I had a great time at the RWA national conference in Brisbane attending interesting and informative tutorials, meeting up with old friends and making new ones, and being inspired by the cameraderie and enthusiasm of the writers there.
Because I had spare time when I arrived on the Thursday, I caught a City Cat ferry to New Farm Park and did a bit of research there for MM&M. New Farm is one of the oldest parts of Brisbane and home to the Powerhouse, which was Brisbane’s original source of electric power. It’s been transformed into an arts and cultural hub, with theatres, conference venues and restaurants. Films, live theatre, music performances – you name, you’ll find it there. The park itself is a wonderful place for families, with rolling lawns, huge trees, and a fantastic children’s playground.
More ideas for the book flooded in as I walked around the park. Place can be very important in a story, and visiting locations allows you to write about them with authenticity and feeling. My books are set in locations as diverse as the modern metropolis of Sydney and Carnarvon Gorge in Queensland, an ancient place that vibrates with the spirits of the people who first trod its rugged wilderness many many centuries ago.
I’d love to know if readers think location is important in the books they read.