If you’ve caught any of my recent podcast chats, you probably know that location played a big role in Tattoos on Dead Tree Flesh. For four of the eight stories (or nine, if we count the one tying them together), the setting itself shaped and inspired the story. These are places I’ve visited, each one leaving its own unique, sometimes unsettling, mark on me.
Let’s take a look at a few of these spots and the experiences that brought them to life on the page.
Ghost Writer is set in Breckenridge Colorado – This story has more truth in it than you might expect. I was taking a writing class with an assignment to create a non-fiction piece, and I found the restrictions challenging. My roommate and I were heading to Breckenridge for the weekend so she could ski, and as the assignment deadline approached, I began writing about our experiences at the hostel where we were staying. There was plenty of material to work with—like the moment I found myself cornered on a couch by some very large, angry dogs, while the other guests at the hostel panicked around me!
In the end, I couldn’t make the story work for the assignment without adding a ghost… and a few other surprises. But none of it would have happened if I hadn’t first visited that charming hostel with its friendly hosts.
The New World Order is set in Los Angeles, California. At the top of the building at 900 Wilshire Blvd, there’s a restaurant called Spire 73 with incredible views of the city and fantastic food (reservations required). A few years ago, Steven and I discovered it when a friend chose it for her birthday celebration. Standing there, surrounded by the sweeping cityscape, modern ambiance, and glowing lights, my imagination ran wild. I began to wonder: what if fey magic suddenly appeared in the middle of a crowded urban area? Where could that happen without anyone noticing right away?
The answer, of course, was Hollywood. And as you can imagine, humans don’t always react well to the unexpected.
A Soul to Save puts us back in Colorado, at a Celtic music festival that happens between Denver and Boulder. I lived in that area for almost a decade – up in the mountains for many years, and then down in the city for just a few. It was a really fun festival, there were several bands playing that I really enjoy including Gaelic Storm, and I ended up people watching for a good portion of the day. Being single at the time, I also had to verbally fend off several enthusiastic young men who just couldn’t imagine that I was fine enjoying the festival on my own. The situation inspired the ever present question of “What If?”
Year Three – we’re back to Los Angeles again. This story was inspired by my work in the energy storage space. For those of you that are unaware, I have worked in energy storage for almost a decade. I work for a manufacturing company that produces energy storage devices globally – and between working for the company and living in Los Angeles, and many conversations between Steve and myself, the question came about – if you were three years in to the zombie apocalypse what would life be like? Particularly if the world -didn’t- totally collapse. Year three features such locations as the San Pedro Shipping yards, Beverly hills, and other locations around Los Angeles.
The other stories in Tattoos on Dead Tree Flesh take inspiration from people I’ve met, situations I’ve experienced, and things I’ve seen and done. Inspiration can come from anywhere, if you take the time to look, listen and be present.
If you’ve enjoyed hearing how these stories came about – let me know! I love hearing from you guys!