My Mitch Malone Mysteries are typically set in Grand River, Michigan, which is just a parody of words and really is Grand Rapids, Michigan. This was my first mystery series and they say you need to write what you know so I used the city I patrolled as a teenager looking for trouble. However in book three, A CASE OF HOMETOWN BLUES, Mitch leaves his beloved city and returns to the small town where he grew up.
For this setting, I melded a couple of small towns. I took the physical layout from a small city I worked at when I was first out of college. I needed a city with a New England Village Square and this fit the bill. All the government buildings like the city hall, police station and jail were placed around one side of the square. For the layout of the downtown, I took the city I had lived in for more than fifteen years.
It was ironic that HOMETOWN BLUES was about going back home again and while I was writing it, I was moving away from a small town I’d lived in for twenty years. I used some of the angst I felt leaving the small town security and moving to a larger city with more crime and less character. It was the exact opposite of what happens to Mitch Malone in the book.
In another twist, all the things I was going to miss about the town were all the things Mitch hated. He didn’t want to be called by name when he entered a store or restaurant. He didn’t want people to know where he was because they recognized his vehicle. He didn’t want to face the only family he had left. He liked being a loaner. In a small town, you can’t be alone. Everyone knows your name, especially if you are a regional celebrity who has come home.
As the town of Flatville starts to become more of a setting and turns into a character –a demon he has to either turn and fight or follow his previous method and running back to the anonymity of the big city. To find out what choices Mitch makes, read A CASE OF HOMETOWN BLUES.
Have you ever left a small town or lived in the anonymity of a big city? Which to you prefer and why?
W.S. Gager
Author of Humorous Whodunits
A Case of Infatuation, A Case of Accidental Intersection, A Case of Hometown Blues-Now Available
A Case of Volatile Deeds - Coming Fall 2012
A Case of Hometown Blues buylink: http://www.amazon.com/Case-Hometown-Blues-W-Gager/dp/1610090179/ref=la_B003U5OADU_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1351125657&sr=1-3
Website: http://wsgager.com
A CASE OF VOLATILE DEEDS Book Blurb:
Mitch finally scores a weekend dinner with a cute receptionist, but true to his reporter instincts an explosion in a high rise office building makes him stand up his date as he runs for an exclusive. When he investigates, he learns his date is the only casualty in a botched robbery at a real estate office. When femme fatale Patrenka Petersen returns, Mitch learns that much of what he knows about his date and her work aren’t what they seem. His world continues to twist when the police captain asks for his help and a city hall informant is found floating in the river. Mitch must keep his head down or a cute dog with a knack for finding dead bodies will be sniffing out his corpse.
Author Bio
Award winning mystery author W.S. Gager has lived in Michigan for most of her life except when she was interviewing race car drivers or professional woman's golfers. She enjoyed the fast-paced life of a newspaper reporter until deciding to settle down and realized babies didn't adapt well to running down story details on deadline. Since then she honed her skills on other forms of writing before deciding to do what she always wanted with her life and that was to write mystery novels. Her main character is Mitch Malone who is an edgy crime-beat reporter always on the hunt for the next Pulitzer and won't let anyone stop him. Her third book, A CASE OF HOMETOWN BLUES, was a finalist in the 2012 Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. A CASE OF VOLATILE DEEDS, her fourth in the Mitch series will be out this February.
W.S. Gager
Author of Humorous Whodunits
A Case of Infatuation, A Case of Accidental Intersection, A Case of Hometown Blues-Now Available
A Case of Volatile Deeds - Coming February 2013
15 comments:
Madison: Thank you so much for letting me visit today and talk about small towns. They can get under your skin!
Wendy
W.S. Gager on Writing
Wendy, as you know I'm fond of Mitch Malone and all his adventures. Also can identify with your Michigan setting--though this time of year I tend to shiver remembering--smile. And I understand what you mean about Flatville becoming more of a character than a setting.
You're welcome and a very interesting post. I moved from a small town to a larger city, but now back to a small town. I love the appeal of small towns but also understand the need to be in a big city where nobody knows your name. Good luck with your series!
I moved from my native Los Angeles to the Wyoming outback, where I explored and researched the state's rich history. I then spent most of my time writing both nonfiction and novels set in the state. Both places have their own advantages and drawbacks and I prefer living in a rural area within driving distance of a city.
Madeline: Every time it snows I think about that great photo of the Mojave Desert on your blog and it warms me. Route 66 is an interesting character in your books.
Wendy
W.S. Gager on Writing
Madison: I think you and I should share a house. One has a country one and the other a city and we could switch back and forth and both be happy. Thanks again for letting me talk about small towns!
Wendy
W.S. Gager on Writing
Jean: Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum. LA is so urban and the Wyoming outback so barren but yet beautiful. It's great that you enjoyed both settings. That is a hard mix.
Wendy
W.S. Gager on Writing
Wendy,
I've got some serious catching up to do. I've had "A Case of Infatuation" on my TBR list for far too long. I'd like to read the first book in your series and then move on to the next two. I'm looking forward to reading them all! And, I'd better get busy because I see you have a fourth book coming in February 2013.
I loved A Case of Hometown Blues. You nailed the small town flavor. This is fun following you around.
Small towns always present interesting settings for a mystery. Every small down has many "characters" providing rich ground for a writer. Keep up the good books.
Looking forward to reading the Mitch books!
Jake: So glad you stopped by. It is great seeing your comments! Thank you.
Wendy
W.S. Gager on Writing
Pat: I can't wait to hear what you think. That fourth one was a bear to write for some reason. Not sure why...
Wendy
W.S. Gager on Writing
Marilyn: I love these blog tours. It forces me to make the time to go our and read a bunch of really good blogs. Reading them is always last on by to do list and shouldn't be.
Wendy
W.S. Gager on Writing
Collin: Thanks for stopping by. I get to spend all day Thursday on your blog. It will be fun with those great questions you asked. I was probably a bit too honest!
Wendy
W.S. Gager on Writing
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