I’m currently working on the rough draft of my next American Romance novel set in Hope, Montana. Writing one book in a particular setting isn’t too hard. The second also isn’t much of a challenge, but by the time I get to the third, I’m going to be glad I did this map!
First of all, certain locations are going to be needed repeatedly, like food stores, the ice cream shop, the police station… And if you have these places hopping around, being across from the bank in one book and on the edge of town in another, things start to fall apart pretty quickly. This map might not be fancy, but it’s going to be a lifesaver!
I also have a collection of Hope, Montana facts that I keep adding to. It’s important to know not only where things are, but who owns what shop and their histories. Townspeople make a place more real, and if I can revisit certain characters, it’ll just be fun! But this author needs to have it all written down for a quick refresher.
And that’s what I’m up to! Writing. Mapping. It’s a great life!
Is there a real place called “Hope,” Montana? Or is a fictional place?
It’s fictional. 🙂
Also please put the map in the novels. It is so helpful to the readers to keep track of people and places. Way to go patty!!
Thanks! I don’t have any control over that part, unfortunately. I can only use it or my own purposes in writing.
I have read books with maps on the inside cover page and the different books let you know how the people progress around the town, I like staying connected to the family’s and happenings in the different books. The mysteries and the new people in town and how they fit in, sometimes you have to read 5 or more books to get the mystery solved. Some of them involve the same author and others use a different author for each book to finally find out what happened. Interesting and exciting are important to keep the reader riveted on the subject they are involved in. I like exciting but not morbid. HE
I don’t like morbid, either. I like my fiction to make me feel better, not worse!
Thank you for staying a friend to me I enjoy your input. I like it that you are involved in church and have friends to inter act with, I see you as a very loving person with all your friends. I used to pray for a friend and now I have church friends and it is wonderful. to share and receive advice and scripture. Thanks.
Thank you, Helen! And I agree–church friends are great. 🙂