tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post3478441789099790823..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: Moving a County Line for my Opening SceneLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-34582989816792440682010-07-02T15:25:21.454-04:002010-07-02T15:25:21.454-04:00In my Colordo based novel, it was neccessary to up...In my Colordo based novel, it was neccessary to upgrade Estes Park's Sheriff sub station to a fully operational facility, expand jurisdiction, and change the flow path of a creek. I think that's okay but I will confess in my acknowledgement. I will, however, do research and be accurate in diagnosing some psychological problems.David Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06608929264843157476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-91862787266672732562010-07-02T11:55:48.391-04:002010-07-02T11:55:48.391-04:00Hi Beth,
My novel is set in the middle of Washingt...Hi Beth,<br />My novel is set in the middle of Washington State along the mid-Columbia River. I had an advantage of living there for a year working on a contract so I was familiar with the area. However, when my co-author and I were finally picking "the spot" for our fictional dam, I was on Jim's sailboat a long way away from our location. So, I got online and fired up Google Earth and zoomed in. Found the perfect spot with the basalt cliffs we needed and a narrow area in the river for a dam. Emailed my old boss at the company I contracted to and confirmed it was a good spot for a dam. And off we went.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050664918486848101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-44914554086714852422010-07-01T18:21:35.349-04:002010-07-01T18:21:35.349-04:00As most comments have suggested, I plan to mention...As most comments have suggested, I plan to mention in the acknowledgements that I deliberately moved the county line. I'm glad to hear that Craig Johnson did something worse, moving a whole Indian reservation, because I do enjoy his books, and that move hasn't detracted from his tales one bit. <br /><br />Kathleen, where did you do your river guiding? I may use you as a resource in the future!<br /><br />Peg, I was just in Canon City today, rafting the Royal Gorge with my family and other friends. I'll post about that trip later on my personal blog. Now, we're off to a Whiskey and Beer tasting at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center!Beth Groundwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13999372882748655834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-8284311952949065492010-07-01T17:44:26.915-04:002010-07-01T17:44:26.915-04:00Fun to see the photo! I agree that the best way t...Fun to see the photo! I agree that the best way to handle it is with an author's note. I think readers understand the need for deliberate fictional license, but if you don't mention it, some will assume it's an error.<br /><br />Old World Murder is set at a real historic site, but I took some license in order to simply things for readers. Almost all of the historic structures are real, but I did fabricate one because of the way it's used in the plot--I didn't want visitors asking site staff about the building where such-and-such happened. I explained all of that in the author's note. The site director and other historical society staff reviewed the manuscript, and were fine with that.<br /><br />Can't wait to read it! I was a river guide, way back in my college days.Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-263379797888029672010-07-01T12:59:54.368-04:002010-07-01T12:59:54.368-04:00Beautiful pictures. It's tricky using a real ...Beautiful pictures. It's tricky using a real town where real people live who will find any tiny mistake you make. But it sounds like great research fun for you.Carol Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14396587145906682529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-48213753862834246732010-07-01T12:14:33.129-04:002010-07-01T12:14:33.129-04:00Enjoyed the photos, Beth.
I never use real busin...Enjoyed the photos, Beth. <br /><br />I never use real business names. More often than not my central story location is fully ficitonal but set within the geography of real places (surrounding cities, towns, etc.)thatplay a lesser role in the story.<br /><br />I enjoy it when authors gprovide notes at the end of a book that gives insights into their decisions on such things.Darrell Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08394984700734588887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-46435555780845173652010-07-01T11:53:33.597-04:002010-07-01T11:53:33.597-04:00Nice photos! I love how you've figured out the...Nice photos! I love how you've figured out the exact place where Mandy will find the body.<br /><br />As for moving the county line, you could mention doing so in the acknowledgements if you're worried about it. I set my mysteries in fictionalized versions of real towns so that people who are familiar with the area(s) recognize pieces of them but can't really call me on changing things around for the story. <br /><br />btw, Craig Johnson unapologetically moved the entire Cheyenne Indian Reservation from Montana to Wyoming for his Walt Longmire series. I mentioned it to him once but it doesn't bother me.<br /><a href="www.hearthcricket.com" rel="nofollow"> Hearth Cricket</a>Cricket McRaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786996969148417569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-18588745951972708692010-07-01T11:40:28.570-04:002010-07-01T11:40:28.570-04:00Several years ago I was reading a series that was ...Several years ago I was reading a series that was set in the town where I went to college. The author changed some roads around and it bugged me. That didn't stop me from reading her books.<br /><br />Perhaps the county line move could be addressed in the front or end pages of the book.Terri Bischoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04225274844083700505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-57434972835578094452010-07-01T10:09:04.739-04:002010-07-01T10:09:04.739-04:00I used to live in Salida. Thanks for highlighting ...I used to live in Salida. Thanks for highlighting a nice community in Colorado.<br /><br />My fictional town, in both my complete and current project, is near Aspen. As such, I have a little freedom within the town limits, but I'd better get it right when I'm talking about Aspen or Denver or the drive in between.<br /><br />I was born in Canon City, another small community, near Supermax prison. Visiting relatives (in Canon, not Supermax *wink*) frequently as a child, helped me get a little of the flavor in my new story as well.<br /><br />Combining fiction with reality seems to work for me. And I wouldn't hesitate to move a county line a tad if necessary.<br /><br />You go, girl. And good luck on your new series!Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-40489188551662598022010-07-01T09:16:17.917-04:002010-07-01T09:16:17.917-04:00Love the photos! Really gives a sense of the set u...Love the photos! Really gives a sense of the set up of the location. I take a lot of photos of places I use and post them to Facebook. My readers love seeing where the books are located.<br /><br />I use both real locations and fictional ones, depending on the purpose and ease of research, but I never use a real business if it involves the murder directly. If it's just a place where characters are shopping or eating, etc. I love to pick real places that readers can see and visit (and they have!) I've never moved physical boundaries, however. As writers, we have a lot of leeway with bending things to our need, but be prepared for readers to call you on it. :)Sue Ann Jaffarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984054116933714621noreply@blogger.com