 Sometimes when I choose my next read, I think about setting more than genre. For example, if I choose a book by Nicholas Sparks, I'm thinking about the Carolinas, about deep-rooted secrets and southern gents. If I'm feeling dark and moody, I'll go for a vampire book set in Washington State or maybe a Stephen King book set in the Colorado Mountains. When I was asked to write a romantic suspense with a diverse family element and search & rescue, there was no question that I was going to set my Midnight Sons series in Alaska. The wild, untamed landscapes not only serve as a stunning backdrop but also mirror the tumultuous, mysterious elements that define romantic suspense. Why Setting Matters In storytelling, setting is not just a backdrop. It's a character in its own right. It influences the story's atmosphere, molds its characters, and can even drive the plot. Take, for instance, the moody moors in Wuthering Heights. Could Heathcliff's brooding and tumultuous romance with Catherine have unfolded anywhere else but on those windy, desolate moors? I think not. Setting as a Reflection of Character In my writing, I use setting to reflect my characters' internal landscapes. For example, in my Creatus series, the old, hidden settings (I chose New England) parallel the secretive lives of the creatures they conceal. This intertwining of place and personality challenges the characters, shaping their paths and choices, much like our environments influence us. She Belongs to Me (the entire Southern Collection, for that matter) could not have been set anywhere other than the Carolinas. There's just something about old Southern families and country boys! I swear if Jordan wasn't so "country," his protective nature wouldn't have worked as well. How to Use Setting Effectively Integrate Setting with Plot: The setting should do more than just serve as a backdrop. It should interact with the plot, influencing outcomes and character decisions. Use Sensory Details: Vivid descriptions that engage the senses can make a setting feel real and tangible, pulling readers deeper into the world you’ve created. Reflect Themes and Moods: The setting can enhance the themes or shift the mood of a scene, adding layers to the narrative. The right setting can transform a story from good to unforgettable. It’s not just about where and when; it’s about making those elements work in harmony with every aspect of your tale. As writers, we wield the power to transport our readers, not just emotionally or intellectually, but spatially, into the heart of our stories' worlds. Kind of like the image I chose... While you might be sitting on a beach or in your backyard, my goal is to transport you to another location! For readers and aspiring writers alike, I encourage you to think about the settings in your favorite books. How do they enhance the storytelling? And for my fellow authors, consider how your next setting might just be the key to unlocking your story's full potential. Until next time, Happy Reading and Writing! Carmen Here are the FIRSTS in the three series I mentioned!
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Binge Your Heart Out! With Boxed Sets! Paranormal, Romance, Mystery, and Thrillers! Heck Yeah!11/4/2021 Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Suspense, Myths & Legends
Romantic Women's Fiction, Multicultural Romance
Romantic Suspense, SEAL Team
Crime Fiction, International Crime, Romantic Suspense
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When I sit down to write a novel, I generally have no idea where I’m going. My typical start of a story is usually the main character—whether it’s the male protagonist or the female protagonist—and whatever issue they are facing.
From there, I just ask myself questions:
The great thing is, just like the reader, I never know exactly what my characters will do. Sure, I know I want a happily ever after, but I also know that not every character will get a happily ever after. And the detours they make along the way sometimes even surprise me. Why? Because I allow my story to progress naturally. I typically write two thousand words a day, and then every night I read the last few chapters to make sure the story flows, marking any areas that need addressing, and then go to sleep, allowing the characters to come alive in my dreams. And ohhh how they do. It’s not unusual for hubby to see me typing on my iPhone’s notepad in the middle of the night. Often it’ll just be a great line or a missing link I was in search of. When I finally finish the novel, I take an entire day and read from beginning to end, making sure the story flows and that there are no holes or contradictions. Easy, right? I’ve read this story almost thirty times at this juncture. How can it surprise me, how can it make me cry? And yet, here I am, sitting on the sofa, my afghan curled around me, and I’m bawling over something that happened. Hubby, who has been sitting quietly by his computer—because he knows it’s read-through day—whips his chair around to face me and asks, “Are you okay?” I swipe away my tears and answer, “Yes, I just can’t believe that happened.” “Wait. I thought you were reading your book?” he asks. “I am,” I answer. “But it still makes me cry.” He shakes his head and goes back to typing his nonfiction. One of my favorite quotes is by Robert Frost: “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” Well, I’m always surprised, and I always cry when something happens to my characters, so I hope when you read my books you will, too! If you enjoy stories that blend happy and sad, romantic and suspenseful, click the link for your favorite retailer below and grab one of my free books. If you’ve read all my books, make sure you grab my new release, Erik’s Revelation, so you’ll know why I was crying! Until next time, happy reading! Carmen DeSousa
Learn more about Carmen: www.WrittenMusings.com/CarmenDeSousa
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Men as Wild and Rugged as The Last Frontier Itself Five brothers risk their lives to rescue those caught in the death grip of the Alaskan wilderness…and risk losing their hearts to women as tough as the Land of the Midnight Sun.
The siren call of Alaska’s untamed wilderness, vast mountain ranges, and majestic glaciers draws thrill-seekers from around the globe. But with more unsolved missing-person cases than anywhere else in the world, the Alaska Triangle has an ominous reputation. Enter the Midnight Sons, five brothers who risk their lives to rescue those in peril.
Being a hero isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, though. The pay sucks, as does the fact that the team leaders have to be ready to spring into action 24/7, 365 days a year—a lifestyle not conducive to a healthy love life. Worse, while the brothers are experts in their individual fields, they each harbor inner demons and secrets that threaten to tear their family apart… and jeopardize any chance of finding the women who could complete them.
Carmen's stories overflow with romance, suspense, a hint of humor and, of course, a few Kleenex moments. After all, what would a great story be without an emotional event setting the stage? All her novels are sensual, but not erotic, gripping but not graphic, and will make you cry, laugh, love, and hope. Although some of her books include supernatural or ghostly beings, her stories dance on the edge of make believe. Her hope is that as you read her stories, you'll wonder, "Hmmm...what if?"
Currently, she lives in Arizona with her husband of twenty-nine years and a very spoiled "rescued" calico they lovingly refer to as “Baby Kitty,” even though she's twelve years old. Carmen enjoys learning about different American cultures, so she moves a lot. She's lived on both of Florida’s coasts: Cocoa Beach and Tampa Bay; Charlotte, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; Bullhead City, Arizona; the Northern Central Valley of California, and now she lives in "The Heart of Arizona." But she's always looking for her next adventure, so she travels every chance she gets. Most of her novels share some of our favorite hobbies, mostly, anything to do with the great outdoors. Both she and her husband love to read on the beach—or in a coffee shop if it's raining—and if the weather is really nice, they go kayaking or hiking. Carmen says she rarely spends her days off at a movie theater or the mall. In fact, she claims to hate shopping, and laughs that her husband would rather do anything other than watch a movie when she's already read the book. :) 
Some lucky women meet the man of their dreams and live happily ever after. Some lucky women focus on a career and make their own happily ever after. And then some women wake up after fifteen years of marriage and discover that their luck just ran out ... right into the arms of another woman. Jana Embers isn't one to sit back, though. The first thing Jana realizes she needs to do is empty the joint bank account, then she's thinking she might take a tire iron to her soon-to-be-ex-husband's truck. After that, she's not sure what she'll do ... Maybe she'll adopt a cat... READ MORE
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