Adventure series writer, Sandra Bennett, visits today to highlight the importance of setting in stories. Learn how she is inspired to research her settings to create authenticity.
For me, research is absolutely essential before I start writing any book in my Adamson Adventures series.The first part of that research is deciding where to set the story. Many authors begin with an idea of a character, but for this series, it has always been about the location.
Right from the beginning, many years ago when I was in Bali, I knew I wanted to write an adventure story set on this exotic island.
As we toured around and I immersed myself in the culture and environment, book one, Secrets Hidden Below, was born. I studied the people, their history and traditions along with the language and gained certificates 1 and 2 in Bahasa Indonesia.
When it was time to write book two, A Lighthouse in Time, I always knew I wanted to write something about the old, ruined lighthouse at Cape St George on the NSW south coast. As a family we had spent many January Summer holidays in the region, and I believed that there had to be a ghost story around that lighthouse. I researched the area and learnt about the many shipwrecks that occurred in the area and why they occurred.
When it was time to write the third book, Fossil Frenzy, I looked towards the obvious, (well to me anyway) location in outback Queensland around the base of the escarpment where the dry plains reveal more and more dinosaur fossils every year. It was the perfect setting for my kids and readers to learn all about our unique dinosaurs. That meant a trip to the area, including the Age of Dinosaurs Museum that sits atop the plateau overlooking the massive fossil site, was essential.
When it was time to write book four, Tracks in the Mist, I had to think long and hard as to where I wanted to set the story. Tasmania has always had a special place in my heart ever since my husband and I worked in Hobart for six months when we were first married, nearly forty years ago. It was the perfect place for the finale of my series. The hardest decision was deciding where exactly in Tasmania’s beautiful wilderness to set it.
I researched all the National Parks and camping grounds where dogs were allowed. In the initial concept, the farm dog, Grommet, from Fossil Frenzy, was going to make a return. In the end he didn’t make an appearance, but he did help me find my ideal location.
But
you can only research so much online, which I was doing as we were in the
middle of covid and unable to travel. Finally, I decided, that the only way I
could do justice to my research and subsequently my story, was to hold off from
writing it until I could visit the incredible area south of Hobart, right down
to the isolated stunning region of Cockle Creek. I find that if I experience a
place, then I can write about it. It helps me to be able to use all my senses
in my descriptions and make the story richer and hopefully, mesmerising for my
readers.
While in Tasmania I was also able to learn about their endangered wildlife, both birds and animals that I wanted to include in the story. Naturally I had to also do much research on the thylacine. No story set in Tasmania would be complete without it. I read as many books on the Tasmanian Tiger as I could lay my hands on, including picture books and a recent non-fiction release from CSIRO. Along with YouTube videos, I was able to complete my research and finally start writing the story.
Why
is the setting so important for my Adamson Adventures? With the right setting,
I can then research everything else I need to know to be able to bring fact and
fiction together in my stories. This helps to make the stories inclusive as it
bridges the gap between the fiction and non-fiction reader. I also hope that in
reading about these places, children will be encouraged to visit and explore
them in person one day. The more real I can make the setting, the easier it is
for the readers to be immersed in the story and maybe even be eager to explore
other amazing places in Australia and beyond.
Sandra Bennett has been writing but not always publishing her stories since last century. Helping to increase literacy levels in our children is something that Sandra is very passionate about and has been ever since she started teaching back in prehistoric times. She believes that learning to read and love books from an early age is the essential ingredient to promote growth in our next generations.
Living in country NSW, Sandra spends her days taking long walks up steep hills and through beautiful valleys while plotting stories that include loads of her experiences in nature, and the ever-changing and often harsh, Australian environment we live in. These include her award-winning chapter book series the Adamson Adventures. Secrets Hidden Below, book 1, shortlisted Speech Pathology Book of the year 2019, A Lighthouse in Time, book 2 and Fossil Frenzy, book 3, winner Queensland Writers Centre Adaptable Competition 2020 as well as various international awards. Along with these three thrilling and intriguing previous adventures, book 4, Track in the Mist, will keep kids reading well after lights out with its mystery and will be released in June 2024.
Other than her Adamson Adventures series, Sandra has previously written two short chapter books, two picture books, a small graphic novel for Library For All and many short stories for various anthologies.
She is pleased and excited to also announce the release of Dragons Drumming in February 2024.