Guest Post
Eudora Welty once said, “Every story would be another story, and unrecognizable if it took up its characters and plot and happened somewhere else… Fiction depends for its life in place.” And I couldn’t agree more! The setting of a story is absolutely crucial. Not only is it the place – the sights, sounds, and colors – all around the characters, but it is also an important tool for revealing character personalities. What situations amuse your character? How about frustrate? Is it a new place or is your character returning to a land seeped in personal history?
The decision of the setting for a novel is huge and boils down to three basic categories: a real world setting the author knows extremely well, a make-believe place the author creates or a real-life place the author is barely familiar with. Each different setting comes with its own process and complications, and the first three novels in my Midnight Fire Series display this perfectly!
The first book, Ignite, is set in Charleston, South Carolina – a place I know very well! For the first novel, I wanted to concentrate on creating wonderful characters and an intricate plot, I didn’t want to have to worry too much about researching a setting. So, I thought of a few different places where I have lived and in the end Charleston was the perfect choice. I love the city and its personality, but more importantly my characters could each form their own bonds with the place. For Kira, it is new, exciting and somewhat scary – just like her life now that she has discovered the truth about her past. For Tristan, the nostalgic city perfectly mirrors his own preoccupation with his former life – the city, like Tristan, is somewhat stuck in its history. And for Luke, the relaxed yet chivalrous vibe of the city goes perfectly with his own happy-go-lucky, protective demeanor.
In Simmer, the second book in the series, things change a bit: the setting is Sonnyville, a town I made up. Sonnyville represents Luke’s home, Kira’s new life and Tristan’s foreignness – and the setting allowed me to explore many complications and themes I introduced in the first book. Though it took a lot of brainstorming and prior planning, I truly enjoyed creating my own civilization. The greatest challenge to creating a make-believe town is ensuring that there are no loopholes. Sonnyville had to fit into the real world despite being separated from it and I needed to make it come alive for readers – a feat I hope I accomplished.
Finally, in Blaze, the third book, we’re headed to Europe – a place I don’t know very well but want my characters to visit. What does this mean to me, the writer? Research! Unlike the first two locations, I am heavily researching the towns I want Kira to visit and the history I want her to learn.
So there you have it: three books, three different settings and three different processes! I hope you check out my books -- let me know if you like the different settings I chose and places I created!
Some food for thought: what is your favorite fictional setting? Some of mine are the worlds of Graceling and The Mortal Instruments!
The decision of the setting for a novel is huge and boils down to three basic categories: a real world setting the author knows extremely well, a make-believe place the author creates or a real-life place the author is barely familiar with. Each different setting comes with its own process and complications, and the first three novels in my Midnight Fire Series display this perfectly!
The first book, Ignite, is set in Charleston, South Carolina – a place I know very well! For the first novel, I wanted to concentrate on creating wonderful characters and an intricate plot, I didn’t want to have to worry too much about researching a setting. So, I thought of a few different places where I have lived and in the end Charleston was the perfect choice. I love the city and its personality, but more importantly my characters could each form their own bonds with the place. For Kira, it is new, exciting and somewhat scary – just like her life now that she has discovered the truth about her past. For Tristan, the nostalgic city perfectly mirrors his own preoccupation with his former life – the city, like Tristan, is somewhat stuck in its history. And for Luke, the relaxed yet chivalrous vibe of the city goes perfectly with his own happy-go-lucky, protective demeanor.
In Simmer, the second book in the series, things change a bit: the setting is Sonnyville, a town I made up. Sonnyville represents Luke’s home, Kira’s new life and Tristan’s foreignness – and the setting allowed me to explore many complications and themes I introduced in the first book. Though it took a lot of brainstorming and prior planning, I truly enjoyed creating my own civilization. The greatest challenge to creating a make-believe town is ensuring that there are no loopholes. Sonnyville had to fit into the real world despite being separated from it and I needed to make it come alive for readers – a feat I hope I accomplished.
Finally, in Blaze, the third book, we’re headed to Europe – a place I don’t know very well but want my characters to visit. What does this mean to me, the writer? Research! Unlike the first two locations, I am heavily researching the towns I want Kira to visit and the history I want her to learn.
So there you have it: three books, three different settings and three different processes! I hope you check out my books -- let me know if you like the different settings I chose and places I created!
Some food for thought: what is your favorite fictional setting? Some of mine are the worlds of Graceling and The Mortal Instruments!
About the BooksSimmer: Midnight Fire Series: Book Two
Slowly, like a whisper almost blown away in the wind, two words streaked across her mind: "Kiss me."
Kira may have survived the eclipse, but her troubles are far from over. She's headed to Sonnyville with one goal in mind: to learn more about her parents. But with Luke and Tristan competing for her heart and Diana gunning for her head, time is running out on the search for her mother. And the closer Kira gets to answers, the more terrified she becomes. The conduits fear her, the vampires fear her, and Kira is starting to wonder if maybe they're right...
Simmer eBook
Price: $0.99
Release: April 4, 2012
Buy Links: Kindle, Nook, Smashwords
Other Links: Goodreads
Ignite: Midnight Fire Series: Book OneWith one last look, one final search of the lines of his face for some sign, Kira turned and ran away from the sound of the man she loved laughing in the face of her death.
When Kira Dawson moves to South Carolina, she meets Luke, a blond goofball who quickly becomes her best friend, and Tristan, a mysterious bad boy who sends shivers down her spine. Kira knows they're keeping secrets, but when she discovers Tristan's lust for blood and her own dormant mystical powers, Kira is forced to fight for her life and make the heartbreaking decision between the familiar comfort of friendship and the fiery passion of love.
Ignite eBook
Price: $0.99
Release: October 9, 2011
Buy Links: Kindle, Nook, Smashwords
Other Links: Goodreads
About the AuthorKaitlyn Davis graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Writing Seminars. She's been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to finally share her work with the world. She currently lives in New York City and dreams of having a cockapoo puppy of her own.
Connect with Kaitlyn:
Blog
Goodreads
About the Blog Tour
Simmer blog tour site
and
Tribute Books Blog Tours
Thank you!!! Writing this guest post was awesome and I adore your blog! As a fellow city girl, I'm jealous of your blog design!
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn, thank you very much for your post and your compliment :) It was a pleasure being a part of your tour.
ReplyDelete-Victoria
Victoria, thanks for hosting Kaitlyn today. I love when an author combines real life settings along with towns of their own creation.
ReplyDelete