I write in layers. That means, my first draft is mainly dialogue, character thought, and emotion. Once I complete the book, I go back in and add setting, description, movement, body language, and timeline. I used to weave my setting and timeline in as I wrote the first draft. Until my editor asked if I could change my book from spring to Christmas. I’d already written the first draft and had about a month to change it to a Christmas story while it was hotter than blazes with Arkansas’ coma-inducing humidity in August. Since my books are mainly set in Texas Hill Country, I had to change spring wildflowers and bird chatter to sometimes warm, sometimes cold, but hardly ever any snow weather. On top of weaving in the usual stuff I save for last. I did it, but after that, I started saving my setting for last, in case of last-minute changes. Given the choice, my books are usually set in Fall or Spring, my two favorite seasons. If left up to me, there would be no Summer. Ever. I’m just not a fan of sweating for no reason.
I’m currently writing my first novella, for a collection with four other authors, and my second Christmas book. Yes, I’m finally writing. Christmas with a twist. The theme is Christmas on the Beach. In Arkansas, spring is upon us. We have nice days, then rain, then humidity rears its ugly head. My story is set in Surfside Beach, Texas where the average high is 66 with a low of 48. I’ve never been there. But we are planning to visit this spring on the way to see my husband’s family in Texas Hill Country. By the time the final editing stage begins, I’ll have visited my setting, so I can plump it up with first-hand experience. I chose the setting because it’s supposed to be the best shelling in Texas. I hope so, since I’ve never seen a seashell I could stand to leave behind and I need more for my office.
So lets talk setting. What’s your favorite and why? Beach, Ranch, City, Country, Smalltown, Lake, River, Coastal? Workplace, Hospital, School, Dude Ranch, Inn, or Bed & Breakfast? Something I didn’t list? How about season? Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas? What about small holidays like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, a main character’s birthday? Do you like event books set around a vacation, roadtrip, wedding, family reunion, high school reunion, college reunion, or
festival? Or something I haven’t thought of?
Share your favorite setting or season and why to get in the drawing. This post begins my fourth year at Inspy Romance. To celebrate, one winner will receive a print copy of my latest, A Texas Bond and one winner will receive a print copy of my two in one with Jill Lynn, Counting on the Cowboy & Her Texas Cowboy. Deadline: May 8th.
In the meantime, I did some sewing. This is the new comforter and curtain topper I made for our bedroom. I’ve only planned it for five years, but at least I finally got it done. But now, I don’t like the taupe curtains. It’s always something. And here’s my latest puzzle. It’s fitting since my Christmas beach novella is set in a Bed & Breakfast. This one will probably stay intact for inspiration until I complete the novella.
Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does. She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.
Looking at your lists, I’m realizing that I don’t really have a favorite in any category (!). I connect with engaging characters no matter where or when they are (although, I do prefer contemporary to historical). I’m not much for Amish settings (I think the culture is often not portrayed well).
So, for me, it’s the characters and the challenges that bring them together that tend to define a good context. The rest tends to be incidental for me.
Hey, Shannon! Just like Lincoln, I don’t really have a favourite setting. I notice it when it’s written well and woven into the story, but I’ve enjoyed stories set in all sorts of places and times. It’s always fun to read about somewhere outside my experience. And when a story is set somewhere I know well, I like to “compare notes.” :-)
Small towns is my favorite setting.
I really like fall as a setting because of the trees, pumpkins, and everything fallish.
I love a variety of settings and don’t really have a favorite. Your bedspread is so pretty. Have a blessed weekend.
I honestly don’t have a favorite setting! I will admit to not reading too many beachy books, though! I live not far from the beach, so beachy books aren’t nearly as appealing as other locations (though I don’t pick books based on location). I’m in Florida, and I’d much rather read about places where it snows, and is actually cool, and doesn’t have the humidity of FL!! I do like books with B & B’s, though! I’ve stayed in quite a few, and have enjoyed them. I like your puzzle! Now, if that was done by my Mom, she’d put a back on it, frame it, and hang it up!
Beach (which I haven’t written yet) and ranches are my favorite settings to read. But I couldn’t switch a book from spring to Christmas. The season and setting get too interwoven in my stories for that. There’d be very little left of the original story – it would be easier and way faster to write a new one than rejig one by that much!
Small town for sure!!
Hello Shannon I Love any setting in a good book and the season I love reading any season in a book! Thank you for the amazing giveaway. Blessing’s have a wonderful weekend!
Small towns in any season are my favorite.
I enjoy small towns in the Fall!
Good answer, Lincoln. I start my books with characters then fill in everything else. I agree on Historicals and Amish too. I’m a Contemporary gal.
I agree with your take on things too, Milla. I do love books where the setting is almost a character, but if the story is good, I don’t really care where it’s set.
I’m partial to small towns too, Kim. Maybe because I live in one :)
Fall is my very favorite season, Lori. No humidity, no snakes, no bugs. I love it. It’s the only time I enjoy being outside.
A variety of settings keeps things interesting. Some publishers, including mine, want authors to stick with a certain setting. So in some cases, a variety of authors stirs up settings. Thank you. I love it. My husband thinks it’s girly. But since our family room and kitchen is rustic, I told him I get to decorate the bedroom how I want.
That makes total sense, Trudy. To not be excited about books set where you live. I’ve said I love visiting the beach, but I wouldn’t want to live there because I’d never have a good hair day. As an ex-hairdresser, those are important. Everybody tells me I should frame my puzzles, but I like doing them again.
It wasn’t easy, Valerie. Especially since my book was set in Hill Country and it doesn’t snow there often. It did this year. I need to write a Texas book where it snows, since it does occasionally.
Do you live in a small town, Paula. I used to say they counted cows to get a population of 100 where I live. The new census says we have 400 now. I’m thinking they counted a lot of cows. It sure doesn’t seem like we have that many people here.
You sound like me, Sarah. If I like the story and the characters, I’ll read it :)
I agree, Jcp. Small towns are more close knit and the people are frienlier. Makes a nice place to set a story. All my books have small town in common. It may be a ranch or a beach, but they’re in small towns.
My favorite setting and season, Teresa. Sounds like a winner to me.
I like pretty much any setting but find it seasonal. Beach and coastal in Summer and Christmas in. December . Thank you kindly
I don’t know if I have a favorite setting to read about. One of the best parts of reading is getting to “see” all the new places without having to actually go anywhere. But I will say I probably connect more with small-town settings simply because it’s the way I grew up. Although I’m reaching the point where I’ll have lived in suburbs longer than a small town. Strange.
And I’m looking forward to reading your beach Christmas story. :-) And thrilled to be one of the other authors in that collection.
And yay for sewing, too. I’ve been sewing some the last few months, as well. It’s good for my muse.
I cannot get into Christmas in July, Kelley.
Hi, I love to read about different settings, I can read about different settings anytime of the year, I do love family sagas or books that have to do with families. I love them all, I love to read about families and how the book characters grow and even reading about different seasons in the same book, especially Christmas. Thank you for this wonderful post.Have a Great weekend and stay safe. God Bless you and your family.
One of my favorite movie lines,
Have you been to Persia?
Yes. Many times, along with Shagra Lai and Middle Earth.
It’s from Inkheart and she’s talking about going places through books.
I’m excited about our Christmas Beach collection too, Amy.
Sometimes I need to do something creative that has nothing to do with words. Jigsaw puzzles and sewing fit the bill.
And I thought the town where I grew up was small at 600. I, too, am pretty sure they counted cows ‘cuz Mr. Twitchell’s Barn was only 60 feet or so off of the main road through town. But it sounds like we were a metropolis compared to y’all. Come to think of it, we had two side streets, two churches (one Methodist, one Baptist), two schools, a diner and a gas station. So, please forgive me if it seems like I’m puttin’ on big city airs. It’s purely unintentional.
We have a cancer center that always keeps puzzles in their waiting rooms, so some of the ones we had that Mom didn’t want to do again (and then couldn’t do because of her age-related macular degeneration) were donated so that others could enjoy doing them.
Let’s a lot of questions lol
What’s your favorite and why? Truly, I enjoy them all – that’s what makes it interesting – different settings. You can never go wrong with the beach ;)
How about season? Any!
What about small holidays? Big holidays, small holidays – doesn’t matter :)
Do you like event books set around …? Yes!
I guess I’m an easy to please reader <3
I enjoy all settings as well as seasons. I am not sure I have a favorite. It is always wonderful as it is tied into the story. Thank you for sharing your time and talent. God bless you.
I am probably a bit like Lincoln too. I am not sure I have a favourite setting. (I don’t mind Amish although I know they show the nicer side where everything is peachy when I know children are disciplined in many families in a way we don’t agree with) I also like historical.
I do like the B&B setting. One Christmas book I read was set in one where most of the guests staying there wanted to not have to be at there home due to loss or being lonely and wanted to be somewhere they could relax more.
I like small town over big city, I love books set on islands, Some of the ones not done as much I loved were cruises, holiday/vacation locations (like Jamaica). Retreat for a hobby or different reasons or a tournament etc. Another favourite was set in a zoo.
I like reading Christmas cos its summer here and often hot and most are set where its colder. I like Spring and Summer but reading you can enjoy seasons like winter you don’t like cos American books have snow same with Autumn cos of the changing colours although for me I it means the end of the nicer weather.
Hi Alicia, good answer. Basically, I just love to read :)
I love easy to please readers, Natalya.
Hi Debra, same here. If it’s good, I’ll read it, no matter the setting or season. I have a Pinterest board for book inspiration. I once saw a picture there of a patriotic picnic. It inspired an Independence Day scene.
Hey Ausjenny. I love B & B books. My dream would be to own a flea market. My 2nd dream would be a B & B. I often live out things I’d like to do through my characters. I guess there probably aren’t many books set on a cruise. I’d have to go on one to write that, since I like to experience my settings. And you’d never get my husband on a boat, so I guess I won’t write one.
I read a wide range of books so I’ve visited a lot of settings, places & met lots of different people (characters)
I’d say a couple of my favorite settings are small coastal towns, probably because I live in one so I can relate to small town dynamics & coastal living. I also like ranch settings because I’ve recently read a lot of books set there. I like the hard-working cowboys, the country living and can appreciate the lifestyle. I’d really love to see more medical settings featuring heroes or heroines who are doctors, nurses, surgeons, CNA’s, etc.
How about more stories set in different countries? I’ve only really read books set in Regency time that take place mostly in London or the like. I’d love to explore foreign places in the pages of a book, it’d be like arm-chair traveling without the expense. I’d love to experience the culture too; scenery, food, entertainment, etc!
I’d say if a story is good…setting, season, events or celebrations…I’d enjoy them all!
Hey Trixi, in my teens I read lots of clean romance set in Australia. It was basically like traveling without going anywhere, so I totally get what you’re saying.
I enjoy many different settings. My favorites would be small towns and B&B’s. It seems there are many ways that authors can make those two different and exciting. I enjoy ready about many different holidays and events.
Good choices, Martha. My 1st 3 books were set in Arkansas where I live. My next series was set in Texas where my husband is from. I stumbled into a niche with TX cowboys. But all of my books are set in small towns.
I like mountains and small towns. I just love being in the mountains and don’t live anywhere close, so I escape to them in books. I enjoy the community and a quirky character or two in small towns. My favorite seasons are fall and spring. Here in MS we have a few days of each every year!
Mountains. I didn’t list those, Lisa. I’m live in a valley surrounded by mountains, so I never think of them. They’re just part of life and make my internet sketchy :) Sounds like Arkansas. We have fall. But we only get a few days of spring, then it’s just hot, humid summer.
I love summer but weather isn’t something I go by. I like country or small town. I love a young family type of story. I love it to be at the river or beach just even in the story at some point to make it fun. It helps when the weather isn’t nice out & your reading a summer, hot weather story.
Oh Amy, I wish I liked summer. But I totally detest it. I could easily be a snowbird. Live in the south in the winter and north in the summer. The only time I go out in the summer, willingly, is to get in the pool.
I have no preference for the setting. I read books with a whole range of settings. A great story is what catches my attention so maybe that’s why the setting isn’t so important to me. Love the comforter, I can see why you would want to change the taupe curtains. One step at a time. Thanks
Agreed, Dianne. Its all about the characters and story for me. There’s taupe in the flowery fabric. I thought it would pick up the shade better. I’m thinking cream or ivory. I have a fabric swatch in my purse.
Hi Shannon read a couple but they not so much romance books. With a cruise setting it could just be a work place that runs river cruises. Like the ones that go up a river for sightseeing and may stop of a couple places during the trip (Did one of these in Perth Western Australia it was about 3 hours). Done a few in Australia some offer a light snack or lunch or dinner, some will stop of at a place for morning or afternoon tea/snack. In Queensland I took the cruise to a wildlife park had a few hours at the park then we come back on the boat. Just a few ideas for a cruise that isn’t going far.
Here a flea market is called a Trash and Treasure market or a street market. and it would be fun. I know they have weekly ones in Hawaii but I couldn’t manage to get to one.
My friend use to run a B & B in Pemberton BC Canada and it was a lovely place. You can set them in so many places. The one I was mentioning was actually an Amish B&B. Oh as for holidays I think Christmas is a great one as I escape the heat. I know America have heaps with July 4th.
Do you have characters living in your mind who have not found a place in your books?
Trash and Treasure sums it up. The publishing company I acquire books for, is doing a romantic suspense book set on a cruise ship. It was a really good setting for that.
Yes. Lots of them, Joeanna. One heroine has been bothering since she appeared as a side character 5 books ago. I also have a large notebook full of ideas and characters. And then there’s my Pinterest board.
I write in layers too! I write my first draft with most of the same thing you’ve said and go back over my story about five or more times depending on the stories.
Yay, Abigail. Finally a writing twin. I’m a pantser. I so wish I was a plotter. My writing friends who are plotters, have awesome first drafts with very little that needs to be tweaked. But alas, if I plot too much, I lose my creativity.