So, no recipe today. Trying to read small type and transferring same to the computer is still pretty much a pain–literally and figuratively. Still, I need to get back in practice of posting M-F, right? Before the basically emergency eye surgeries the past two Tuesdays, I had plans to share recipe’s that pertained to THE SOUND OF SILENCE (Penumbra Papers #4) and GHOSTS & THE ANCIENT STONES (Penumbra Papers #5) because SILENCE is set in New Orleans and STONES ends there. I’d already featured THAT OL’ BLACK MAGIC (PP#1) the week before this whole thing started because I had Mardi Gras appropriate recipes and the books set there and all that there stuff. And then…welll…medical stuff.
Mardi Gras is over now so it’s a little late to be sharing those recipes. However, I’m still gonna hawk my books because…I got bills t’pay, baby. Plus, I love New Orleans, Sade, and her Scoobie Gang. Interested in those books? Click a title or cover pic and jump on over to the landing page on Books2Read to find the on-line retailer of your choice. And hey! They’re all available to borrow from Scribd AND Hoopla! Read for free!
Okay, commercial over. Sometimes, as I’m writing a book, I realize that the setting becomes as much a character as the people and oft times plays a big part in the plot arc. I’ve discovered this is especially true of the books in the Penumbra Papers: New Orlenas in THAT OL’ BLACK MAGIC and THE SOUND OF SILENCE, Chicago in SEASON OF THE WITCH, Colorado and the New Mexican desert in THE DEVIL’S CUT (#3), and both Paris and Edinburgh in GHOSTS & THE ANCIENT STONES. I’m going to have to come up with a really special setting for Ariel’s book, which will be #6. Any suggestions?
And speaking of, I’m curious. What do y’all, as readers, think about settings as a character. Do you enjoy the detail that entails? And the big question, what book have you read in recent memory where this is the case? That if the story was set anywhere else, it would have been a different story? As I mentioned, I’m curious and I’m also in need of new reading suggestions. So jump into the discussion. I’ll set out some cafe au lait and beignets and if we’re lucky, there might be a few slices of King’s Cake left over and maybe, if the discussion spills over past lunch, I’ll whip up some muffaletta sandwiches. Just because Mardi Gras is over doesn’t mean we need to stop celebrating and pretedning we’re down in the Frinch Quarter, right? Right!
Silver James 
I love these books so much. I especially like how you do make the settings their own character, so to speak. The places you describe that I have been to are like going back and the new-to-me places are written such that I could almost convince myself I have been there. And since I am rarely inclined to travel anymore, I can go places in your books without ever having to actually go anywhere. Win-win. =o)
Awwww! Thank you! I really hope I give a sense of place in my books, especially when the locale is important to the story. I seem to be doing something right! LOL (And a little thanks that is the rabbit hole of Google street view. 🤣
Heather and I really want to visit NOLA. She is a character all by herself.
Amanda M. Lee has multiple series, some in NOLA and others all over Michigan. The state has become a character, along with Detroit. There are over 100 books on KU. I’ve been working my way through them, although one of the series, I have stopped reading the shorts because one character just annoys me after awhile. However, I have found them to be snarky and quick reads. If I really broke it down, many of the plots devices are the same but they do interact with each other. And since they are KU I don’t mind reading them.
And if you do read them, do it in chronological order. I messed up by reading one series then another until I found a list. So many crossovers
Good advice! Suzanne Wright has three series that cross-over like that. I, too, finally found a chronological list for a reread/listen and it all came together so much better!
I gave up my KU subscription when my eyes went so wonky. Only has one and she zips through the short ones like crazy. I remember those days and miss them. LOL Hope you and Heather make it down south. It’s a cool place to see and do but given the current crime rate down there, situational awareness at all times!
At this point, I would need to bring a friend who carries.
And if you do read them, do it in chronological order. I messed up by reading one series then another until I found a list. So many crossovers