My special guest today is Ellora’s Cave author, Wylie Kinson. Wylie has a new release out today called Law of Averages. Her book has a gorgeous cover, as you can see, and features an English Rock Star. Here’s the blurb:
Megan Frost, an up-and-coming restaurateur, knows everything there is to know about the culinary arts, but when it comes to pop culture, she’s been living under a rock. During a vacation to the sunny island of Bermuda, the yummiest dish she’s ever laid eyes on rolls that rock right off her.
British musician Gabriel Law, the famous Dark Angel of Rock, regrets putting his songwriting on the back burner. Tired and creatively simmered out, he retreats to the peace and solitude of Bermuda in order to cook up some original sounds for his new album. But when he finds a naked woman in his holiday cottage, he happily exchanges solitude for a sizzling duet.
The ingredients for a sexy, scorching relationship are in place, but the mix isn’t complete without a romantic legend, a mysterious taxi driver and a surprise symbol of destiny from the aquamarine sea…
Law of Averages is set in Bermuda, and today Wylie is talking about setting stories in exotic locations.
My novel, Law of Averages, is set on the semi-tropical island of Bermuda so I tried to spice the story up with some local flavour – hibiscus flowers, pink sand beaches, and mopeds. Using Bermuda was a no-brainer for me because though I’m currently sitting in Canada watching my spring tulips bloom, I spent seventeen warm wonderful years on the island.
That’s not to say all my books will be set there… Oh no! I intend taking my characters, and readers, all over the world.
I love to travel, even if it’s only vicariously through the adventures of the heroes and heroines in the books I read. I’ve been all over the world: British occupied India in 1857 (The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran), 1930’s Japan (Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden), 15th century Florence (Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant), and Cape Breton Island, Canada (Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald). These authors did an amazing job of transporting me to times and places with their descriptive imagery. I was seeing, smelling and tasting worlds I could never personally experience.
I understand that an author can’t always visit the places her characters go, and I’m all for creative license, but a little research and a few authentic details can make the flavour of your book much richer. Here are a few tips on achieving just that…
Resources
The web, of course, will offer the easiest and quickest source of information. Wikipedia is a good place to start for a general overview, geography and a crash-course in history.
Most major tourist destinations will have some sort of department of tourism or tourism authority with a website. From there, you’ll be able to find links to cultural, activities, hotels, shopping, and sometimes, depending on the location, a brief historical overview.
If you’re looking for specific information, try calling the tourism authority directly, or if that fails, pick a hotel and call the concierge or guest services desk, or a museum or library in that area. Explain your situation — you’re a writer looking for information on XYZ (they are often very busy, so you may have to ask for a convenient, quiet time to call back). Speaking from experience, these people LOVE to talk about what they know best - their locale, their home, their area of expertise. Exchange emails if you can. You may have made a new best friend ;)
If you’re like me, you belong to too many writers loops to count. Use them. A call to action asking if anyone in loop-land has either visited or lived in the destination you want to write about. First hand experience is invaluable.
Books! Check out your local bookstore or library for a copy of Lonely Planet or Fodor’s. They are a wealth of information, from climate to local customs.
Geography
Find out how long a flight takes to Rome or Bora Bora and let your heroine’s TSTL moment come as a result of jetlag. This is a small detail, but if the place you’re writing about isn’t well-known, it helps the reader get a sense of where in the world you are. Mentioning a plane change in London before the 10 hour leg to the Seychelles will give your reader something to cling to. A sense that you’re character is far from anything that resembles home.
Climate/Landscape:
You can find climate data, average temps for different times of year etc, on the web. Use your hero/heroine’s wardrobe choices to convey the environment.
Setting
Unless you’ve actually visited a place and can describe it in intimate detail, a good mix of generic and imagination is your best bet.
Take Bermuda for example ~ They don’t have a Hilton or Marriott so I would visit a few hotel or guest house websites, get a feel for what they look and feel like, then come up with a hybrid of my own. Use local architecture to boost the imagery of the locale - for instance, the pastel colored homes with white roofs would describe Bermuda, while terra cotta tiles would immediately bring Italy to mind.
Culture
This is a tough one to fake, so unless you’ve experienced it, stay away from too much detail. Food is a simple tool that manages to capture the essence of a place, so look up some recipes and go from there. Who can’t relate to food?
Distinguishing Features
Most places have a few distinguishing features. Bermuda has the mythical triangle, Bermuda shorts and pink sand.
If I say volcanoes, colourful flowers and luau, you think Hawaii, right?
That was too easy…
The Spanish Steps, seven hills, Trevi Fountain…
If you just got a craving for pizza, your mind was on Rome.
How about Indian Ocean, flattest country in the world, lagoons?
Full points if you got the Maldives!
Find out what unique offerings your locale has to offer and work them into the story. I leave you with a few websites, good examples of what to look for when doing your research:
http://www.seychelles.travel/en/home/index.php
http://www.visitmaldives.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5375.htm
Happy writing,
Wylie
Good advice, Wylie!
I’m dropping by to say I’ve been lucky enough to read Law of Averages and it rocks. This one’s a don’t miss!
by Susan Helene Gottfried May 16th, 2008 at 4:46 amThanks for dropping by Susan, and your kind words!!
by Wylie Kinson May 16th, 2008 at 6:01 amCongrats on release day Wylie. I’ve read it too, and it rocks the house. I loved it. And yes you transported me quite well to Bermuda.
Many Hugs. :)
by Amy Ruttan May 16th, 2008 at 7:28 amHi Shelley! HUGS!!
Hi Wylie, and CONGRATULATIONS on release day, woot woot woot! THIS BOOK ROCKS, yes!! This is the third person saying it, because seriously, it ROCKS big time. I can already see those amazing reviews you will get, Wylie.
I absolutely adore, adore, adore this book. YAY on release day!
by Red May 16th, 2008 at 8:08 am(my first post was eaten - hope this isn’t a duplicate)
hello shelly - i’ve wanted to visit your country every since the LOTR movies showed the world how gorgeous it is!
hello wylie - congratulations and i hear you on searching out facts to lend authenticity to farflung stories. my second wip has arctic, antarctic, south seas and rainforest settings, so i had to immerse myself in research - which was fun but gave me itchy feet!
i’m familiar with all the books you mentioned but dunant’s - i should go look for that
by Maya May 16th, 2008 at 8:11 amHi Maya - thanks for joining me in NZ. Your wip featuring the arctic, antarctic, and rainforest has me as curious as a cat. The research must have been fascinating.
Another tip, that I picked up recently from blogger Leah Bramael, is to go onto Google Earth to get a good feel for the landscape of an area.
And definitely check out Sarah Dunant. She’s an amazing, award winning author that has awe-worthy ability for writing historical fiction you would swear she lived it.
by Wylie Kinson May 16th, 2008 at 10:14 amAmy, Red — thanks for the book-love
by Wylie Kinson May 16th, 2008 at 10:15 amCongrats on release day!
by Estella May 16th, 2008 at 12:50 pmCongrats on the new release, Wylie. I’m looking forward to reading it, and will trot off to the EC shop later tonight. I won’t get anything done if I give in and buy it now.
Question: How long do you typically spend on doing your research, if you’re setting the book in an unfamiliar setting?
by Shelley Munro May 16th, 2008 at 2:33 pmMaya - The LOTRs movies really did showcase our beautiful setting. It really IS that pretty too. As much as I love to travel I love living in New Zealand.
Wylie - have you thawed out yet? It’s going to be a beautiful day but it’s freezing at the moment. Maybe you’d like to hit the beach later? What would you like to see?
by Shelley Munro May 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pmHey Wylie,
by Jane May 16th, 2008 at 2:41 pmYour book sounds delicious, I can’t wait to read it. Congrats on the release.
It’s a wonderful and fun premise!
I love themes like that…they have the potential to be the most fun.
I’m going to have to put that on my TBR pile..close to the top.
by Michele May 16th, 2008 at 2:59 pmWhy Bermuda when NZ is SO exotic in and of itself?
Estella - thanks for stopping by!
Shelley — to answer your question on how much time, personally? WAY TOO MUCH! In fact, I sometimes get very bogged down with all the detail, but I very recently learned an invaluable lesson.
Do your research AFTER you write the story. Once that first draft is done, go back and add the setting details later.
by Wylie Kinson May 16th, 2008 at 5:47 pmThis is assuming you’re not relying on locale to create plot points, but as flavor, atmosphere.
Jane - your kind comments are very much appreciated. I hope you enjoy the book :)
Michele - I certainly set out to make Law of Averages fun. And sexy ;)
As for NZ - I’d LOVE to set a book there, but Shelley’s Summer in the City of Sails would be too daunting a comparison!
by Wylie Kinson May 16th, 2008 at 5:52 pmShelley - thanks so much for letting me visit you in New Zealand today. I had a blast and hope to get there fo’real someday.
by Wylie Kinson May 16th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Definitely sounds like a great book. I love travel and experiencing new, exotic locals. I love to immerse myself in another culture and fully experience it.
by Michelle B. May 16th, 2008 at 6:02 pmHi Michelle B. — I completely agree.
by Wylie Kinson May 17th, 2008 at 8:28 amBut with two small children, I’m stuck on the theme park / family friendly circuit for awhile, so I’ll have to travel vicariously through books.
I can’t wait to read this, Wylie!!
I’ll be doing a Thursday Thirteen review of ‘Law of Averages’ in three weeks, on June 5th.
by julia May 17th, 2008 at 8:50 amGreat tip, Wylie - to do your research for specific points after the fact. I know how easy it is to get caught up in the research angle, which is why I was curious.
Julia - I really enjoy your TT reviews. I look forward to reading about Law of Averages.
by Shelley Munro May 17th, 2008 at 1:05 pmHi Wylie, I just read my first Wylie Kinson book - Destiny by Design. I had so much fun. Writers never cease to amaze me with their talent. I hope to start on Law of Averages very soon. I did peek ahead so I can enter the contest!
by Kristy May 17th, 2008 at 2:20 pmGreat blog, ladies:)
by Sandra May 17th, 2008 at 5:48 pmJulia - I’m putting JUNE 5th on my calendar! :)
Kristy - Thanks — and I can almost guarantee that Law of Averages is better. I learned a lot about writing in the year between those books.
by Wylie Kinson May 18th, 2008 at 6:16 amSandra - thanks for stopping by. I hope you found something of interest in my post :)
by Wylie Kinson May 18th, 2008 at 6:17 amThis is extremely helpful. I always feel I have to stick to settings I know. I think I’ll be more adventurous…in my imagination.
by writier reading May 18th, 2008 at 9:11 amI have to know, Wylie. Is your hero based on Jude Law?
by Debra Glass May 20th, 2008 at 12:09 pmLOL Debra!! No… but Jude does get a mention ;)
Writier reading — YES!! Be adventurous. Your readers will appreciate being swept away to exotic locations :)
by Wylie Kinson May 20th, 2008 at 9:40 pm