It’s been awhile, but I’m back this week. I’ve had a lot going on with book releases and two new books in the works for Spring 2015. So here’s the question for the week:
How do you choose the setting for your book? Does where you live influence you?
In my Felony Romance Series, the stories center around an underground nightclub. Back in my younger days, I hit the club circuit on a nightly basis. I’ve borrowed bits and pieces from the places I visited and incorporated them into Felony Bar. Believe it or not, there are underground clubs everywhere, even in the most obscure cities.
Felony is based on a real basement bar in Chicago. I liked the dark, gritty feel of the place. Once you went down the stairs, it was like entering another world. Another location of inspiration was a bar in Fort Wayne where several clubs were joined by a common area. There were girls dancing behind screens and in cages. It was all very wild and so much fun. The final place I used is located in Indianapolis and is steeped in history. I love the way that bar winds around, with cubbies and alcoves, and it’s ties to gangsters from The Roaring Twenties. Take all those places, roll them into one, and you’ve got Felony Bar!
My hometown hasn’t played much part in my novels yet. I live in a tiny town with a saloon, no stoplights, and there is a church for every forty people. Church bells ring in the afternoons. The shops close at noon on Wednesdays. Everyone knows everyone. It’s a sweet place untouched by the hustle and bustle of city life. I hope to write something in the future about my little village. It might be small but it has secrets to tell!
Thanks for dropping by. Please be sure to drop by the next stop on our tour, J.j. Devine, my friend and a wonderful author. See you next week!
Sarah Hegger
Obviously time well spend in those clubs
Raine Balkera
I live in a 60’s subdivision with zero personality, ugly ranch houses that all look the same, but with an ever-changing assortment of neighbors. It is also decaying both figuratively and literally. Maybe in another 40 years it will become a place where novel-writing begs to be done, but not now 😀 Can’t remember the last time I was inside a bar or nightclub, but it’s great that you used those places as settings. Thanks for sharing!
Beth Carter
Haha. Little did you know you were doing research in those clubs!! I spent time in clubs when I was single, too. Fun times. You novel sounds fascinating.