The HEA Cafe

I went walking in the woods last night.  We’re nearly into fall here in the Mid-Atlantic region, and a few leaves are starting to turn, nuts and acorns litter the ground, the scent of woodsmoke is in the air.  And I started thinking about how much I enjoy walking in the woods on an autumn day — and how much pleasure I get from other simple things.

 So, at the risk of sounding as if I’m in The Sound of Music, I thought I would compile a (partial) list of my favorite things:

-Freshly laundered sheets. 

-My house when I’ve had the windows open, and the air smells fresh.

-Flowers, whether they are in a vase or planted in pots on my deck.

-A fire in the fireplace.

-Watching a flock of birds twist, expand, and dip in the sky.

-Gray skies.

-Walking on a dirt trail in the warm sunshine.

-Cuddling up with a good romance novel (of course!).

Well, I could go on, but I won’t.  But it occurred to me while I was compiling this list that many of the things I enjoy the most have to do with my environment or setting.  I’m very affected by what’s around me — colors, scents, scenery.  I love to drive in my car and look at the trees, the sky, the way the colors merge or contrast.

So it’s no surprise that the setting of my books is also very important to me.  Since I’m so influenced by my surroundings, I assume my characters will be, too.  Showing the setting of a scene can be a challenge, but it’s also a fabulous way to foreshadow danger, show the character’s mood.  In fact, the setting is usually the first thing I decide on when beginning a new book.

So is anyone else out there a setting fanatic?  Any simple pleasures you enjoy?