My very first inspirational romance was Preacher Man, published in 2009. I’d written books before, but this was the first time I recognized the nudge from God that I should be writing love stories that give all the glory to Him! It was a story about a newly divorced mom of a teenaged son, maneuvering through life in the big city of Chicago. She’s not a Christian (yet!) and when a unique set of circumstances introduces her to Josh, a pastor, his line of work creates in her a sense of dread. Who is she to date a preacher man?
Many readers enjoyed the book and it was my launching pad into writing many more inspirational romances. I got an invitation from a local assisted living center in my town to come and talk to the ladies who’d chosen to read it in their Book Club. The conversation was lively and positive. One lady had been sitting quietly until she spoke up. “Other than the Chicago skyline pictured on the cover, I’d never know I was reading a book about Chicago. A big city, yes. But you have nothing in there that is unique to that particular city at all.”
My mother (my biggest fan) had attended the gathering with me, and she looked alarmed at the feedback. She didn’t want my feelings to be hurt. But I was glad this insightful reader had given me this critique. In talking more with her, I learned she had been an English teacher for her entire career and knew her literature.
Maybe this comment, and the pondering that resulted, led me to the decision to write books set in the place I love more than anywhere else in the world: the Lowcountry of South Carolina. I’ve now written two entire series (eleven books total) in Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet and the settings, because I adore them, have become so much more than simply where the stories take place. They’ve really become a character within the stories, standing beside the people, forming the stories themselves.
“Setting as Character” is a concept known to authors. Christian author K. M. Weiland describes it this way: “It means: the setting is supposed to come to life—to be rich, vibrant, catalytic. It means: the details of the places in your story are supposed to leap off the page and fill readers’ imaginations so fully they can smell the pastrami sizzling. It means: an excellent setting can spell the difference between a book’s success and failure.”
Starting with my Pawleys Island Paradise series, the beachy settings had their own place at the table. The details weren’t just accurate — they were sensory. Reviews such as these started showing up:
“I feel like I’m there.”
“Laurie should get a commission from the Pawleys Island Chamber of Commerce because I want to book a trip there.”
I present to you, some excerpts from my latest book Seized, the finale of my Murrells Inlet Miracles series, describing real-life settings along with pictures of those places I took recently. You judge if I got them right.
The MarshWalk
They found vacant Adirondack chairs facing the marsh and sat, letting their delicious meal digest. Tree branches provided a canopy of shade. People milled around on the grounds, and Gloria was glad that this event had been well attended. They finished their drinks and enjoyed the pleasant breeze in the shade, watching the activity all around them.
Goat Island
Off to their left sat Goat Island. She pointed it out to him. “The goats are back for the season.”
He smiled fondly. “Sure sign of spring.” Across the inlet water from the MarshWalk was the island which housed a group of goats. They were removed for hurricane season through the winter and housed somewhere safe, but all MarshWalk visitors enjoyed the goats during the best times of the year.
Murrells Inlet Jetty
He drove south on Ocean Highway 17 to Huntington Beach State Park. He pulled the annual pass out of his glove compartment and waved it at the hut, getting in for free. But where she would normally turn right to go to the beach parking lot, he turned left. “Where are we going?”
He looked at her. “The beach.”
She pointed to the right which was disappearing in the distance.
“Have you ever visited the north beach?”
She shook her head.
“Wait till you do. This whole park is beautiful, but the north beach entrance is more obscure and if we walk further north from there, we hit the jetty, where the inlet blends into the ocean. Really beautiful.”
A wave of excitement flooded her heart. Besides her nephews, he’d hit on the one thing she was most passionate about in her life … the beach. She couldn’t believe she’d never ventured to this point of Huntington Beach considering she’d walked there at least a thousand times.
He was introducing her to new wonders, right in her backyard.
Last but not least, a detail I couldn’t help including …
When my husband and I relocated to Murrells Inlet permanently earlier this year, I discovered that the MarshWalk was offering an opportunity to commemorate your devotion to the area with a bronzed plaque. In Seized, my heroine Gloria buys one to commemorate her nephew’s local band. Here’s our real-life one:
What books do you love to read that contain a strong setting? What makes you love to read them?
**Heartwarming, life-changing Christian fiction.** An award-winning author, Laurie is living her dream life at the beach, writing novels. Laurie writes beachy inspirational romance that takes place in the South Carolina Low Country. She retired from the big day job and now focuses on writing full time. Strolls on the sand, soaking up the sun and riding the waves can be considered the best kind of research.
I recently re-read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights; a moor makes for a very powerful, atmospheric setting.
I love the setting as a character…it’s my favorite way to travel! Thank you for a great post!
Jan Thompson does an excellent job with the Savannah setting as a real life setting!
Chapel Cove series by Alexa Verde, Autumn Macarthur and Marion Ueckermann is an awesome fictional setting on the coast of Oregon. Valerie Comer has me wanting to live in Bridgeview in her Urban Farm Fresh Romance series!
Hi Laurie! My favorite romance with setting as character is Aubrey Wynne’s story Paper Love with its Chicago setting. Wynne’s description of the Windy City’s Field Museum, Navy Pier with its wheel of awesomeness (Ferris Wheel), Buckingham Fountain and deep dish pizza is spot on. I lived in the Windy City for 10 years. Also enjoy Jackie Castle’s Madison Creek series with its small town Michigan settings and quaint Bed and Breakfast establishments. Another series with setting as character is the Tuscan Legacy series. While I have not been to Italy, SW Michigan has many vineyards so I felt at home. As a retired English teacher, I chuckled on who critiqued your writing. Best wishes. Happy Writing.
Difficult question, it can depend on the book. I love places that make me want to visit them or if I have like a book set in Maui I want to be able to say oh I remember that place or that’s just like I remember it or I did that too.
It was a Robin Jones Gunn book Sisterchicks do the Hula that made me have to visit Hawaii.
On the flip side I have read a few books written by non Aussies who have set a book here and totally gotten things wrong. Like distance from a city. (northern Queensland being 2 hours from Sydney). Also other places having wrong things in the places etc. I would much rather have correct info about the place.
Hi Laurie, thanks for sharing your pictures and the accompanying excerpts- I totally got it! There are lots of books where the author has made the setting come alive. To name just a couple, Meredith Resce, Narelle Atkins, Andrea Grigg are fantastic Australia authors- their settings are so familiar I feel like I am right there in the story- I love picking up on familiar elements.
Blessings:)
I’ve loved Carla Laureano’s London Tides series as well as her Supper Club series. Her setting truly is a character in her books.
I really like this idea of setting as a character. As a reader I think it adds to the story. I really enjoy made up towns like Arcadia Valley when you can actually picture a place based on the many descriptions we got from authors. It’s nice how much trouble they had to come up with an unique place that they all had to describe in the same way.
Good idea! I’ll have to do that!
Great examples! And now I have a few more books on my TBR pile!
These are wonderful examples! Thanks so much!!
Having a place well described, when you can feel de atmosphere of it is a really nice addition in a book. Some places have even entered my bucket list due to a book.
Robin Jones Gunn Sisterchicks series. No matter where she is at it feels like I am there with my best friend. Example: Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes (This story filled me with compassion, I was eager to listen as they talked, and a vicarious participant as they traveled the Netherlands. ~ From my review)
Good point on if the author got the facts of a place wrong. I once took two of my characters to a real-life restaurant in Charleston for a dinner date. They were wearing concert attire due to their later plans, and a bicycle rickshaw dropped them off at the door. Unfortunately, these 2 details irritated an Amazon reviewer who felt that the rickshaw driver would drop them off at the corner and the concert clothes would be too casual.
Thanks for the additional reading suggestions!
Sounds great! I’ll have to check those out!
I agree! There’s a balance between effective description to allow the reader to see the surroundings and enhance the story vs. slowing down the action to stop and describe the room, etc. Tricky balance!
I so agree!
Oh how wonderful! I can feel how much you love it. I’ll have to check it out too!
I have really enjoyed reading the Chesapeake Shores series because of the setting. I can really visualize the buildings, town and people. I now want to start reading your Pawleys Island Paradise series.
The Chapel Cove series brings Oregon to life for me, along with Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor series. The Tales of the Grace Chapel Inn make me wish I could go stay at that B & B, and I’ve love to go to Deep Haven that Susan May Warren writes about!!!
The Chesapeake area is gorgeous!
Oh, they all sound wonderful!
My favorite inspirational setting would probably be Dry Creek. I feel like I have practically lived there myself.
And where is that? Fictional or real?
Every time I read one of Valerie Comer’s Urban Farm Fresh books, I immediately want to visit that area! It’s not a part of the country I think of very often outside of reading her books.
Another book for my TBR list! Thank you.
I love Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor series. It is based on a seaside town in Oregon.
Laurie, I’m looking at the pictures and thinking that I NEED a vacation LOL – they are beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
Settings…hm…I’ve recently read an ARC book with the setting in Yellowstone-I’m still impressed how vividly the author portrayed the park!
Laurie Beautiful pictures and when I read I love feeling like I am at the place where the story was taking place I have read so many great books by so many wonderful Authors it is hard picking just one!
I love setting as a character. I get excited when I’ve actually visited someplace in a book (such as Murrell’s Inlet!) Charleston is one of my favorites, too.
Hello :)
Wow, I don’t think I’ve given it this much thought, but yes, setting as a character can definitely bring a book to life. I especially loved your picture-scene of the beach (I want to go there!). As for an example that I really liked, I’d go with The Marriage Bargain by Heidi Kimball. I don’t think it’s necessarily inspirational, but it’s sweet-clean, it’s Historical and it’s part of a series, which takes place in Brighton (yep, I also want to go there, lol).
I enjoyed reading A Friend (Sweetheart) in Paris by Jennie Goutet. The setting was an important part of the story for me. Your pictures are beautiful.
I love that you have such a rich way of writing your setting. I never thought about the setting being a character, but that is so true. I read alot of Regency romance and I love when an author describes the ballrooms.
Anne of Green Gables comes to mind. L.M. Montgomery makes you feel as if you are there with her characters. Seeing the setting and everything along the way. I LOVE feeling like I am there. Those are my favorite kind of books. Not overly detailed, but just the right amount to ‘feel’ immersed in it all. :)