Whether a book has an amazing plot, incredible characters, or a spectacular setting, one way to turn a reader away from the story is to misrepresent a crucial fact. Ex: Did you know vehicles are not allowed to cross the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day 6 am to noon. As small as a sliver is, the irksome little irritant, pain can explode with a single touch. So also is the incorrect portrayal of a cultural detail. Readers will notice!! We don't have to visit the setting used in our book, but it helps. If you can't go to the location, there are other ways to ensure the culture is properly represented. And this is SOOOOOO crucial to keep readers reading the story! Take for example the book I am reading. I won't mention the title, but it was chosen because I happen to be in a beautiful rut reading tons of books with Parisian settings, watching movies filmed in Paris, and studying French, I've visited Paris--spent weeks in France, and okay, you get the drift. As a resu...
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