Let's compare...
Mark Twain wrote fiction. I write fiction. We learned yesterday he used family and friends as models for his characters. I sketch my characters after my two teenage boys. (If you only knew! I seriously can't make this stuff up.) Twain grew up in Missouri. I grew up just across the border in Illinois.
Addicted to writing
As an adult, I lived outside of Chicago for almost a decade. Hannibal is only about four hours from the Windy City. My contemporary mystery series is set in a small town in Illinois and involves a bank robbery, a few gallons of maple syrup, and a famous dead author. I'm putting it on hold as I finish up my newest project, an urban fantasy set in Chicago. And an idea came to me two days ago for another upper middle-grade novel: a murder mystery slash detective series. I think I'm addicted to writing.
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| Chicago is the setting for my new urban fantasy. |
Here's a photograph of the inspiration behind my new middle-grade urban fantasy:
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| The Field Museum |
I've never been to Chicago. I've only been to Florida and Michigan...oh with a layover in Cleveland, which is why 30 Seconds is set there. ;) When I was younger, all of my characters were based after my family and friends. And even my enemies. ;)
ReplyDeleteI have lots of enemies in my books:) Been to Florida, MI and Cleveland!
DeleteI LOVE Chicago. I'm about four hours away and I have family that lives there. There is so much inspiration all over the place in that city! Thanks for another fab post.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I have family there too. I visit a few times a year.
DeleteI had a real treat a few years ago. I took my mom to revisit Chicago. She was my tour guide.
ReplyDeleteI'm desperate for a longer visit next time! There's so much to see and do.
DeleteA murder-mystery in a museum - very cool!
ReplyDeleteAlthough a few gallons of maple syrup intrigues me...
haha! Yes, it should. It involves teenage boys, and we know they're super mischievous.
DeleteI've never been to Chicago, other than to the airport. One day I'd like to get there, though. What you're writing sounds like a lot of fun! I write UF and Sci-fi in the genre of romance-so as a sub-genre of my genre, LOL. My 2 current manuscripts are contemporary but I'm trying to finish them so I can get to the sci-fi project that is percolating on the back burner. Which reminds me, I should probably get writing! Good luck on your writing and in the challenge!
ReplyDeleteThanks:) Nice to meet another UF writer! It's fun to have many projects as opposed to only one or writer's block.
DeleteLove this post! All of your projects sounds fascinating, and I can't wait to read them some day. Though my favorite genre to write is medieval fantasy, I LOVE reading urban sci-fi/fantasy.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the rest of the challenge!
Thank you! I hope to get them into the publishing world soon, which, in the publishing world, can take light years.
DeleteCongrats on being addicted to writing. So am I. I think it's great your books are for middle grade. I have one written that's just hanging out on a drive because it needs serious edits.
ReplyDeleteI tried to write YA. I failed miserably. My life's purpose is to write MG.
DeleteI wonder what business has been going on in that museum!
ReplyDeleteOh, so much intrigue and plotting. *wrings hands* Mwahahaha!
DeleteI've been to Peoria. I doubt that counts.
ReplyDeleteI love scifi and fantasy. I read and write both.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to visit Chicago one day.
I'm writing about Chicago during the #Challenge too. It is part of the setting of my new novel. Love visiting the blogs with the (WR) designation to see what my fellow writers are up to. I'm going to follow you for awhile and see what else you are up to. IF you have time, come see me too and read my Chicago posts so far.
ReplyDeleteLet the ideas keep coming!
ReplyDeleteHeather