Boston & the City I Had Never Seen... Until Now!

As you are probably reading this, I'm on a plane flying back from my trip to Boston, Massachusetts. But I am composing this by hand (yes, my chicken scratch) in a city named Wrentham. This town is actually where my second book, BOUND, takes place... along with Dublin, Ireland, of course.

It's a long story as to why I chose a city I had never visited. Suffice it to say, today's part of my short vacation has been my total fav! To actually be in a place you've only just imagined is spectacular! I am even more smitten with the city than I was while writing the book.

Imaging my characters moving throughout this fresh and green town while being here makes me smile so big my ears hurt (yes, ears!) I visited sights I chose just from internet research where I set scenes. Holy crapola, folks, what an experience!

This trip has allowed me to see so many great places from Walden Pond (a great writer spent some time here) to Freedom Trail (another sight featured in BOUND) to the beach (during a sandcastle competition to boot).

Anyway, I have enjoyed my trip. Immensely!

So question time:

Have you set a book in a city you've never visited? If so, have you gone there after writing it? Did it meet your expectations?

Well, my time spent in Wrentham met mine and MORE! Tehehehe

PS: Don't forget about my soon-to-be self published book, FÉLICITÉ FOUND's cover reveal tomorrow on Morgan Shamy's blog. The clock is ticking. Tick Tick Tick Are you excited to see it? Well, I love it and hope you do too, along with the story found within it's pages.

Hugs

Writing Jewels

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Instagram Pic by Julia King

When I was eighteen, I traveled by chartered bus with a group for three weeks across country and back again. During that time, I hit up seventeen U.S. states. Supercool. And way fun! I enjoyed the entire trip, however, there was one city that stuck out to me the most: Boston, Massachusetts.

The strange thing is that I spent all of maybe four hours there. But, the essence of the New England state penetrated my soul in a way that has drawn my heart back there ever since. Yes, for twelve years, I've been itching to get back there but have yet to make my pilgrimage back. I'd love to live there. The thing is I'm too practical to up and move without securing a job. I'm a planner, you see. I've got to make sure I can survive. :D But the adventure is so desirable to me. And, of course, scary too!

Anyway, because of this intense pull to this beautiful area of the United States, I set my second book, BOUND, in a city near Boston called Wrentham. There is a scene that takes place in Boston, and the beginning and end takes place outside of Dublin, Ireland. Intrigued yet? You better be!

Although I spent a brief period of time in Boston, I didn't know anything about it other than I know it's gorgeous. I spent a a fare amount of time researching Wrentham and Boston. I don't know what I'd do without the internet. Sheesh, I'd be lost. Luckily, I've been to Dublin, Ireland, so I didn't have much of a problem there. Plus, the scenes set in Ireland are supernatural by nature, so I used my creative license to build the setting/world there.

Anyway, have you ever set a book in a city you've never been to? Or one in which you've only spent a short period of time there? How do you go about researching your setting? Internet? Library? Actually going there?

Writing. Jewels.

PS: Happy Wednesday!