Real vs. Fictional Settings: My version of Hogwarts
By Eva Gates
Generally speaking, a novel can be set in one of two places: a real place or a fictional place. (Or some combination of both).
There are a lot of good reasons to create a fictional setting for a book: No one can point out all your mistakes; if something doesn’t work for you, you can just make it up; avoids all that pesky research.
On the other hand, setting a book in a real place, adds an element of realism. People can go to the location of scenes in your book, or remember having been there. That helps to bring a book and its characters vividly to life.
My editors at Obsidian decided they want to go with the latter for the new Lighthouse Library Series. Not only have I set the books in a real place – the Outer Banks – but in a very specific real place – The Bodie Island Lighthouse.
I took the framework of that real, and marvellous, lighthouse, which is essentially just a small outer building attached to a 210 foot tall tower with a spiral iron staircase inside and a big lamp on the top, and built a whole new world inside it. A library, complete with back staircases, offices, staff break room, broom closet, meeting room, shelves overflowing with books. I even gave it a small apartment for my character, Lucy Richardson, to live in.
I think of it as my version of Hogwarts.
But having done that, I wanted to be true to the marvellous setting of the lighthouse, and kept the outside of the building and its surroundings (minus the shop and tourist center!) intact.
As for the Outer Banks and the town of Nag’s Head, I’ve worked hard to make everything as realistic as possible. I’ve visited a couple of times, taking lots of pictures and careful notes. Back at home, Google Earth is an invaluable resource for checking the layout of streets, the location of public buildings and things like that. In the books I mention some real places, such as Owen’s Restaurant, the restaurant at the Nags Head Fishing Pier, the police station/town hall complex, and have people living on real streets. But I don’t describe real houses, or give street addresses. In the second book in the series, Booked for Trouble (Sept. 2015) when Lucy’s mother stays at a hotel, the hotel is totally fictitious. After all there are shenanigans galore going on at that hotel, and I don’t want anyone to think I know something I don’t!
It’s been a lot of fun taking real places and using them as scenes for my stories. I hope that By Book or By Crook will give you a real feeling for the Outer Banks. Who knows maybe you’ll want to visit someday (if you haven’t already) and think of Lucy Richardson climbing the spiral iron stairs to her lighthouse aerie after a day in the library when you visit the Bodie Island Lighthouse.
About the Author:
Eva Gates is also known as Canadian crime writer Vicki Delany. “It’s a crime not to read Delany,” says the London Free Press. Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers. She is the author of the Constable Molly Smith police series set in the British Columbia Interior, the light-hearted Klondike Gold Rush books, and novels of gothic suspense.
Having taken early retirement from her job as a systems analyst, Vicki enjoys the rural life in Prince Edward County, Ontario.
For ten years Lucy has enjoyed her job poring over rare tomes of literature for the Harvard Library, but she has not enjoyed the demands of her family’s social whorl or her sort-of-engagement to the staid son of her father’s law partner. But when her ten-year relationship implodes, Lucy realizes that the plot of her life is in need of a serious rewrite.
Calling on her aunt Ellen, Lucy hopes that a little fun in the Outer Banks sun—and some confections from her cousin Josie’s bakery—will help clear her head. But her retreat quickly turns into an unexpected opportunity when Aunt Ellen gets her involved in the lighthouse library tucked away on Bodie Island.
Lucy is thrilled to land a librarian job in her favorite place in the world. But when a priceless first edition Jane Austen novel is stolen and the chair of the library board is murdered, Lucy suddenly finds herself ensnared in a real-life mystery—and she’s not so sure there’s going to be a happy ending….
Jennifer’s Review of By Book or by Crook
Review (4 Stars): Lucy Richardson has decided to make a change in her life by accepting a position in Outer Banks at the lighthouse library after working at the Harvard library for ten years. The lighthouse library is excited to be hosting the first edition of one of Jane Austen’s books at the library for the next three months and throws a party to celebrate. At the party, the dead body of the library chairman is found with Lucy’s friend holding the murder weapon. Lucy decides to get herself involved in the investigation to protect her friend and protect the reputation of the library that she has always loved.
By Book or by Crook is an entertaining mystery with a delightful heroine and a fun cast of characters. I loved the idea of the lighthouse library and I think that this would be the perfect place for readers to go and visit. I enjoyed meeting Lucy and thought that she was the perfect heroine for this series. She was smart, sassy and I can’t wait to learn more about her in future books. Great start to a series and I’m looking forward to reading what’s next for Lucy and the lighthouse library.
Giveaway
I’m excited to give away a copy of By Book or by Crook. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by February 22nd, please leave me a comment below:
Looks like a fun read, love the lighthouse on the cover 🙂
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
The author got me with her cover art… I collect photos of light houses. Every coastal state we visit I shoot photos of Light Houses. I’m just getting a bit too old to climb the stairs to the top anymore.
Having one as a library sounds like fun.
Yes I’d like to be entered in the giveaway.
Lighthouses are marvellous things, aren’t they?
Sounds like a great read!
Thanks, Rebecca. I hope you enjoy it.
I enjoyed Eva’s comments about how she made the setting her own, even though the editors kind of liked the real setting of the Outer Banks. Would love to win and read this, thanks for the chance to win!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
It was a lot of fun getting to know the Outer Banks!
I am intrigued by the lighthouse library.
kaye dot killegore at comcast dog net
Don’t enter me (I’m not in the US). Thanks for another book I must have!! The cover pulled me in for a closer look and I really think I’ll enjoy this!
Thanks, Sue. Are you in Canada?
interesting characters
I like the idea of a library in a lighthouse! This sounds like a book I would enjoy! Thank you!
I do enjoy when an author has used a real setting, especially one that I have never visited.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
Oooh I’ve been wanting to read this! Thank you so very much for the chance to win! 🙂
It sounds like a fun read. I love the name and cover. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Sounds like a fabulous beginning to a new series. I’m so looking forward to reading this. Thanks for the chance to win.