I’ve been asked how I come up with ideas for my mysteries. Maybe this will surprise you, but I start with the backdrop, by which I mean the setting for the book. Since I’m into mysteries that take place in the past, I have myriad choices and I develop my plot around the place or places I want to write about.
To help me decide on a place, I scout around for real life events, crimes, tragedies, disasters that happened in those places at different times in history. This helps me settle on a time period. For instance, being a native New Yorker, I always wanted to write about early NYC history. Maybe turn of the 20th century when immigrants were flowing into Ellis Island by the thousands. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the tragic deaths of 146 workers, mostly women, immediately drew me in. The tragedy itself, the stories behind the women’s lives and the horrible injustice of it all made it the perfect backdrop for a mystery.
Plus, the atmosphere of the time became paramount. The wretched tenements and sweat shops, the little pleasure these young women had, trying to help support their families, and the fight for better working conditions made it a perfect milieu for murder.
Guess who? Guess where?
I set another novel during World War II in both Washington, D.C. and France. As a museum professional I was intrigued with the many stories appearing in the news almost weekly about Nazi confiscated art. So, yes, more wrongs to be righted. Plus, I loved both locales and wanted to do research on location.
I lived for a number of years in New England. Not surprising, my most recent book is set in a small town in Massachusetts, a town infamous for prejudice and scandal. Salem, home of the 1692 witch trials. Could I ask for a place more dark and sinister with grim events of real history? Truly a great backdrop with lots of atmosphere.
Books that stand out in my mind have a setting that I personally find intriguing. Stories set in cold places like Sweden or Iceland, even Minnesota. Or just the opposite: books set in the Louisiana bayous or the humid south. Extreme weather conjures up atmosphere and along with that, characters who must deal with these extremes.
Big cities, mean streets, small, rural towns, exotic lands, different cultures and languages. What kind of backdrop do you enjoy reading . . . or writing about?
Hello Lynne,
Thanks for this insight. I love reading books set in places I know. At least if they are written authentically. However, i also get a lot out of reading about places I have never been. it can open up a new experience for me. Whilst I can see how some places have a special meaning for you, and that will surely come out in your writing, I do not think there is anywhere that could not be a good setting for a book, as long as the author does it justice. Crime certainly takes place in all sorts of places.
What do you think about outher aspects of the setting? Dick Francis set all his early novels against the background of British horseracing, with which he was very familiar I have often been told to “write about what you know” – in my case a somewhat limiting constraint! – but I can see that authenticity makes a book especially enjoyable. John Murray .
Thanks, John. You are right – any place could make a good setting if the author does a good job. Some places, however, seem to have that special lure for many. There’s something about a gritty city, like New York or LA; or an exotic European city with lots of history. Paris, for instance. Wherever you turn, you see a famous monument. If a reader is familiar with a place, no matter how obscure, they could be interested. I just read a book about a small town in Vermont, Brattleboro. Now who would be interested in that? Me. I lived there for six years, so I really enjoyed hearing about the town and trying to remember the restaurants, shops and street names. Thanks for your comment.
Enjoyed reading your post. Great insight on where to discover ideas. So interesting!
Thanks so much, Kim. Always nice to hear!
Hi Lynne,
Thanks for your inside information. I agree with your assessment of selecting unusual places of historical importance. One of my short stories, a first place contest winner and written in collaboration with another author, was set in the Volga region of Russia toward the end of WW I. Find the background, add some fictional characters, and another story is born.
Thanks, Kathleen. I’ve been contemplating a story around WWI. It’s a fascinating subject that would require lots of research on my part!
Definitely! Just for a short, I researched for days, looking back to the time of Catherine the Great and her invitation to the Germans to toil and develop Russia’s Volga territory.
I wish you all the best with your newest adventure.
Thanks. Right now I’m into a second book on WWII!
I love history–I’ve even written two local history books. And yet, the idea of writing historical fiction intimidates me. So many details to get right! All my fiction has been contemporary (so far).
Actually, Mark, I think historical fiction is a bit easier. You want your facts to be authentic, but then you build a fictitious story around them, which leaves room for “artistic license!”
Ordinarily I’d agree, but my historical non-fiction books are in general–well, general. With historical fiction I’d worry about using words that didn’t yet exist, or anything else for that matter–clothing, technology, any details of day to day living. Not that I don’t want to try it; but I know myself, and right now I don’t have time for the hour upon hour of historical research I’d do before I even started the story. I’m one of those who’d be paranoid of using artistic license and getting raked over the coals by those who don’t know the term!
Ha! I hear you. Thanks again for reading and commenting.
Hi Mark, There’s a wonderful resource available online: word etymology. I keep it on my desktop for easy access. It provides information on origin and time frame of word development and usage..
Thanks for the info, Kathleen.
Yes, thanks! I’m familiar with the resource, and when the time comes I’ll be turning to it a lot!
Hi Lynne. I live in New Zealand and my niche is NZ historical fiction. I have had some real positive feedback regarding the historical part. One reader said that they looked up some places I had mentioned and as soon as they realised that these places and events actually existed as told, the whole book came to life. Makes all the research worthwhile.
That’s gratifying, Bob. Congratulations. I have had readers check on some of my “facts” even though it’s fiction. Fortunately, I passed muster! Where in NZ do you live? We visited there about 15 years ago – both islands- absolutely gorgeous! What’s your book?
I live in a little place called Waimahaka right at the bottom East of the South Island. Been here two years after escaping Auckland. My wife Sue and I have a five-acre block .I have written a few short stories, but my novel is Kennards Valley. Historical fiction based around the Southern Alps. I have nearly completed the sequel, with another couple of books in various stages.
Sounds great, Bob. Thanks for responding.