April 27, 2026
Do your settings become characters in your stories?
Easy Answer: All the time
I caught a flicker of movement in a second-story window as I pulled up to the Aldridge house. The last rays of the setting sun lit the exterior, making the fading and peeling white paint look pale pink. Once the weather warmed up, I would start the job of returning the wooden siding to its original deep blue color.
from Her Ladyship’s Ring
I introduced readers to the Aldridge house in book one of the Harmony series, the Marquesa’s Necklace. The old Victorian home soon became a pivotal setting throughout the entire series as Harmony’s attachment to the house grew. In its own way, it revealed Harmony’s mood and became her friend.
All along, the plan had been to sell the house after the renovations, but in the process of fixing it, I’d grown attached to it. I’d even toyed with the idea of living in it myself, but it really needed a happy family to bring it to life. I couldn’t provide that. And Eli, my boyfriend, and I hadn’t gotten to the stage of discussing long-term prospects for our relationship let alone children.
from The Baron’s Cufflinks
*****
“You didn’t remodel this room at all. Run out of cash?” Drew asked.
Behind us, Eli chuckled. He knew money wasn’t an issue in my life.
“It’s the ghost’s room. I didn’t want to touch anything.”
Drew swiveled on one foot. “Ghost?”
“It’s an old house. Of course, there’s a ghost. I’ve never seen it, but I hear it. If you watch, you can see these curtains move when no one is here. The windows are sealed, there isn’t a draft, there’s no logical way to explain it.”
Drew grinned. “You ever see this ghost, Eli?”
“It only shows up when Harmony is alone. She’s dared me to stay here by myself some night, but that’s never happened.” He wrapped an arm around me. “And I’m okay with that.”
“Well, a ghost isn’t responsible for what’s been going on, so I hope it doesn’t mind sharing the room for a day or two.”
I hoped the ghost would show itself and wipe that smile off Drew’s face. “It likes company. Just talk to it and it’ll settle down.”
from The Samurai’s Inro
But perhaps the setting that took on most of a life of its own was her car, Dolores.
That’s what she named herself. (The car) Not because she made Harmony sad, but because she would make anyone who tried to pass her sorrowful. Dolores and Harmony had their own method of communication. Harmony would pat the car before she got in and after she got out. Dolores would chirp and rumble and purr and hum or whatever other sounds she made. With her speed and fine handling, she saved Harmony’s life in almost every book.
There came a time when Dolores wasn’t enough of a shield to protect Harmony. I won’t reveal it here, but the scene made me cry when I wrote it. You’ll have to read The Ranger’s Dog Tags to find out what happened.
How about our other authors? Do their settings become characters in their stories? Find out my checking out the links below.
As always, please stay safe until next time.
Goal update: I broke 50,000 words! It’s near the end, and I’ve thrown in another red herring! It’s small, so I don’t think it’ll surprise anyone. Except me.
April 27, 2026
Do your settings become characters in your stories?
Quite right. The personality of an inanimate object can have a huge influence on the story.
Or they can reflect the personalities of the other characters.
Old Victorian houses just cry out for stories about them; I wrote one too!
I love old Victorian homes too, and wish I had the money to fix the ones who cry for it.
Indeed. I’d like one of those old Victorian vicarages complete with a ghost.
My house is Victorian era but not Victorian style. It comes complete with a house goddess but not a ghost.
It’s almost like a ‘mother’ carrying her characters thru their growth.
Great analogy!