tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post5299463650861454878..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: Setting the SceneL.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-12587482290563062722012-06-20T18:20:29.428-07:002012-06-20T18:20:29.428-07:00Tom; a FB page for your heroine is a great idea fo...Tom; a FB page for your heroine is a great idea for your distant readers. Because my novels are set in San Fran., which has many one-way streets, I often use a fictional street so I can have the villain make his escape any way I want. Even with a map, I know someone would catch me out going the wrong way if I used all real streets. I agree with Drew, too - it is liberating making up names and places. Thanks to all for such a warm welcome. Glad to be here.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10384070533603453713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-59043761728961579512012-06-20T16:30:38.655-07:002012-06-20T16:30:38.655-07:00For my last two novels, I've chosen fictional ...For my last two novels, I've chosen fictional towns as the settings. The reason why: I wasn't comfortable writing about places with which I wasn't completely familiar. I didn't want readers to say, "There's no movie theater on that corner!" <br /><br />For my next novel, a sequel to the last, I've relocated my protagonist, Patrick, to my home town of San Diego. I feel much more confident moving him around now, as I know the place rather well. <br /><br />Having said that, I've enjoyed writing fictional towns. There's something very liberating about building a place from nothing and allowing my imagination to run free with very little constraints.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-20862446735973342502012-06-20T15:54:47.839-07:002012-06-20T15:54:47.839-07:00Great post, Jen! Both work for me. Like the folks ...Great post, Jen! Both work for me. Like the folks you asked, I like real locations because I could actually visit them. I like fictional settings because it aids in the escape. If that makes any sense... <br />Welcome to the blog! SO glad to see you here! :)Nissiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11043154807861670942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-63052957501674445702012-06-20T10:35:06.914-07:002012-06-20T10:35:06.914-07:00I mix the real in with the fictional. In my debut ...I mix the real in with the fictional. In my debut murder mystery, River Bottom Blues, my protagonists are blues musicians. They gig and hang out in bars around Texas. Those are all fictional, but based on blues bars I've visited. They both live in real places, Houston and rural Washington County, Texas. I created a fictional county for most of the atrocities to occur. Didn't want local upset with a lynching taking place and meth cookers dealing drugs.Ricky Bushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15861574330175082978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-89284626465378394112012-06-20T10:34:33.072-07:002012-06-20T10:34:33.072-07:00Hi, Jen!
I'm not certain I truly care as a rea...Hi, Jen!<br />I'm not certain I truly care as a reader whether a place is real or not, as long as it is "real" in the book. After all, I loved the setting of the Harry Potter books, and Hogwarts is not on any map.<br />As a writer, I chose my hometown, Placentia, as the setting for my stories, because it has a very small-town feel, yet is wedged into the megalopolis that is southern California. I can have a lot of people drift in from surrounding cities, as both victims and murderers, unlike Murder, She Wrote's city of Cabot Cove, which got harder to believe that there were so many bodies piling up in one little town!<br />I considered making a fictional town that coincidentally looks like Placentia, but finally went with reality. It was just easier.Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-58632777777340362162012-06-20T09:08:46.924-07:002012-06-20T09:08:46.924-07:00Welcome to the family Jenny!
In my novel I chose ...Welcome to the family Jenny!<br /><br />In my novel I chose my hometown to bring a lot of realism to the story (which was inspired by actual criminal cases I've worked here). I've been really surprised and pleased by comments from readers I get regarding the setting. Some readers lived here long ago, others are residents. I even set up a FB page for my heroine where I upload pics and events from the locale so readers far away can "picture" exactly what I am describing in the novel. I even had my book signing at a local family restaurant featured in one scene. I plan to always use real locations because of the positive feedback I've gotten and the ability to share photos and real history of those locations with readers in other states and countries. Thanks for the post!Tom Adairhttp://authortomadair.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-41109527371337270702012-06-20T08:42:02.758-07:002012-06-20T08:42:02.758-07:00I much prefer a real setting, for the reasons you ...I much prefer a real setting, for the reasons you already listed. And ditto on made-up settings distancing me from the story, especially if they're consciously cute. I should also say that I'm not a fan of gritty, violent thrillers, but of funny stuff, and I still prefer my settings real. I do enjoy a fictional house, however, especially if it's over the top.Esri Allbrittenhttp://esriallbritten.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-14225416025598867732012-06-20T07:57:44.207-07:002012-06-20T07:57:44.207-07:00Jenny, welcome!
My book, Red Tide, and the two I&...Jenny, welcome!<br /><br />My book, Red Tide, and the two I'm working on to follow, are all based in the fictional town of Aspen Falls. But I use the real towns of Aspen and Denver to give it an authentic feeling. Readers have enjoyed reading about familiar places, and no one can give me too much grief for getting something wrong in a fictional town. I did, however, have to draw a map to try and stay consistent.<br /><br />With fantasy, I'm not so sure. The Hunger Games take place in a brand new world...Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-33745012089783525492012-06-20T07:55:05.712-07:002012-06-20T07:55:05.712-07:00Interesting, Jenny. I write about Santa Monica in...Interesting, Jenny. I write about Santa Monica in a real way with a map at hand. I lived there 20 years and fell in love with its complexity, all the while looking like a Los Angeles beach town. <br /><br />Good wishes to you,Mar Prestonhttp://marpreston.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-76288468430960501192012-06-20T07:41:27.026-07:002012-06-20T07:41:27.026-07:00Great post, Jenny! Now you've got me thinking....Great post, Jenny! Now you've got me thinking.... As a reader, I think I prefer somewhere real, as I've always been interested in history and geography, so that way, through a story, I can learn about some actual places. Lee Child is excellent for milking a setting for all it's worth and making me feel like I'm there, sweating or freezing or bustling, along with Jack Reacher!<br /><br />As an editor, I focus on making sure the details of the setting all make sense. A fantasy I once edited had both evergreen trees and palm trees in the woods/jungle! <br /><br />Welcome to CFC, Jenny, and I look forward to more of your posts!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-24000586927580186192012-06-20T07:29:23.023-07:002012-06-20T07:29:23.023-07:00Being a realist, I prefer real settings in the boo...Being a realist, I prefer real settings in the books I write and read. But if the real setting is a place I've never heard of or been to, then intellectually it doesn't matter if it's real or fiction. I don't know unless I try to find it on a map. Thanks for a thoughtful post.L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.com