Cat's Corner
Blogging About Books, Writing, Travel, Film & More
Art - "On the Bank of the Seine, Bennecourt," by Claude Monet - https://www.artic.edu/artworks/81539, Public Domain
What do these adult and children’s book titles have in common?
The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Serafina and the Black Cloak Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Giver of Stars The Martian Where the Crawdads Sing How the Light Gets In Little Fires Everywhere Something in the Water The Language of Flowers They all have a rich sense of time and place. From the Quebec village of Three Pines to Mars and North Carolina’s Biltmore Estate, the authors’ stories have you feeling as if you could jump into the pages of their book. As a reader, I’ve always been drawn to books with strong settings. As a writer, I want to give my stories a vivid backdrop, too. My last book for early readers, Sweet T and the Turtle Team, has a beachy, summertime vibe on the North Carolina shore near my home. My newest book for tweens co-written with Rosie Russell, Just Between Sam and Me, shifts to small-town America in Rosie’s home state of Missouri. I have memories of this part of the world – attended college outside Kansas City; spent my first years teaching nearby – until I moved south for warmer winters. Join me in a 6-minute, deep dive video behind the setting of Just Between Sam and Me. I'll show you how Rosie and I bring the sights and sounds, tastes and textures, of our setting alive for young readers.
Then meet my cowriter, Rosie Russell, in her Missouri home, as she reads aloud a chapter from Just Between Sam and Me.
Your Turn
Thanks for visiting Spring Hope with Rosie, Sam, and me. What books with strong settings do you love to read? Please share in the comment section.
16 Comments
Cat Michaels
11/7/2020 07:04:42 pm
Auden, it was fun to create a video focused on our book’s small town Midwest setting. There were so many visual elements I wanted to share to give readers a sense of place. I’d love to see what other authors who write rich backgrounds come up with. 11/7/2020 06:58:45 pm
Wonderful post and loved the video! And the map is awesome! Best wishes for great success with the coming launch!
Cat Michaels
11/7/2020 07:11:49 pm
Thanks for joining me in Spring Hope, James. The map keeps us from getting lost around town<wink>. Exciting, busy days ahead with book launching on 2 December! Appreciate your company on this 20- month journey. 11/8/2020 03:37:32 am
Congratulations on making an awesome video, fantastic job. As you know from my books I like a good strong setting too and a great map. Both feature in all 3 of my Adamson Adventures. I love the idea of a mid-western American town, they always draw me in, I am fascinated by the idea.
Cat Michaels
11/8/2020 07:24:11 am
Sandra, I went to uni and had my first teaching job the midwest. It’s a beautiful part of the country, but too far from the ocean for me<wink>. I love books with strong settings like yours. They offer unique opportunities to bring those worlds to life with with film or photos. Thanks for visiting us in Spring Hope! 11/8/2020 06:35:17 pm
Your video turned out amazing and captured Spring Hope, MO in the best possible way. How I wish we could really visit at the Beanery.
Cat Michaels
11/9/2020 08:54:04 pm
Hey, let’s meet at the Beanery virtually for lunch some day soon <wink>! Appreciate your company in Spring Hope and this writing journey, Rosie!
Maria
11/9/2020 02:57:18 pm
Loved the video! The map is so cute!
Cat Michaels
11/9/2020 08:56:21 pm
It was fun meeting you in Spring Hope, Maria -:D. Good to have the map with us, so we don’t get lost. 11/9/2020 09:52:59 pm
Dear Cat,
Cat Michaels
11/10/2020 04:19:45 am
Delightful visiting Spring Hope with you, Joan. It’s especially lovely there in the fall-:D. 11/10/2020 12:06:46 pm
Your technical abilities always amaze me! What an awesome video. Loved all the scenery and explanations on how your setting plays a big part of your novel. Only a few more weeks and everyone will be able to see what an awesome book you and Rosie have penned together. Best wishes for a fabulous launch!
Cat Michaels
11/10/2020 03:11:51 pm
Julie, Rosie and I may make you an honorary citizen of Spring Hope after all the times you’ve visited there [wink]. Appreciate your encouragement on this writing journey. 11/13/2020 10:43:45 am
I really enjoyed your video Cat. Thank you. It's so interesting to hear your behind the scenes thinking
Cat Michaels
11/13/2020 07:36:54 pm
Appreciate your visit to Spring Hope and behind the setting, Michelle. You are fine company! Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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