tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post4400264896982228644..comments2023-11-02T01:45:40.704-06:00Comments on Writing from the Peak: Context is More than a SettingWriting from the Peakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10791193813122152166noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-788321265914678622.post-85735703566126062452016-05-17T21:52:23.971-06:002016-05-17T21:52:23.971-06:00Object as character: The castle Gormenghast in Mer...Object as character: The castle Gormenghast in Mervin Peak's "Titus Groan" is such an important location that many have called it a character in it's own right. Likewise the house in E.A. Poe's "Fall of the House of Usher."<br /><br />I started with an old European fairy tale as inspiration, then moved it to the US and the 21st century. For my plot and characters to work the setting had to be just so, which meant either a wilderness, national park, or indian reservation of a million acres or so. Research into the selected tribe, a visit to the area, and talking with tribal members led me to blend in an old tribal story. So my hero and heroine were the principals from an old Franco/German tale (actually 2 old F/G tales), while an important secondary character was the villain of an old Blood/Blackfeet story (recast as mentor to the heroine).<br /><br />I'm really glad I went to the location. There's no substitute breathing the air your characters breathe. That led to many improvements, and was itself an inspiration for ideas to get me past some rough spots in the plot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com