Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Sweet Savannah

Savannah is my Southern hometown. Okay, I'm not from Savannah, but we have close friends that live down here (and Dom went to high school nearby), so it always feels like home when we visit.

Plus, the really super cool thing is that Beauty Secrets' setting takes place in Beaufort, South Carolina, which is about 30 minutes from Savannah. It's been three years since I've been down here, but even I'm amazed at how accurate I remembered everything for my novel. I love it. The inspiration is so strong.
Today, while Dom and his friend Carey golf, I'm tacking advantage of the silence to read/edit Beauty Secrets for a couple hours. There's something magical about editing a novel while being surrounded by your setting. You can't beat it.
What about you, my friends? Do you live/or have you lived in your novels' settings? (If you write fantasy, that might be kinda hard...just sayin') OR have you taken a special vacation just to get a feel for the locale? If so, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

(P.S. These pics are a few that I took this morning while walking around downtown.)

10 comments:

Joshua McCune said...

Wasn't that where Midnight in The Garden of Good and Evil took place? Seems like a great place for American History and Romance buffs.

My settings are normally removed from reality, but were I enamored w/ a locale, I think I'd try to incorporate it in some sort of fashion.

Stephanie Damore said...

Yep Bane, you got it (on all accounts). Savannah is also home of the to-go cup. Not quite finished with your beer at the pub? Take it with you! How convenient.

However, I think one of the coolest things about the city is the locales. They're an eclectic bunch that are always up for conversation. It's always a good time on River St.

Voidwalker said...

Well here' the settings for my major WIP's. Safe to say, I've avoided them.

1. Insane Asylum

2. Spirit World

3. Garden of Eden & the Dark Ages

Shannon O'Donnell said...

So far I've made up all my settings, but I'm sure I'll get around to using one I know and love eventually. :)

Matthew Delman said...

Both novels are set in fantasy worlds, but the settings are heavily influenced by reality.

I have however been itching to set a story in nearby Salem for the longest time. Not involving witches, mind you, but just set there because of the vast inspiration I get walking through the city.

Stephanie Damore said...

Void--Good call. You don't want to go crazy, off yourself, or go back to the dark ages.

Shannon--You make up the towns? Or do you write fantasy, too? Just curious.

Matt--Some cities just ooze with inspiration. I wish I had more money so I could visit them all. Thank goodness for the internet and its research capabilities. Although, there's nothing like experiencing a city firsthand.

Voidwalker said...

I dunno, hanging in the dark ages could be pretty fun, but it might be a bit dangerous lol.

Stephanie said...

Fantastic pics!!!!! I don't get down south nearly as often as I'd like!

A Bitch Named Karma is set in NYC and unfortunately I have only been there once. (The really sad part is that I live in NY state...7 hour drive.)
Another story is based in Cancun (which I've never been too, but have visited other tropical locations). I have one based in a small town about a half hour away form where I live...another based in a fictional town similar to where I live.

Diana Paz said...

What inspiring pictures. I've never been to Savannah but now I want to!

My stories start out in places I've lived, but being fantasy stories they tend to end up in places that don't technically exist... it does seem magical to be in the same place where your novel takes place. Enjoy it!

Stephanie Thornton said...

I wish I could write a novel in Alaska, but I don't think the ancient Egyptians would appreciate it.

Savannah looks beautiful- reminds me of New Orleans pre-Katrina.

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