Welcome to another Open Book Blog Hop. Here’s this week’s question. “Has a book or movie ever been based somewhere you’ve lived? How did it compare?”
As far as I know, no book or movie has been based in Sheridan, Wyoming, though some movies were made in this area. But Craig Johnson bases the fictional town in his Longmire series on the town of Buffalo, about thirty miles north of here. However, his portrayal of the area isn’t realistic.
In The Cold Dish, the first in the series, which I reviewed here there’s an Indian reservation near this small town where Sheriff Longmire lives and works. In reality, no Indian reservation exists near Buffalo. The closest reservation is Crow Agency in Montana, north of here. There’s also the Wind River Reservation, located in the west-central part of Wyoming. I guess some authors, for whatever reason, feel the need to alter the location to fit the story.
How about you? Dos a book or movie take place anywhere you’ve lived? You can answer in the comment field below or click here to participate and read other responses.
Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography
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by Two Pentacles Publishing
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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me
Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.
Independently published with the help of DLD Books.
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by Two Pentacles Publishing
Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.
After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.
Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.
Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?
***
My Corner 
I think one of my favourite films, The Horse Whisperer, was made in Montana, but I’m not sure how far Montana is from you.
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The Montana border is about thirty miles north of here. I’ve been meaning to read the book, The Horse Whisperer. Thank you for reminding me about that.
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In fiction, a large amount of realism is required or the fiction becomes fantasy which may not be the writer’s intent so care must be taken. I am assisting an author with a book that includes specific geographic references that are close enough to reality to properly ground the reader but with just enough camoflauging to give the author the “poetic license” she needs.
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Hi, Tony and all.
I’m currently working on a book I started as a blog series years ago. The town is loosely based on the one in which I live. I’ve added just enough reality to make it seem realistic without making it so everyone in Kingsport knows who is who and what’s what.
Fiction is fun.
About Patty L. Fletcher
Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. She is Also a Social Media Marketing Assistant.
See her published work and more here.
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Be that as it may, being familiar with the area where Craig Johnson’s books are set, I found his first one disorienting and doubt I’ll read any more. But that’s just me. Every author needs to do what every author has to do.
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Hi, Abbie.
Since itâs a fiction, itâs not uncommon for authors to diddle with locations, and even create some which do not exist.
Those sorts of things are just to be expected. If the story is good, it wonât make any difference.
Iâve read several books based in TN with fictional towns, areas, etc. which in reality didnât exist. But in fiction all things are possible.
About Patty L. Fletcher
Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport Tennessee where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. She is Also a Social Media Marketing Assistant.
See her published work and more here.
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The TV series Longmire was even worse as far as geographic reality. They ‘shrunk’ the distance to Denver and it always bothered me.
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I’ve never seen the television series, but I can understand why you would be disoriented by the distance between Buffalo and Denver being shorter than it actually is.
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It seems such a shame to go to all the trouble of producing a show and then ignoring the setting.
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I agree.
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