When I write, I like to write about what I know. You’ll (probably) never see me write a detailed and biologically accurate medical drama or a sci-fi novel about absolute reality versus perceived reality (case in point – I struggled with whether to call it “objective reality” or “absolute reality” and started going down a rabbit hole of philosophy sites. I’m definitely not ready to write about any of that).

That said, I am ready to write about places I know. I’ve traveled to and lived in several cities and countries, many of which have left their mark on me. One way to honor those places and their meaning is to incorporate them into my writing. In my opinion. writing from the heart makes one’s writing feel warmer and more authentic – even when the topic is vampires.

Thus, Turning Point is set in places I know and have experienced.

Here are some photographic highlights of prominent story locations:

The book is mainly set on the campus of Albion College in (not surprisingly) Albion, Michigan. I attended Albion College for two years after I graduated from high school. I met some of my closest friends there, and it has always held a strong place in my heart.

Various scenes also take place in Manhattan:

Both of those particular locations feature in my novel. They hold significance for me because the NYU area and West 4th Street were old haunts of ours when we lived in Manhattan. Steve and I would often wander down there on a weekend afternoon or head down that way for a night out. The nostalgia is strong…

So, there you have it. A glimpse into where some of my ideas come from.

Enjoy!

*The photos are from my personal collection. Taken by me and Steve (and maybe Sven).