of using her cultural and environmental experiences to shape her writing. Similarly, Alice Walker recollects how a book brought her Southern relatives back to a 'kind of paradise'—showing the power of place and memory. Furthermore, regionalist perspectives from women writers such as Sarah Orne Jewett and Kate Chopin highlight the significance of one's setting in developing a narrative identity and exploring themes beyond mere geographical confines.