HI, all! Jennifer here.
This month on the HSG blog, we’re talking travel and settings.
Settings in my romance books usually revolve around two places I love and know well: the Jersey shore and the Boston area.
I can’t help it. There is a certain amount of comfort level there. But maybe I’m too comfortable. Maybe I’m even in a bit of a –gasp—rut.
Well, my recent trip has totally inspired me to take my next book into a completely different location: MONTANA.
I just love that area. It’s so lovely and totally different from the fast-paced lifestyle of the east coast.
Here are a few tidbits I experienced there:
1) I traveled through two towns (about 20 miles apart) and still couldn’t find an ice cream parlor. (what the?)
2) It’s common to travel from town to town and have ZERO cell phone service. (scary)
3) There’s no sushi in or around Helena, the capital of Montana (hint, hint)
4) It was kind of hard to eat vegetarian. All I really wanted was a nice big salad. No. But plenty of hamburgers and steak and fried chicken (sigh)
5) There were a lot of biker bars (fun)
6) No chance of frizzy humidity hair head (booh-yah!)
Needless to say, I can really play these experiences up and have some fun with my heroine. It’s about time I take travel experiences and apply them to my writing.
What about you? If you’re a writer, have you been stuck in a setting rut? What setting are you dying to put your characters in?
Have you ever been to Montana?
**DON’T FORGET** The blog swag this month is a FREE digital copy of the winner’s choice from the new Decadent Tease Imprint courtesy of Clarissa Yip! Comment on any post in August to be entered to win.
About Jennifer Shirk
Jennifer Shirk is a USA Today bestselling sweet romance author for Montlake and Entangled Publishing who also happens to be a mom, pharmacist, Red Sox fan, P90x grad, and overall nice person. Check out her latest sweet romance: CATCH HIM IF YOU CAN
I so hear you on the whole fast-paced east coast bit! I love when you go to a new place and at surprised at the little things we take for granted, like all the ice cream parlors and sushi bars, but can’t find them there. I’m always surprised at the lack of deli’s and diners when I leave Long Island!
I’ve never been to Montana and it’s definitely on my list. I agree, sometimes we just have to take our characters to new places to keep them fresh – hmmm…where should I go next? 🙂
I’ve never been to Montana, but it sounds like a fun setting!
I love the sound of Montana – one day I will visit!
Like you, I tend to set a lot of my books in places I know well, often London. Except the sci-fi stories!