tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post5264901937137572826..comments2024-03-29T08:58:04.483-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: The Place is the ThingJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-2430343483789049122012-10-14T08:12:20.499-04:002012-10-14T08:12:20.499-04:00Thanks, Polly!Thanks, Polly!Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-5376245776860822822012-10-14T08:11:55.036-04:002012-10-14T08:11:55.036-04:00I love the Linda Barnes stories that are set in Ca...I love the Linda Barnes stories that are set in Cambridge and Boston because I can recognize most of the landmarks, Warren.Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-16274435385969345222012-10-14T08:10:23.056-04:002012-10-14T08:10:23.056-04:00Kate, it is a great place to live. We moved this s...Kate, it is a great place to live. We moved this summer to an equally interesting place with a different array of colorful characters. I'm seized with the idea of writing a historical mystery series - our little house was built in 1880 for the millworkers who worked in the mills down the street.Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-3774394745108983252012-10-14T08:07:58.265-04:002012-10-14T08:07:58.265-04:00Thanks, Gloria! I agree that a map is a good idea ...Thanks, Gloria! I agree that a map is a good idea to keep track of everything.Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-42520089909048376782012-10-14T08:06:43.378-04:002012-10-14T08:06:43.378-04:00I think there are many ways to go when we write ab...I think there are many ways to go when we write about place. Jim, inventing a church in a real place sounds perfect. Can't wait to read the book!Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-53953012473814972922012-10-13T18:34:29.389-04:002012-10-13T18:34:29.389-04:00I come from near Ipswich, and it's one of my f...I come from near Ipswich, and it's one of my favorite places in the whole world. Every time I go "home," I make sure I eat seafood in that area and enjoy the scenery. I agree that killing someone in a real place might not be a good idea. In one of my books yet to be released, I have a painting show up in a famous museum in the outskirts of Boston. I described the real museum, but I changed the name because the painting was done by my bad guy. Using real places can be tricky. Your choice to change the name of the town was a wise one, in my opinion. Best of luck with the book, Edith.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-42345029555837211772012-10-13T17:08:55.152-04:002012-10-13T17:08:55.152-04:00I agree that it is fun to compare my memories with...I agree that it is fun to compare my memories with what an author writes about an actual place. Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-29381755467410016322012-10-13T12:32:42.714-04:002012-10-13T12:32:42.714-04:00Ipswich sounds like a great place to live with its...Ipswich sounds like a great place to live with its colorful characters and interesting landmarks, Edith.<br /><br />I enjoy reading stories set in real places that I have visited or lived and compare my memories with the author's descriptions. It's also fun to read about new places in a book then explore the area. But I understand the need to fictionalize parts or all of a setting and it wouldn't keep me from reading a good story.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-21666339338628840852012-10-13T09:19:12.784-04:002012-10-13T09:19:12.784-04:00Edith, I'm reading your book right now - well,...Edith, I'm reading your book right now - well, not this minute, but it is my bedside book. I'm enjoying it very much and it's nice seeing the actual bridge in Iswich. It's good having you visit us today.<br /><br />My setting for my series is a fictional town in a real area so I refer to actual places in real towns that are around where my town is located. I've enjoyed creating a town in my imagination and have a map drawn of it so as I add new characters, I also add their homes or places of business.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-34557558477377834952012-10-13T06:22:40.160-04:002012-10-13T06:22:40.160-04:00My preference is for actual named cities or towns....My preference is for actual named cities or towns. It's fun to either know the area or later explore it and be acquainted to the references. That said, I'm perfectly happy to allow the author to augment reality with additional businesses, addresses that don't exist, etc. either to protect the innocent, guilty or for the sake of the story.<br /><br />If I am only writing something favorable about a real business, I'll use their name and locate them properly. If the mention is not favorable, I'll make up a new business and perhaps relocate it so the cognoscenti understand I am not talking about a real business.<br /><br />For example, in my WIP, <i>Cabin Fever</i> I have the bad guy belong to a church in Crystal Falls, MI. There are no Presbyterian churches in town, so I added one, rather than having the miscreant attend one of the actual churches.<br /><br />My experience with beta readers is that those who know the locale are delighted in actual references. I haven't killed anyone in an actual business yet, but I might--just to help them drum up business -- everyone's a voyeur after all :)<br /><br />You've raised an interesting question, and I'm going to be interested in what others think. I may need to reconsider my position.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com