Lindi here. Whoa—we’re already past Thanksgiving and heading into the Christmas season.
As far as my reading goes, here’s the scoop. Non-fiction, I am reading Think and Eat Yourself Smart by Dr. Carolyn Leaf. Such an amazing book! In the fiction realm, I am rereading Gone South by my dear friend, Meg Moseley. Gone South is the Love Our Readers book club pick for December 2017. (Here’s our book club graphic-how cute is it?)
Who loves to travel? Where are your favorite places to travel? Is there a city you are dying to go to, but haven’t made it there yet? I’m asking these questions because as an author setting is very important. Where our stories take place can make a decided difference in our characters lives. When I started writing the Devon Park series there were specific reasons why I picked mid-Ohio.
- I used to live in Ohio and still visit every other year, if not more often, so I’m familiar with the climate and area geography.
- For me mid-any state fosters imagines of homes and family.
- I wanted an area that experiences all 4 seasons.
My Richness in Faith series takes place in south Florida. Reasons:
- The books have an easy, breezy feel.
- I needed a warm climate for a Christmas novel.
- I loved the idea of mansions on the water. (The houses in the books were set along a bay, not the ocean.}
Don’t these covers say easy breezy?
I love to read books set in England. I always used to read historical novels and years ago, when my husband and I had a chance to visit London, I HAD to go to Hyde Park simply because I’d read about it so much.
And on the opposite side of favorite places to read about I’m sure there are places we don’t want to read about. Maybe a certain setting brings back bad memories, or child hood memories that we’d like to forget.
Regardless, as much as our characters and emotions play a huge part in our novels, setting is just as important. One of the questions I ask before writing, is why does this book need to take place here?
I have a novel set in a town in middle Georgia. (This novel isn’t published-yet!) I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Georgia, let alone middle Georgia, but these are the images I conjure up in my mind when I think of middle Georgia.
- Red clay.
- Flat.
- Small towns surrounded by farmland.
- Peaches.
- Pick up trucks and tractors.
I chose this area specifically because although my heroine was born in Fox Valley, Georgia, (my made-up small town) she moved when she was eight and has lived in the big city of Washington DC for the past 20 years. She doesn’t have too many fond memories of Fox Valley, and it represents the opposite of everything she knows. (Instant external conflict.)
I also love reading books set in urban areas. I love the vibe! City lights, people, late night dinners, walking through crowds holding hands.
Here’s our assignment for the day. :) In the comment section tell us a city you’d like to read about and why, and/or tell us a city you’d always pick up books to read if they were set there.
One commenter will receive a copy of my book, Rich in Hope. It’s a Christmas story and it’s that time of year.
Wemble says
Hi Lindi, agreed, the year has gone by so very quickly! Love your book covers:)
I would love to read a book set in Prague- I have never been, but the photos I have seen look great and I think with the history of the Czech Republic, it would make for an interesting story.
Blessings:)
Ausjenny says
Its hard to pick a city. I am not a city gal. I prefer smaller town. I would say I love reading books set in Hawaii and the Hawaiian Islands. Also Alaska. I love both for different reasons. I have visited Hawaii and I just love the area and have now read a couple of books read there since visiting and it brings them to life.
Renate says
Hi Lindi! Beautiful covers. Hard to believe that it is almost December. Spent the weekend getting out the Christmas books and Santa’s Village for my granddaughters ages 4 and 10 months. So much fun seeing Christmas through the eyes of children especially their first Christmas. My favorite book setting is Chicago. Aubrey Wynne does a fabulous job with her Christmas in Chicago series. My favorite book is Paper Love.
Ellie says
I am always intrigued by stories set in New York City. It’s so different from where I live!
Lucy M Reynolds says
Pretty covers. I don’t have a favorite city to read about. Have a blessed day.
lelandandbecky says
I’d love to read a story set in Angle Inlet, Minnesota. It’s only reachable by water, and is a mostly forest-covered area. Only slightly over 100 people reside there. During the spring, the residents have to leave because of the flooding season. Your book covers are really beautiful, and your books are on my list to read. Thanks for a fun post!
Diana says
I like all different kinds of settings. Small town,big city, farms,wilderness……. God bless your writing!
Laura says
I absolutely love to travel! If I could go to the whole world I probably would. Picking just one place is a hard task, so I’ll go with three (hope that’s ok)
I’m really looking forward to going to Hawaii because of great books I’ve read that were set there, and I still like stories happening there.
A book that took place in Germany would be nice as well – I would choose a not so big city, because the big ones are not as charming.
And then I guess a story happening in the Greek islands – I would strongly suggest Santorini – would be really really romantic. But I might be biased as I had my honeymoon there…
`Lindi says
Wemble–Agreed! Prague is an amazing city. I think simply the names suggests excitement and romance. :)
`Lindi says
Hi Ausjenny—yes, Alaska and Hawaii–both amazing places. Very different, yet both exotic in unique ways. :)
`Lindi says
Renate—I love seeing Christmas through children’s eyes. So much wonder and awe! Matt Redman sings a song talking about “may we never lose the wonder.” :) Love this reminder. And my son and his wife used to live in Chicago.What a beautiful city.
`Lindi says
Ellie—I can thank my traveling son and his wife for my city adventures–they just moved from New York City! I visited there last year for the first time. Oh—I LOVED it!!! Can’t wait to go back.
`Lindi says
Lucy—There’s nothing wrong with loving to read about anywhere! Freedom!! :)
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
What a beautiful cover! I always pick up books set in Paris, NY, and small towns. LOL That doesn’t mean I’ll read them, but those settings grab my attention. :)
Tammy Francis says
My husband and I just went to New York this Fall and it was marvelous. I love reading stories that take place in Scotland or England though.
Priscila says
Thanks for sharing about your location inspirations.
I’ve been wanting to go to Alberta and British Columbia since my sister traveled to the Canadian Rockies and surroundings. I’ve had such a great time in the Adirondacks in the US and probably would like the US Rocky Mountains too, just for some reason I picture all the places my sister went and I just want to go there.
gobers2013 says
I love to read about a lot of different cities…no favorite. You are a new author to me, and I would love to win a copy of your book. The cover is beautiful and the story sounds delightful. Thanks for the giveaway! ?
Jackie Smith says
I enjoy books featured in smaller town, islands…am anxiously waiting for your next book in Georgia! I live in NE GA!
`Lindi says
HI Becky—Wow! Angle Inlet sounds like a great place to set a story. I’ve been to Minnesota once, and it was so beautiful!! Thanks for putting me on your TBR. :)
`Lindi says
Diana–thank you. And keep reading away—my favorite thing to do. :)
`Lindi says
Laura, I love that your places are all over the world. :) Wide variety. I have a new interest in a certain city, Iceland. I have a friend that just went there for vacation and they loved it. It’s now on my list.
`Lindi says
Kimberly–I know what you mean about grabbing attention. Certain cities just do that. :)
`Lindi says
Tammy, Scotland and England are where all the books I read when I first started reading ages ago were set in. I love those historical cities—so much tradition and family lineage set in those places. :)
Sherri G says
I don’t have a particular favorite setting. I love small towns, Scotland (love the accents!), Appalachian mountains, Alaska, Texas, Montana, and my home state of Kentucky.
Margaret Nelson says
Hmmm, I know I enjoy books set in places I’ve been, because I can picture the surroundings more easily. (Although I remember reading a book once in which the main characters were shipwrecks off of Hong Kong, and the author had them worrying about hypothermia… unless it’s really deep sea, the waters around Hong Kong are WARM – like going swimming in a bathtub!). I don’t think I’ve ever picked up a book because of the location. Anyway, it’s interesting to think about!
Renate says
Hi Laura! Germany is also one of my favorite settings, since I was born there. Petra Benning Durst is a German historal fiction writer, whose Books are translated I to German. You may enjoy her Glassblowers trilogy, set in a small village in the Black Forest. Gives the story of glass blown ornaments and how Woolworths bought the ornaments and sold them in America.
Nancy Luebke says
I grew up in the small town of Yorktown, between Muncie and Indianapolis, Indiana. I believe it has 2 stoplights in town now.Parts of Indianapolis has small town feel to it. When I was a lot younger, I went to business school there, close to the circle in downtown.
`Lindi says
Priscila—-I know what you mean about hearing about places and wanting to go. :) We have some Canada gals here on the blog. :) I love mountainous regions.
`Lindi says
Hi–thank you for visiting the blog!!
`Lindi says
Hi Jackie—I do love writing about Georgia. :) My current series, Sweetly Southern is set in the metro Atlanta area.
`Lindi says
Sherri—-I love Scotland, too! And Kentucky is so beautiful! When we drive to Ohio and go through Kentucky, it is breathtaking! Especially going to the Ohio/Kentucky border and that incredible view when you come upon the Ohio River!!
Andrea B. Brooks says
This year, some of the months have been known to fly right past you. I loved reading your blog. We all need to be Thankful and remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. I admired the covers for your books and would love to be entered in to win a copy of your Christmas book.
`Lindi says
Hi Margaret–It is fun reading about places you know, isn’t it? And when you come upon things like the hypothermia thing, well, it happens sometimes. :)
`Lindi says
Hi Nancy, I’ve written a few small town books. There is such a homey feel about it, isn’t there?
`Lindi says
Hi Andrea!! Yes, for sure remember the reason for the season and keep our eyes focused on Jesus. :)
Trixi says
I’ve read a few books set in Savannah, GA and just from the descriptions I’d love to visit someday! Why…I’ve never been that far East in the states, I’ve heard about the warm Southern hospitality, and all the historic places. Oh yea, it has one thing in common with where I grew up in Illinois…steam-wheeler boats :-) Those are always fun to look at.
Another place would be somewhere near Auckland, New Zealand because my mom lives there (not in Auckland but close by). She’s sent me some really beautiful scenic pictures and has told me about all her vacations & things she’s seen. I could do some arm chair traveling through a book set there…lol!
My other favorite is small towns because I live in one. I love it when an author realistically portrays the small town feel :-)
I think for me, setting is not a big thing and I won’t not read a book because of a setting. Well-written stories and lovable characters are a bigger draw for me :-)
Jessica B. says
I visited New York city once and really enjoyed it even though it’s very different from where I live in the midwest and I think I’ve only ever read one fictional story set there, so I would love to read more stories with the city as the background. I also like reading stories set in foreign countries and learning about places I’ve never visited.
janet estridge says
I am Southern born and Southern bred. My family tree is firmly rooted in Georgia and Alabama.
I have cousins, by the truckload, all over Georgia. So I know about the red clay, it stains everything it gets on and the peaches make the best peach cobbler.
Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.