There is one element of the series’ development that stands out pretty clearly in my mind, though; something which I feel is an integral part of it—the setting. Colorado in the first decade of the 20th century. Again, I can’t say exactly when I picked this time and place, but I do remember how and why. It came about mainly because of two books I read, and a random sentence in a third. The first was Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden, and the second was Clover by Susan Coolidge. The former was nonfiction, the latter fiction; both were set in Colorado, and the descriptions of the setting in both books fascinated me. To begin with, I’ve always adored mountains. In addition, the juxtaposition of early 20th-century modernity with the remnants of the frontier West, as portrayed in Nothing Daunted, presented all sorts of fascinating possibilities for stories. Edwardian-era Colorado had both thriving cities and remote settlements. Ranching, mining, railroads were industries that held plenty of interest. Also, the plot of Clover was driven by the heroine’s accompanying her younger brother to Colorado for his health—which opened up even further possibilities. As a popular resort for invalids and travelers of all sorts and social classes, where could I find a better place for bringing in whatever characters I needed to fill the cast of a mystery?
I read Nothing Daunted earlier this year myself, and also found it inspiring! That juxtaposition of old and new was so intriguing, and while I'm not sure I'll ever write anything set quite in that era, I got several interesting ideas from the book.
Colorado is one of the prettiest states and has an interesting history. :)I think Mrs Meade is an interesting person to put against a mountain background.