WC052720
Today is books set in my city or state.
It's not possible to count the number of books, graphic novels, movies, TV shows that have dealt with William H. Bonney or known as Billy the Kid. I've driven through Fort Sumner, NM. a million times over my life and never had the urge to visit the outlaw's grave. We drove through Lincoln, NM on the 4th of July and watched their parade celebrating the Lincoln County War.
Naturally I set one of my books in Albuquerque. It's about a physics professor wrongly arrested and accused of selling cocaine. He develops super conducting plates that will levitate and turn anything they're under into a magic carpet. Naturally he uses them to make flying cars, but how do you sell them after 911? For a review by Berthold Gambrel click here.
The first book I remember being set in Albuquerque came out twenty or more years ago and sold respectably here, but not much better elsewhere. We have an international balloon fiesta every year in October (doubtful this year). Balloons are a regular feature in the mornings if the weather's right, and it usually is. They fly over my house regularly to land in the mesa behind my back wall.
The best selling thriller author, Joseph Badal, moved to Cedar Crest on the other side of Sandia Mountain from Albuquerque and has written two series of books set in Albuquerque and New Mexico. This is a picture of me buying one of his Lassiter/Martinez books at Treasure House books in Old Town.
The Lassiter/Martinez books of: Borderline, Dark Angel and Justice is about two female detectives who have to solve crimes and battle sexual harassment.
The Curtis Chronicles are about a doctor, who's also a retired Navy SEAL, who moves to Cedar Crest. His sister is murdered in Hawaii and when he goes to her funeral he tracks down the drug king pin who murdered her and takes down his empire. The drug dealer then decides to take revenge on Curtis and his family, trying to live peacefully in New Mexico.
George R. R. Martin lives in Santa Fe, where he writes his Game of Thrones books. Lew Wallace was the territorial governor of New Mexico and wrote Ben Hur in the Governor's Palace.
Tony Hillerman wrote about murder mysteries on the Navajo Reservation.
Please pray for the Dine people, they have been hard hit with Covid 19. The other native peoples across the country are struggling too.
Anne Hillerman, Tony's daughter has continued his work.
No Place for Old Men, and Best Picture Oscar winning film was filmed here, and of course the TV Shows: In Plain Sight and Breaking Bad, the spin off, Better Call Saul is still filming here. We now have three studios in the state with filming on hiatus right now, but it won't be long until they're making more.
My regrets to Dr. Irene Blea, Hank Bruce and Jonathan Miller who I've already posted about their works from Southwest Writers and Writers2writers.
18 comments:
Wow! I hadn't realized so much as filmed there or that the place had been written about (Billy the Kid notwithstanding). I'll have to check these out. Vander’s Magic Carpet looks really interesting. Thanks for the suggestion. :)
What a great post. I didn't realize so many stories were set in your area!
Megan, New Mexico is kind of forgotten as a state, but we're making some noise now with the movie industry. Thanks for coming by.
Yes, we've always had a rich history in the arts, but mostly in painting and photography. Thanks for your comment.
Looks like a great setting for TV and film - Breaking Bad has such a distinct look!
Clear skies, mild climate, wide open spaces make for good filming here. With Better Call Saul it messes up the courthouses where I used to take pleadings for the attorney I worked for. Thanks for coming by Catherine.
Enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharing. I've read all of Tony Hillerman's books as well has his daughters. I met Anne at a conference in Colorado a few years back. She is a trip and a good speaker. I've added a few new to me authors to my TRB list from yours. Here's mine. https://www.tenastetler.com/lsrs-wednesdays-blog-challenge-books-set-in-my-city-or-state/
Glad you got to meet Anne. I've never met her and her father once wrote a letter to the editor supporting what I'd written to the paper. We never met.
I had no idea that so many set their books in New Mexico. I guess I don't keep up with current books as much as some. I'm more of a NF reader, though I write romance. My father-in-law loved Tony Hillerman, so my husband has read all of his dad's books that he inherited.
And after all that Navajo people have done for this country, and not only during wars, it's an egregious outrage that we send supplies overseas, but can't spare any for the indigenous folks of this land we proclaim to love.
Glad your husband and father read Hillerman, Fiona. Thanks for your concern.
Impressive list of books, Patrick! Tony Hillerman is a favorite by many in my family. Enjoyed your post! Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by earlier (and 5 AM is probably about the only time when going through Atlanta might be described as peaceful.. lol). Tony Hillerman is a favorite in our house as well. His daughter is doing a great job. And, there are many on your list I'm adding to my TBR list!!
Glad your husband and father read Hillerman, Fiona. Thanks for your concern.
Glad she is so well known, Judy.
This is a great list! We visited NM on one of our cross-country moves and it is simply beautiful there. I want to visit again some day. I just read an article about the struggles of the Navajo during this outbreak. We live not far from Qualla Boundary here, the Cherokee Eastern Band Nation. They closed all access right away when this whole thing began. They've had a few cases up there, but sequestering the Nation certainly helped them. Terrible situation.
The balloon fiesta is planned with much modification for this year. That's the time to visit. The weather is perfect and everything is open, except skiing. Good to hear that nation in NC is faring better, Dixie.
This has been a great topic for learning about different places. Thanks for sharing your books, Patrick.
Yes it has, cathryn. Thanks for coming by.
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