Glad to have you here today. :)

Setting is huge for me, probably because of my geography background, but setting is always a big decision for me in a book. I tend to go to smaller cities and coastal locations, though I do have my first "city" Blaze coming out next year, the Texas Ranger book which is set in NYC.

But mostly for me setting is not only atmosphere and history, it affects my characters -- they are who they are, how they talk, dress, act, etc much of the time because of where they come from, so attaching place to people is really key. I also like to get in little environmental details, real places, or facts and local knowledge about places I write about -- the one exception was Pick Me Up, which was in AZ, and I have never been to AZ. I have been to the desert in CA, and so I extrapolated from that and did research, but it was uncomfortable for me, not having been there. I usually have first hand knowledge of the places I write about.

I also was scratching my head at your editor's comment -- didn't she ever see Northern Exposure? or back in the 80s, the whole Alaskan wife thing? I think those kinds of settings are great, because they are unique.

Sam

Sam - You sound exactly like me! I really wince whenever I use places I haven't been personally. Because readers who are from there can "catch" you so easily if you make a boo boo.

My dh and I actually spent two full weeks in Alaska and got far beyond the usualy tourist routes... so eventually, I'm determined to do an Alaska book. Just don't know what it will be yet!

janice

Hi Janice,
Visiting from your post at Bookjunkys :) I think setting is extremely important. I actually live only 96 miles from Orlando and visit there very frequently. I love to read books set near me and you're right, locals do catch slip ups. But it's very cool to read a book set where you live. I read a book once set in the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary which is about 6 miles from me. I love the fact the author promoted this wonderful charity!! I had to go back and visit the Sanctuary again just because of the wonderful book1 It was great and they donated a portion of the proceeds to the Sanctuary too!! How great is that?

But anyway, I think the setting contributes greatly to the mood of the book. I enjoy reading about my home area but also about other areas as well. It's very neat to read about another city. I've often gone to visit cities because they sounded so interesting in a book. Ooooo, I would love for someone to set one in St Augustine, they could have ghosts & everything. That would be cool.

Well, thanks for the opportunity to weigh in on this!!!

Can't wait to read the new book!!
Becky
:)

So all my books are set in Southern California in either San Diego or fictional places also set here. To me, setting is more than the streets, but also the flavor of the air, the energy of the people and the speed in which they move. San Diego is great, but it moves at a completely different pace than NYC. (NYC is like watching SD on high-speed video, lol) In some ways, it's also a way of providing how characters think.

Floridians think nothing of bright colors, bare midriffs & deep tans. Put one in the middle of Colorado and she's gonna look weird and think folks are a tad bit off. I think setting creates a reality that grounds the characters and allows the readers to infer certain rules. If the heroine in Jamaica wants to go out on the town in a sarong, readers believe the reasoning just based on where she is. Perhaps that becomes true in other aspects of character decisions?

Hugs & welcome to Cigars, Janice!

Welcome to Cigars! Love the cover, BTW...very sexy!

I think location is critical, and I love reading details about settings. For example, Sam's anthology story, No Reservations takes place on Cape Cod, and her descriptions were so vivid that I could almost smell the salty air and hear the seagulls! Having been to the Cape numerous times, I can say she captured the essence of the area perfectly!

I have written stories that take place in spots I've never been to (Lemoore Naval Air Station, CA, and Xalapa, Mexico) but in both cases I did enormous amounts of research and actually contacted people who live there in order to get accurate details and impressions.

Your book sounds great, and having been to Orlando numerous times for both business and pleasure, it will be fun to read about the area as a backdrop for your characters!

Hey Janice!

This is my third attempt to post - I hope it goes through! I loved BAO - great characters and a creative, fun storyline. Plenty of heated passion and emotion, and secondary characters/romances that make the book complete!

Have a great 4th, everyone! Janice - enjoy the holiday and your company!

Janice--setting is very important to me. When I first started reading contemporary romance, I would chose them for the settings (crazy, eh?) Australia and Canada were two of my favorites. I also think Alaska is very romantic. I'm a sucker for the deep south, too.

I taught geography to high school students and so I am attuned to setting in books. Of course there are a lot of places I am not familiar with but if you set a book in a place I am familiar with (like Texas) you better have things correct or I may not enjoy your book.

I am not a huge stickler on settings. With great writing an author can take me wherever they want.

Thanks for visiting with us today and congratulations on the new release! As for setting - I think it's very important. Of course, it depends on how much the author incorporates the setting into the story/plot. I love when the book is set somewhere I've been and it mentions a place I've been to. Also - it adds a lot of character to the plot (if that makes sense) - like, DC is more straight laced and professional (in my mind) - other than, say Adam's Morgan or the Georgetown night life area... and South Beach is more relaxed... characters have to bundle up in the north with colder weather- little things can really add depth to a book. I love book settings and when the area really becomes a part of the story.

Janice,

I love the idea of a romance set in Alaska. There are some "real" men up there. I'm referring to the Ice Truckers since I've been watching that show off and on lately.

Sometimes the same locale can become boring if the author doesn't throw a new twist into a place that can be pinpointed. I'll mention that some of the Australian outback stories seem to be the same thing, over and over.

So, yes. Setting and vivid descriptions are important to my reading. A lush backdrop adds that extra spark.

Betty Hancock
The Love Of Romance
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LoveOfRomance@gmail.com
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I could go either way with settings--I have definitely enjoyed reading about some exotic ones (especially ones I'm not sure I'd have a chance to visit--the old West, Alaska, a desert kingdom, lush tropical islands...), but on the other hand, with a good story, the author can take me just about anywhere and I'd happily follow! :) So, I'm not sure what that says about me ;) It does seem like fun to travel as part of researching a location though, Janice! Are there places you'd still like to research? ;)

I think the setting contributes to the mood of the book. How the characters dress, and where they go.

I love your books - and love the cover of BAO. Would be thrilled to win a copy.

Re the question of settings, I do like descriptions - they do enhance the story. But if there is not much description of mention of settings, it does not bother me; the story and characters are what is important to me.

Happy 4th to all.

Hi Janice,
I think Alaska would be a great setting for a romance. "Men In Trees" is a great example. The setting is important and makes the book richer. I'm one of those that likes to read very detailed descriptions about the setting.

Hi, Janice. Great reading about your latest book.

The setting adds to the book. I love descriptions of where the book is set. I also enjoy when I know about the area where a story is set. Not it's not fluff to me. :)

I enjoy reading stories with a variety of different settings. In some stories the setting becomes a big part of the story and the author makes it come alive.

Hey, everybody! I kind of got ambushed midday when the second wave of company began arriving! It's been a hectic day, but fun. The only snafu was that we had decided to go to a restaurant we all like - a little place with homey touches... turns out they have gone out of business. Sigh... so we went to somewhere else, and thankfully, it was okay.

We're eating at my house for lunch tomorrow and dinner Saturday. Parade in the morning and then fireworks.

I've been very interested to read through these posts. It always stimulates my imagination to hear all the different points of view.

I'll go get one of my helpers to draw a name and post the winner in a few minutes. Thanks so much for hanging out here today... and thanks again to Sam and her crew for having me!

Janice M.

Drum roll please! I had my son-in-law draw a name out of a hat (literally), and the winner is "Estella"!

If you'll send me your snail mail address to jesm13@aol.com I'll mail your book on Monday.

Thanks again for all the great answers!

Janice M. :)

Setting is a big deal. It's like the background of a painting, and if it's not right, if it doesn't frame the main subject of your composition properly, then the whole thing will look off.

Oh, and the trailer is great! Congratulations on By Appointment Only!

J.K. Coi
Immortals To Die For
www.jkcoi.com

Hi Janice. By Appointment Only sounds great. I think the setting makes the book richer and deeper. Happy July 4th!

I think setting is important. To be truthfull a book set in Alaska probably wouldn't capture my interest unless it was from an author I love. I read Jill Shalvis' Out of this World and I liked it. The story certainly wouldn't have worked anywhere else in that case. Setting depends on the characters. If the characters fit the setting then it works.