Setting, Setting, Setting….
So, I was thinking about what to write and tried to come up with what’s different about my latest release THORN’S KISS that makes it stand out among other werewolf tales and the one thing that stood out most (well, besides strong, sexy characters) was the setting! I looked around for a city with enough character to set the tone. At first I thought New Orleans. But no, it’s overdone. Then I thought Seattle…too wet. What about New York…too big, same with Chicago and Miama. What had a really hot, sticky feel to go with 
my hot, sexy characters with enough histoyr and darkness to pull off a werewolf story?
I closed my eyes and took a mental walking tour of all the cities I’d been in and my visit to Memphis kept coming back. I know, I did the normal groupie thing and toured Elvis’ mansion–what a hoot! But I drove through the city at night and passed by the jazz clubs on Beale Street and thought, wow, this could be a really fun and creepy place.
That’s how I chose Memphis, TN for the setting for Thorn’s Kiss and its prequel, Shewolf. It’s a terrific river town with old mansions and the flavor of jazz on Beale Street–you can hear the music if you close your eyes. My werewolves even have their own nightclub where they can hang out with others of their kind called Three Dog Nightclub. Turn the lights down, throw in a creepy villain trying to kill the heroine and you have a match made in Memphis! And who knows, maybe they’ll even see Elvis! (just kidding).
What settings stand out most in your mind? Cities? Small towns? Foreign locations? Where would you like to see a story placed?
I liked what JSL said about the characters making the setting. I have to agree. If I like the characters the setting could be anywhere. I guess it’s hard to have a setting everyone recognizes since it’s already been done. I’m not much help lol.
