Living in a book world is living the dream (or nightmare, depending on the book you pick). A book world comes alive in a writer’s imagination, and is given form in the pages of a book–the book world could be real or fantastic, could be scifi or dystopian, and everything in between.
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group question for this month is : If you could live in any book world, which one would you choose?
To be honest, right now, I’d give eye-teeth to be in the book world of The Blue Bar: its nexus of crime and corruption, its balance of spicy fare and gritty crime, and its charcaters who grow and develop in the as-yet-unnamed sequel.
I’ve scribbled out the first draft of the sequel, and must start work on the next. If only I were a police inspector at one of Mumbai’s dozens of police stations, or a cult leader, or an expert on caste dynamics in India, this would go so much better. I had all the time in the world to write The Blue Bar, but to write the sequel I had exactly one year, a lot of which is already gone.
So yes, the book world of Mumbai–the place where people who have read The Blue Bar automatically assume I was born in. Not true. I’ve lived there for a spell, steeped myself in research and created that book world. I hope I can do the same for the sequel.
In the meanwhile, early reviews of The Blue Bar have trickled in, and they’ve been encouraging. If you have the time and enthusiasm, you can scroll below for links to pre-order or click here.
Today is the first Wednesday of the month post for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
Founded by the Ninja 
Cap’n Alex J. Cavanaugh, the purpose of the group is to offer a safe space where writers can share their fears and insecurities without being judged. This is a wonderful group–if you aren’t a part of it, I urge you to join in!
The awesome co-hosts for the July 6 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Janet Alcorn, PJ Colando, Jenni Enzor, and Diane Burton!
What book world would you rather live in? Is it a book you read, or one you wrote? I’d love me some book recommendations!
My own crime novel, The Blue Bar will be out this October with Thomas & Mercer. It is already available for preorders. Add it to Goodreads or pre-order it to make my day.
If you liked this post, you can receive posts in your inbox, or keep updated in my writing by clicking on any or all of the following buttons:
GET CURATED PUBLISHING RESOURCES SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG JOIN DAILY(W)RITE ON FB FOLLOW ON BOOKBUB
Cult leader — that sounds like a good part-time job for a crime novelist 🙂
Sounds like a very gritty world. Gritty makes for great stories though.
Thank you for sharing!!.. I just follow my heart… 🙂
Until we meet again..
May your troubles be less
Your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door
(Irish Saying)
“One year, a lot of which is already gone”
I’m in the same boat, so I feel your struggle! Sequels are so difficult. From now on, it’s standalones only for me.
Hahaha, I feel you Kim! 😀 Thank you for visiting!
What an exciting world you’ve envisioned! Can’t wait for the sequel. The cover is quite striking 😉
Thank you so much Diedre! 😀
What a powerful opening to your forthcoming book. You’ve given me something to look forward to in January. Congratulations. Know that others are cheering you on as you make your final revisions.
Thanks Beth, that’s so kind of you to say. Just the words I need as I wrestle with the sequel.
I don’t know if I’d want to live in one of the world’s of my own creation or not. Interesting thought!
I’m a very curious person, if I had the opportunity to get to know my characters better, why not? You know what I mean? 😀 Thank you for visiting Samantha!
Congratulations on your book! The cover is gorgeous!
Thank You so much Elizabeth! 😀
congrats on your upcoming release. sounds like a great crime thriller!
i’ve never been lucky enough to experience India, but I researched and interviewed friends who lived there for my first book several years ago… wondrous place!
Thank you so much Tara! India is definitely an experience. Each state is so unique in itself, you’d feel like you are visiting different mini countries
You share the name of my protagonist. 😀
I haven’t read crime fiction in years. I do enjoy watching shows like True Detective, American Detective and the like. I’ll have to check out this book. 🙂
Nice! Let me know once you get a chance to read it 😀
I look forward to visiting your world in print!
I can’t wait to know what you think! 😀
It’s already on my Goodreads TBR and Amazon wishlist.
I loved your previous book. So, even though I don’t read a whole lot of crime novels, I’m excited to read this. (Doesn’t come out until Jan 1 in American Amazon Kindle.)
For the IWSG July prompt asking which book world I would live in, I narrowed it down to three choices.
One is a short-story I published. One is from a popular series. And one is better known from television, but there are books. It’s all on my blog.
“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffett
Over at Operation Awesome, our Pass or Pages query contest is open this week with July’s family saga genre. Know any writers who might want to enter?
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author
Thank you so much! Your support means a lot–I appreciated your review of You Beneath Your Skin 😀
I did visit your post and I must say, it’s definitely a world I’d like to visit for sure!
Living in the world you created makes logical sense, and my love for noir runs deep. I look forward to reading your books. Sounds like I could live there. Congrats on the next publication!
Thank you, Adrienne, and welcome to Daily (w)rite! My first, You Beneath Your Skin, did have a noir-ish bent, and so does my next. Very kind of you to want to read them.
I like how most of us would choose to live in our own worlds. Like we enjoy our creations or something. 😉
Yeah definitely! I guess, it is the sheer curiosity of seeing our characters in flesh and watching them actual be live beings 😀
I loved “You Beneath Your Skin,” Damyanti, and I am looking forward to reading “The Blue Bar!” I wish you every success with your upcoming release.
Thank you so much! That means a lot to me Louise–I loved your thoughts on You Beneath Your Skin 😀 Do visit again–and can’t wiat for you to read The Blue Bar.
I love that you didn’t shy away from choosing your own world, even with the grittiness and crime. Facing and overcoming challenges is what makes life meaningful, even in fiction. Very exciting that you’re off and running with the sequel!
Thank You so much Lee! That means a lot 😀
Congrats on your upcoming release!
Thank you so much Donna! 😀
Oh, yeah. When you’re writing a story set in a world different from your own, you want to be there. In truth, you’re there, in spirit if not in body. You walk those streets, talk to those people, and see through their eyes. Otherwise, you’d be unable to write about them.
You are absolutely right Olga! 😀 Now that I think about it, we do have a very omnipresent role while writing our stories.
Very natural to want to live in the world we create. It would be fascinating!
IKR?! It is would definitely be amazing if we could 😀
Sounds like a fascinating setting! Congrats on the upcoming release.
Thank you so much Yvonne! 😀
I understand this perfectly well, Damyanti. I’d like to badly be in one of the settings in my wip. Only, it’s not possible and I’m spending all my time reading about it.
Aww! Yes, if only we could actually visit our worlds! Also, I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in your WIP 😀
I think we fall in love with the worlds we create, so it’s natural we’d want to live in them – but I wouldnt want to live it that dangerous world you’ve got there!
Hahaha, I don’t blame you Jemima. I do have a dangerous curiosity don’t I? 😀 SInce the ARC is in your inbox, I look forward to what you think.
History novels would be my book world of choice
Ah! Yes, it would be super fun to interact with historical figures.
What a tough questions to answer. I will have to ponder on this one…
Yeah absolutely, especially when there are a lot of amazing choices out there 😀
I wish you all the best writing the sequel to The Blue Bar. I don’t think I’d like to inhabit that world to be honest.
Thank you so much! I don’t blame you Denise, it is definitely not the safest world to live in 😀 Now that you’ll be reading it soon, you’ll tell me more, I’m sure.
You’re far braver than I am – no surprise there. I’d like to jump into many book worlds – but after the villain’s been caught! 🙂
Good luck with that sequel!
Hahaha, we all wish for the bad stuff to be mellow 🙂 Thank You Jemi!
I think I’d like to live in the world of my novel TELLING SONNY, the days of Small-Time vaudeville and no cell phones. Here is a universal link to the book, since you asked for book recommendations! https://books2read.com/u/mZZyDJ
I feel like I do need the “No Technology” vacation soon. 😀 Thank you so much for sharing this with me, Liz 😀
I think it’s so fantastic to be able to write about a world you would also want to live in. Good luck with the sequel!
Thanks a lot Miffie! 😀
I love it that you want to exist in a world that you created for your characters! Mine are pretty realistic, so I’m kind of already there. I think a fantasy or sci-fi setting would be exciting. Congrats on your latest book! I’m looking forward to reading it!
A good fantasy or sci-fi setting would definitely be a good place to escape into 🙂 Thanks a lot Mary–I really appreciated your review of You Beneath Your Skin! Do visit again 😀
The Blue Bar is soooo close now.
Huge thanks to those authors who give readers like me new and exciting worlds to explore.
Yes! I’m quite excited and nervous 😀 Thank you Sue, that means a lot 😀
You and I picked our own worlds–I love that. That says a lot about those settings.
Jacqui, IKR?! I wondered quite a lot about where I should position myself in the story 😀
BTW, I’m about half way through The Blue Bar (far enough to know what that means–it’s not the lights atop a police car). I loved Book 1. This is even better.
omg, that’s wonderful, Jacqui! So glad you think this is an improvement–very kind of you to read.
The cover looks riveting. A real eye catcher. Of course you should pick your book; why else would you spend hours upon hours writing it if you weren’t obsessed? Great choice. And there’s no doubt you’ll finish the sequel.
Haha, Yes, I would definitely love to learn more about the characters and the setting in depth. Thank you so much Joylene 😀
You’ll finish that sequel!
Haha, thanks for the vote of confidence Alex! 😀
Your book sounds amazing! It’s a complement to your world building skills that people assume that you live there. But it sounds like you put a lot of research into the setting to build on what you already know.
Although I probably wouldn’t choose a crime novel to live in, this sounds like a fascinating place!
Very true Jenni, the sheer curiosity of wanting to know more is what makes me want to live in this world 🙂 Thank you for visiting!
Your book world sounds like a fascinating place to explore!
Thanks a lot, Lee! 😀