Ten years ago, if you asked me about living in Michigan, I would’ve been blunt. I would have said it sucked and that I couldn’t wait to get the heck out of there. The winters were (and still are) cold and the summers hot and sticky. There’s also a running joke amongst Michiganders about the seasons. Anyone who lives here knows that there are only two seasons in Michigan—Winter and Construction. Seriously, as soon as the snow and ice thaws, the road crews come out of the woodwork ready to lay that asphalt.
But now that I am older, I realize now that Michigan is in my blood. Sure the winters may be snowy and the summers hot and humid, but Michigan has many charms that make it a great place to live. There are beaches, lakes, rivers, and forests for those who enjoy the outdoors. There’s even the Porcupine mountain range in the Upper Peninsula. Then again, several people have informed me that those aren’t mountains, they’re hills. Heck, they look like mountains to me!
If you’re really not into that whole outdoor atmosphere, there’s also the city life. Many Michigan cities offer great entertainment. There’s always something going on in downtown Grand Rapids—plays, festivals, and concerts, to name a few.
I originally set my first novel, Wings of Desire, in Michigan. It’s only natural to write what you know, after all. Thirty-something years in Michigan makes me pretty darn knowledgeable. The book starts in April, which is when winter and spring fight each other in an epic battle of seasonal domination. My heroine, however, decided she wanted to get intimate with my hero in a pool. Obviously swimming in a pool in the middle of April isn’t that brightest idea. You could possibly freeze an appendage or two. Reluctantly, I moved my story to Phoenix, a place I’ve never visited. Luckily for my heroine, she gets spirited away to another realm before I had to get into details about life in Phoenix.
I finally decidedit was time to return to Michigan. My next novel, written as Sidney Ayers, takes place in a fictional Southwest Michigan community that is based loosely on my hometown. Names and places have been changed to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent. Sadly, my hometown does not have any demons that I know of. It was really fun writing this book and adding that local touch really makes it extra-special to me. Even though the town of Connolly Park is fictional, I still feel I am sharing a part of Midwest suburbia with my readers. Beauty School Demon will be published by Sourcebooks Casablanca in Spring of 2011. I’m fairly certain many of my other projects will be set in Michigan as well. As I said earlier, Michigan is in my blood, and I don’t think I’d have it any other way (Even if I tried!).
But now that I am older, I realize now that Michigan is in my blood. Sure the winters may be snowy and the summers hot and humid, but Michigan has many charms that make it a great place to live. There are beaches, lakes, rivers, and forests for those who enjoy the outdoors. There’s even the Porcupine mountain range in the Upper Peninsula. Then again, several people have informed me that those aren’t mountains, they’re hills. Heck, they look like mountains to me!
If you’re really not into that whole outdoor atmosphere, there’s also the city life. Many Michigan cities offer great entertainment. There’s always something going on in downtown Grand Rapids—plays, festivals, and concerts, to name a few.
I originally set my first novel, Wings of Desire, in Michigan. It’s only natural to write what you know, after all. Thirty-something years in Michigan makes me pretty darn knowledgeable. The book starts in April, which is when winter and spring fight each other in an epic battle of seasonal domination. My heroine, however, decided she wanted to get intimate with my hero in a pool. Obviously swimming in a pool in the middle of April isn’t that brightest idea. You could possibly freeze an appendage or two. Reluctantly, I moved my story to Phoenix, a place I’ve never visited. Luckily for my heroine, she gets spirited away to another realm before I had to get into details about life in Phoenix.
I finally decidedit was time to return to Michigan. My next novel, written as Sidney Ayers, takes place in a fictional Southwest Michigan community that is based loosely on my hometown. Names and places have been changed to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent. Sadly, my hometown does not have any demons that I know of. It was really fun writing this book and adding that local touch really makes it extra-special to me. Even though the town of Connolly Park is fictional, I still feel I am sharing a part of Midwest suburbia with my readers. Beauty School Demon will be published by Sourcebooks Casablanca in Spring of 2011. I’m fairly certain many of my other projects will be set in Michigan as well. As I said earlier, Michigan is in my blood, and I don’t think I’d have it any other way (Even if I tried!).
OK it's GIVEAWAY time!Arianna has offer to give away a pdf of Wings of Desire and a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate to 1 Lucky winner
To enter leave a comment on this post with your email address
Winner to Be Announced on Wednesday
Good Luck
Posts
23 comments:
I'd love to win!
I like the cover of the book! That red hair is just wild!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
Wow, the book looks fantastic.
k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk
Sounds like a interesting book. I don't think I could ever live in Michigan because I hate snow. I live in KY and we get some snow and it makes me sick thinking about driving in it and I hate that you have to bundle up to go outside.
sstrode@scrtc.com
I've never been to Michigan: it sounds like a wonderful place.
I want to hear more about Beauty School Demon. The title rocks (the rest of the book must, too.)
Meredith, thanks! I loved her hair. It really goes well with my heroine's personality too. Fiery. LOL.
Kaya, thanks so much :-)
Sherry, yes I still despise snow. During the winter I use several colorful words to describe what I think about snow. Colorful and snow, not two words often used together, right?
Kelly, I do have a blurb and excerpt on Sidney Ayers' website. http://www.sidneyayers.com/books.html
I love when authors write about the places they know. It always creates a desire to go there for me. Of course I am from southern California born and raised so I'd like to go anywhere at this point!!
Thank you for the giveaway!!
nedped at gmail dot com
That should say nedsped at gmail dot com!! I missed the 's' in nedsped.... oops!!!
I have been in Pa for many years ans still hate the cold weather. But this is home and I cannot imagine living anywhere else.
lorettaC
lbcanton@verizon.net
The Only part of Michigan I have seen is Grand Rapids and Cedar Springs.
Your books sounds very interesting.
kissinoak at verizon dot net
Thanks Mary. BEAUTY SCHOOL DEMON is actually set during winter in a fictional town based loosely on a suburb of Grand Rapids Michigan. It show's Michigan in all it's winter glory. LOL.
Books and Bane, i have yet to make it to So-Cal. Next year the Romantic Times Book Lovers' convention is slated for Los Angeles, so I may get there yet.
Loretta, exactly! It may get cold in the winter, but the summers make the winters worth it.
Estella, as I mentioned to Mary, Sidney's book is set in a fictional town based on a Grand Rapids suburb. It's actually not that far from Cedar Springs, either. (You probably drove through it to get there!) :-)
Hi Ari,
It's so funny how you describe Michigan. I feel the same way about Nebraska. I hate the winters and it's kinda boring here, but I can't see myself living anywhere else. Even though I hate the quietness, I love the feeling of peace and safety Midwesterners provide.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
Enter me also. Nice post. I've never been to Michigan but it sounds a lot like New Jersey. :)
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
The book sounds interesting!
Michigan is southeast of where I live In northwestern Ontario. I just wish our winters were (much) shorter.
chey127 at hotmail dot com
Funny, the first paragraph, I felt like Loretta, that it could have been PA.
Personally, I abhor winter and I hate sticky heat. I'd love to live in a place where the temps are comfortable all year round. Wishful thinking.
Like you, I do like to use my local sites for the backgrounds of my stories. I think that's neat and we learn a lot.
You have an awsome cover. Good luck with the books.
Hi Arianna,
I absolutely loved your Wings of Desire book. I love reading about the fae but have found very few books that I like. Yours is fabulous and I loved how original it is. Definitely a re-read for me:) Now I'm on the lookout for the rest of your books.
yadkny@hotmail.com
I've only ever driven trough Michigan, but I love when authors write books that take place in the midwest, being a MN born & bred girl!
minnchica(dot)bookpusher(at)gmail.com
This giveaway is awesome! Hope I win! *crosses fingers*
oreo_93@hotmail.com
Sorry forgot my e-mail address in the first post! Oopsie...
This sounds like a very interesting read. Count me in!
linaramz at yahoo dot com
No need to enter me - I just wanted to say hi to another Michigan girl. :)
Great post! This book sounds interesting :)
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Count me in! Michigan may be hot and humid, but I think South MS has it beat. The thermometer today, when I looked said 107 and that was before adding humidity.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
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