Rhys is Researching.

 RHYS BOWEN: This has been one of few occasions when I'm NOT writing. Clare and I are close to the end of the next Molly book and I'm leaving it to her to finish it (we know whodunit and why).

I am due to start on the next Spyness book, which I'm calling FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE.  AND, as many of you will know if you follow us or are a member of Reds and Readers, I have managed to sneak a quick trip to Europe spending a lovely week in the town of Cassis, in Southern France.  The reason for going there ( apart from fabulous views, sunshine and good food) is that I have used it as the basis for my next stand alone novel MRS ENDICOT'TS EXCELLENT ADVENTURE. I've talked about it here--middle aged British woman escapes to the South of France and starts and new and exciting life. 

The town I have set this in is fictitious but anybody who has been to Cassis will recognize it. I made it fictitious as bad things happen in my story an there is a villa on the cliffs that doesn't exist in real life. I had been through the area before so I had a general impression but I wanted the details that bring a story to life and make it real. So I made notes as we drove through the countryside--more pine trees than I had expected. I made notes as I walked thrugh the market and saw what was for sale. 

And when they landed the catch at the port and when the men assembled to play Petanque. Now I can go through my ms and fine tune all the descriptions, bringing my town of St Benet to life.

Cassis (and my St Benet) is a small harbor town set amid steep hillsides with a great cliff at one side.

The area is famous for the Calenques (inlets between steep sea cliffs). The hillsides are covered in vines.

At nighttime it's magical: 

And our apartment had this lookout from the grounds.

 Not bad, huh? Needless to say I didn't get any real writing done while we were there. Back to the grind later this week.

Writers, do you have to go to the place you are writing about? Readers, how important is the feel of the place in a book?