Lo amo l'Italia!

By Lisa Harris

When I first start writing almost twenty years ago, the settings of my stories were pretty random and never played an intricate part of the story. But over the years, both through writing and reading, I've learned that not only is setting key, it can actually be weaved into the story like another character. Whither it's a South African game farm, the Smoky Mountains, or the barren Sahara desert, the setting can be used not just to anchor a story, but to make it come to life.

Last summer, knowing I was going to write a book set in Italy, our family was able to fly into Rome on our way back to the United States. I've just now started working on the story--another fast paced Romantic Suspense--and the chance to actually visit cities like Rome, Pisa, and Venice, has given me additional details and insight into the country that goes beyond internet research. 

Since I've started writing, I'm enjoying going back through my notes and photos, I thought I'd share some of my favorite photos from our trip.

What about you? What book have you read lately that does an excellent job of weaving the setting into the story?

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LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom and Vendetta, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times. She has over thirty novels and novella collections in print. She and her family have spent over twelve years working as missionaries in Africa. When she's not working she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com