There and Back Again...A New Journey

A couple of weeks ago, I not only trekked across the vast open space of the U.S, but we travelled thirty-six hours for two reasons. The first was to accompany my sister before she starts her new job in a state across the country. It was a big step for her, and while we all supported her decision, I realized it would be a long time before we would see each other again. It was bittersweet as we both have reached the point in our lives when we want to say we did 'something' instead of 'nothing'. The second reason I wanted to go on this long journey was to visit Seattle, the setting of my first book, Midnight City.

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When you set out to create a book, especially in a setting you've never visited yourself, you have to do a lot of research. In this case, Google Maps. However, things change, and sometimes things that were there one moment, are torn down and replaced with another. This is why I wanted to see the city for myself. Would it change anything? No, probably not. What's written is written. But I get to experience what my characters experience. I'm not just describing a street that I have no idea what's on anymore. I can now walk the same path my characters did. It was pretty cool, but it definitely wasn't what I expected. Many things I did write about four years ago had changed. The biggest change I noticed was with Northgate Mall, the location of the climax, and yet it was completely under construction. Like most malls, the effects of 2020 still take a toll, and many of the shops have long since vacated. Much construction plagued the downtown area, causing a lot of traffic gridlocked around the city. 

My favorite place, and ironically the last place I visited, was the pier. Was it what I imagined? Absolutely not. Google Maps was never able to get close to it, thus I had to use my imagination for all of it. I was pretty off base, and to any native-Seattler who read it and was confused, my apologies. But seeing how lively the shops were, how calm the water was, it was different from the fast-paced city right behind it.
Would I go back? Doubtful. This definitely felt like a one-and-done trip. I'm glad I got to see the place, and I feel I can picture the scenes better compared to the view I got from the internet, but I'm ready to move on. Like my sister, we have to continue to pursue our dreams. On to the next book, and to a new location.