A Writer In Vienna: It's All About Setting ~ @oddlynn3 #rndrobin0524 #LynnCrain

Saturday, May 24, 2014

It's All About Setting ~ @oddlynn3 #rndrobin0524 #LynnCrain

Good morning everyone! Hope you all are ready for a wonderful Round Robin fest today.

But first, I must apologize for not participating the last couple of months. In early March, I was called away to the States for an emergency concerning my father. Unfortunately, late that month he passed away. It took me almost another month to tie up some loose ends and to get back to my European home. While it’s taken me almost another month to get some of my writing mojo back, I’ve been told it can take a while…and so it shall. So, let’s get to the topic of this month.

What is the most inspiring, romantic, or dangerous setting you ever read or written?

Wow…this topic covers a lot of ground…and I’ve read and written some pretty interesting things. One of the scenes I remember most from Romancing The Stone is when the heroine, Joan Wilder played by Kathleen Turner, is completing her novel and she starts crying at the end. That scene has stayed stuck in my over my years as a novelist as I felt I had to have at least one scene that left me crying. And I did.

In the second book of my Santa’s Elves series, The Thing About Elves, I had a gut wrenching scene at the end that when I read it today, still makes me cry. The hero, Ardan, realizes as a doctor there is nothing more he can do for the woman he loves, Angie. He has to let her go and see what the gods have in mind. It breaks him to realize with all his elven magic and medical knowledge he can’t save her. It was one of the most intense scenes I have ever written and also one of the most inspiring. Check out the book at http://www.extasybooks.com/lynn-crain/the-thing-about-elves/ to see how the story ends.

As far as romantic settings, I would say that there is at least once in every book where the setting spells romance. In my Santa’s Elves series I use the North Pole and Scotland with a dash of Boston included. In my A Taste of Vienna series, I use the city and the transportation system for some pretty steamy scenes. I do have to say that my all time romantic setting is Scotland. As I am mentally going through all my books, I realize I have used that country for more books than any other. And why not? Scotland is in our psyche as one of the most romantic places in the world. Having been there twice I can hardily concur.

For dangerous settings, well one can make any place dangerous. Think of all the times you’ve seen Las Vegas used as a dangerous place. I have to admit there are some shady areas but since it’s just over the hill from my backyard, I have to think positively. Yet, I too have used it as somewhere to fear.

As a writer, I can make any place romantic, I can make it inspiring or even dangerous. That is the joy of the job. I’m just thankful that I am not Joan Wilder, truly living the dream…then again…maybe I am because I do live in one of the most romantic cities in the world…Vienna.

See you all next time. Don’t forget to visit the rest of the lovely writers, listed below, in this month’s round robin.

Lynn