 Today on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, Carrie Elks ask:
How do you choose the location for you books? Do you pick somewhere you've already been, or do you research creatively, using Google and other methods to find the perfect spot? If you came here from S. C. Mitchell, thanks for hopping along. Interesting post from a sci-fi romance writer! I read for the experience – to be able to live in another character's head, in their time, in their place. I can't help but feel a little extra "squee" whenever I read about a place I've been – or go to a place I've read about for the first time. My daughter and I spent a week in London, and we walked in Hyde Park, visited Trafalgar Square, took a ferry on the Thames, roamed the Tower of London. All places I'd read about in either contemporary or historical fiction. It made the experience that much deeper for me. The same thing when my husband and I visited New York. All those places I'd read about – right there, in front of me, in REAL LIFE!!! When it comes to my own writing, I kept that in mind. I've set 3 of my 4 novels in, or at least partially in, my home town. I could have come up with a fictional name and still used the same place, but I wanted to celebrate where I live, and maybe even introduce it to a few new people. The novel that is only partially set where I live is also set in the Azores, where my husband's family is from. But I was lucky enough to visit that amazing group of islands in 2013, so was able to imbue that novel with the sights and sounds of my own experience. I do find Google Maps and Google Earth amazing resources, however. My second published novel, Chef d'Amour, was set in Vancouver, and while I've certainly visited often I don't know it that well. So it was great to be able to check transit schedules and road maps, and to use street view to be able to add a sense of intimacy. Thanks for taking this little trip with me! Now on to A.S. Fenichel to see how she chooses her locations.
3 Comments
Brenda Margriet
3/15/2016 08:20:09 pm
The Outer Banks and Northern BC may be completely different places, but we love them anyway! :) 3/15/2016 08:54:56 pm
Great post! I agree with you when reading a book and you come across the location you've been. It's very exciting! Leave a Reply. |