Why is “Murder She Wrote” set in Cabot Cove, Maine? Probably first and foremost because the creators of the popular series wanted a charming backdrop that provided a plausible home for a retired teacher/mystery author turned amateur sleuth. And the small tight-knit community meant Jessica Fletcher had access to everyone and everything she needed to solve crimes. Similar to Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, the clues are all there. It’s a matter of collecting them and figuring out how the pieces fit together.
I believe that element is true in all mysteries but choosing the right setting is at the core of creating a story that works. Your setting impacts how your main character is going to interact with everyone else in your story so it must be clearly defined.
In choosing a setting for your story it’s important, whether you’re using a real place or creating a fictional location, to consider the genre. Though cozy mysteries don’t have to be set in a small town there does have to be a sense of community. A fast-paced thriller may require a location that creates urgency such as an isolated area or an opportunity for a change in weather or circumstances. A spy novel needs the tension of a place that offers culture clashes and hidden dangers.
Whatever location you choose, it’s essential to ground your readers in that place. They are going to be spending time there with your characters and need to not only see but feel your setting.
When I start a new project, almost always the characters come first. But in my Sugar & Spice Mystery Series, I knew the setting from the start. I’d always wanted to set a book in
my home state of Iowa and this series provided the perfect opportunity. The books are set in the fictional small town of St. Ignatius, Iowa. Sugar Calloway is the main character/amateur sleuth and she’s not a native Iowan. Through her eyes, I describe the town – tree-lined streets, beautiful restored Victorian houses, a thriving town square with quaint shops, surrounding an historic limestone courthouse.
A fun town and just as charming as Cabot Cove. But how do the various characters feel about St. Ignatius? Does it feel comfortable and safe? Or is it boring and restrictive?
Here’s what Sugar, my main character had to say about St. Ignatius in a recent interview:
There's something purely magical about a place where folks still wave from their front porches, the mayor still mows his own lawn, and the biggest traffic jam is when the high school is celebrating Homecoming.
There’s a warmth and authenticity to the community that’s reminds you to take a deep breath and appreciate the beauty in every day moments.
In St. Ignatius, the days feel a little slower, the smiles a little brighter, and the world a little kinder. It’s not just a place to live—it’s a place to belong.
Now, drop a murder into the story and it’s much more interesting than just any small town, right?
Setting as an element of your writing doesn’t mean long descriptions or even necessarily lots of detail. It simply means, making careful choices and using setting as a full partner to character, plot, and conflict.
If you’re starting a new project, decide on a setting appropriate to the genre of your story and then work to make it rich and memorable. Explore it through your characters’ eyes. Make it a place your readers want to visit again. And again.
If you’re already in the midst of a project, look for ways to use the setting to highlight a plot point, reveal an insight, or set the stage for an important reveal.
And if you’d like to visit my St. Ignatius, there’s a link to the Sugar & Spice series below. The first book, Game of Scones, is currently free in all eBook formats.
https://books2read.com/ap/8GY7jp/Mary-Lee-Ashford
Mary Lee Ashford is a national best-selling author, a lifelong bibliophile, an avid reader, and supporter of public libraries. In addition to writing the Sugar & Spice series, she also writes the Pampered Pets mystery series as half of the writing team of Sparkle Abbey.
She is the founding president of Sisters in Crime – Iowa as well as a member of Mystery Writers of America, and Novelists, Inc.
She currently resides in the Midwest with her husband and her feline coworker, Zoey. When she’s not writing, her passions are reading, travel, and time with her family, especially her six grandchildren.
Find her online at:
Website: www.MaryLeeAshford.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/maryleeashford1
Mary Lee,
So interesting. Thank you for blogging today. Right on point!
Thanks for letting me visit, Debra!