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I can’t live without a book.
I have to have at least one book that I am currently reading and preferably two or more waiting their turn.
I read different genres. Urban Fantasy, of course, but also thrillers and historical tales like Shogun and Ronin. I love to immerse myself in another world. Travel without leaving my home. That’s quite a bonus at the moment with Covid. Even though restrictions are easing in some countries, we are still a long way off from actually visiting other places, so books, internet and films are the next best option.
Yes, on Internet and in films you can see other places, but I prefer to read about it. That way I can combine the actual with my own imagination. This will probably not mirror real life, but it sure will fulfil my fantasy and make the experience as perfect as it can be for me.
Describing a real place and real people puts big pressure on authors. As an Urban Fantasy author I write paranormal stories in our world. That means the places I describe must be recognisable to my readers. There is no world building like in for instance Lord of the Rings. London has to be London. Paris is Paris, and so on.
I feel this is a basic respect I owe the people in those places that I incorporate in my stories.
The only way I can truly describe the scenes correctly is to either go there or research the be-jee-bas out of it. I usually do the last. I go onto Internet and read what I can find about the places and the people. I also love to immerse myself in the cultures and habits of the countries I use in my books.
Take for instance the Primal Series. Two of the books in the series find the protagonist in New Zealand. Our heroine is immersed in the Maori culture which also forms a central element in the whole five book series.
I researched a lot for those books. Because it has to be right. And also because it is so fascinating. I tried to keep as close to reality as possible, though I did take some liberties where needed to fit the story. I attempted to keep these variants in line with the Maori values.
It’s always a very nervous time when I release a book and wait for the first reviews. Not just to hear whether the book is appreciated, but also, or sometimes mainly, to see if i got it right.
In the case of the Primal Series, I received a mail from a reader with Maori relatives who thanked me for keeping everything so authentic.
It warmed my heart. I can’t get any better praise than that.
Another reader thanked me for describing places of outstanding beauty in New Zealand so well that they became enthusiastic to visit all the sites using the story as a travel guide.
So funny, when you consider I have never really been there myself.
If you want to visit a country without leaving the comfort of your armchair, try a book.
Here are some more great books from friends.
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