Setting is such a vital element in any narrative. Janet E. Green is privileged to have lived in different parts of the world, and, as a result, has had her imagination richly stimulated with a diverse array of settings in which to place her characters and to develop her plot. In this post, she shares some insights into some of the countries she has lived in–Kenya, Zambia, and the United Kingdom
Those who read my books will notice that the countries in which my various stories are set usually tend to be Kenya, Zambia or England. It is within these countries that I have lived large parts of my life, making it easier for me, as I set out to write a story, to identify with the way of life and the indigenous people who dwell there.
Kenya is the country of my birth and is a place of outstanding, dramatic landscapes. The countryside is diverse and varying and from the magnificent grandeur of Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa, (where Ngai, the Kikuyu god is said to have made his throne), to the spectacular coast line, there are impressive views to enjoy. There are great vistas over the Great Rift Valley, game parks full of intriguing wildlife, magnificent flamingo encrusted lakes full of birds of all kinds, breath taking escarpments and extinct volcanos that have left the mark of their activity in strange crags and larva canyons, now heavily wooded. Then there is the coast where the sea of many shades of blue and green, the pristine beaches and rustling palm trees are tinged with pink as the day dawns – a paradise in its own right. There are so many wonderful places in Kenya within which to put the characters of my story, and the drama of landscape enhances the narrative.
There are so many beautiful places in Kenya within which to set a story, but Zambia also has its own charm. Unlike Kenya, the beauty of the country is not so provocative. I have heard it said that topographically Zambia is a boring country, but I would certainly disagree with that. The beauty there is more elusive but, in my opinion, just as seductive with its Mopani woodland interspersed with golden glades and strange shaped koppies. In the summer months, the countryside stands out crisp and clear, but during the winter a bluish haze descends over everything, causing it to look ethereal and mysterious. Then there are the focal points of Victoria Falls and Lake Kariba, both dramatic features which just beg to be written into a story!
England is so different from Africa; it is softer and more gentle. Although it doesn’t have the breathtakingly stunning panoramas that are found in Africa, the countryside is pretty and charming, while the changing seasons transform the landscape in a pleasing way as the months roll by. There is also a sense of antiquity in England that is largely absent in Africa, and that in itself causes a portal to be opened when it comes to creating a saga for my characters.
I like to think that the setting for my stories enriches the narrative and helps the reader to relate to the characters who appear in the pages of my books.
