Lately I’ve been talking a lot about characters. While they
are pivotal to a good novel, there are other elements that can have a
significant impact as well. When your
story takes place can be important. If you’re telling a tale about the era
surrounding the Civil War, sharp readers will know if you’ve done your research
or not. So many little details can trip you up if you’re not careful.
For me, the location is also an important aspect. Most of my stories take place in the area
around metropolitan Detroit, which encompasses three large counties, with
everything from slums to multi-million dollar estates. With over 4 million people in this area, that’s
a lot of potential conflicts, culture and stories to share.
One of the things I like to do with my writing is to include
landmarks that people visiting the area or living there are likely to
recognize. I’ve used Comerica Park,
where the Detroit Tigers play, Belle Isle, where Indy cars and hydroplanes
race, along with restaurants, bars and concert venues that really exist, like
the Elwood Bar and Grille.
In some situations, I’ve
changed the names of a place or two.
While Sharkey’s doesn’t really exist, it is based on a couple of
establishments on the edge of Lake St. Clair. Other authors do this as well.
John Lescroart frequently refers to a bar called “Lou the Greek’s” near the
courthouse in San Francisco. It sounds like a memorable place, but it’s just
crafted from his imagination.
I’ve heard from more than a few readers who have identified
places and cities where the stories take them.
One fan was listening to the audio version “Why 319?” when the story
takes Chene to a restaurant in Royal Oak to meet Simone for dinner. The fan happened to be driving right through
the city at that moment.
Timing is everything.
So the location, the ‘where it’s
at’, is an important part of my stories.
You may search some out in person or on the Internet to discover what’s
real and what’s imaginary. Discovery is part of the fun.
Here’s an example of the location. In this excerpt from “Devious” Jamie takes Malone
out for a meal at one of her favorite restaurants.
My taste buds were
screaming for bagels and lox, or hot pastrami with crunchy dill pickles, so I
took Malone to my favorite delicatessen. He eyed me suspiciously when we parked
the car, but I refused to let him drive somewhere else.
“I’ve seen trucks
bigger than this place,” Malone grumbled.
“No derogatory
remarks until you’ve tasted the food. By keeping the exterior grungy, it keeps
the prices down.”
“Great. You save
money. I get food poisoning from Gertie’s discount house of botulism.”
I elbowed his ribs
and marched inside. A heavyset woman with sparse white hair was behind the
counter, beefy hands deftly wrapping a sandwich in thick waxed paper.
“Jamie! How come you
stay away so long?”
“Hey, Toots. Meet
Malone.”
She stepped out and
gave me a fierce hug and pumped Malone’s hand vigorously. “Always glad to see
friends of Jamie’s. I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starved.” I noticed
Malone massaging his hand, trying to restore the circulation. “What’s fresh?”
“Everything!”
I caught Malone’s
eye. “Do you trust me?”
“Mostly.” There was
a hint of uncertainty in his voice. The rat was using my own expression against
me.
“Be that way.”
He shrugged and
moved down the counter to one of the high backed wooden stools. Toots wiped her
hands on a fresh towel and beamed at me expectantly.
“Pastramis on rye
with Swiss cheese and hot mustard, a couple of old dills and two Cokes.”
Toots shook her
head. “The pastrami’s gone. No more until Monday.”
My mind whirled as
my stomach groaned in disappointment. “Onion bagels with cream cheese and lox,
capers and tomatoes on the side, coffee, black.”
Another shake of the
thin white hair. “No lox.”
“You said everything
was fresh!”
Toots grinned,
revealing her mail order dentures. “Fresh out of lox, fresh out of pastrami,
fresh out of ham.”
I puffed a breath in
desperation. “What do you have?”
“Lean corned beef on
onion rolls with Munster. Roast beef with horseradish sauce on French. Smoked
turkey with Monterey Jack and Bermuda onions on pumpernickel. Potato salad and
new dills.” Toots spread her enormous hands and shrugged in a form of apology.
“It’s been quite a week, and a very busy Friday. Who can predict these things?”
I sighed. “Roast beef,
twice with Cokes.”
Toots smothered me
briefly in another hug and disappeared beyond the counter. I wandered down to
join Malone. He was giving the place a critical inspection. There are no tables
at Toot’s, only twelve wooden stools beside the old Formica counter. Another
counter runs along the window facing the street, but there’s no room for chairs
or any more stools. During the week it’s not uncommon to see executives in
designer suits standing beside deliverymen at the window while they scarf down Toot’s
fare. She decides what goes on each sandwich. Substitutions are forbidden. If
you don’t like turning over the controls to your meals, eat somewhere else.
“Where did you find
this place?” Malone asked.
“I took a blood oath
never to reveal the source.”
He was about to
comment when Toots emerged from the kitchen and laid two heavy platters before
us. I can barely hold half of one of her sandwiches in both hands, so I knew
Malone would not go hungry. He offered Toots a thin smile and she scooted away
to take care of someone else.
“What is this?”
Malone tentatively prodded his sandwich with a finger.
“It’s food. Shut up
and eat.”
He was trying hard not to laugh as he lifted a corner and took a big
bite. That was all the encouragement he needed.
Here are some links where you can find "Devious"
https://books.apple.com/us/book/devious/id1059428211
Music this week comes from the great Al Green.
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