Literary Culture

» cherylktardif - Toronto or Seattle? Does the Country Setting Matter Anymore?

Years ago, when I first started writing fiction (ok, try about 27 years ago!), I was always instructed to change my Canadian locations to American ones--"if you ever want to get published". Through numerous courses and then online research, it was a common thread for many years. Have things changed?

I have read numerous novels written by authors from both sides of the border who have written about characters on the opposite side. As a Canadian (and proud of it!) author, I am doing what I can to "keep it Canadian". My novels are set in Vancouver, Victoria, Bamfield, Kelowna, Penticton, Nahanni River (NWT), Quebec, Edmonton, Edson...and the list goes on.

Now that doesn't mean that I won't use US settings. In my Divine series, for instance, my psychic investigators can go anywhere. So expect them to head to Hawaii, Florida, California, New York...and even Bermuda, at some time.

I'd like to hear from avid readers. Does it turn you off if the story takes place in Canada? Or does it intrique you? Don't we like to be taken to far off, exotic places? Ok...well some parts of Canada can be described as exotic, maybe not Toronto. Does setting your story on one side of the border sell more books?

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Whale Song, Divine Intervention and The River

http://www.kunati.com/catalog_whale_song
http://www.cherylktardif.com

-- posted by cherylktardif