I made many decisions when writing my novels, Behind the Lens and Double Exposure, but three of them governed all the others. First, my main character is a war photographer, which means I needed a war zone. Second, I set the stories primarily in Afghanistan despite never having been there. Third, I intentionally blurred the lines of fiction and nonfiction—my novels are most definitely fiction, but I want my readers to believe they’re in Afghanistan. In short, I faced a mountain of research—everything from what Afghan cities and villages look like, to Afghan literature and culture, to Pashto and Dari languages, to cuisines, to military slang—because “setting” involves so much more than sticking a pin in a map. Then, to make sure I got everything right, I vetted my work. I’ll describe the world-making decisions I made and the kinds of sources I used as well as the advisors I consulted.

A former English professor, Jeannée Sacken is a photojournalist who travels the world documenting the lives of women and children. She published Behind the Lens, her first novel in the Annie Hawkins series, with Ten 16 Press (traditional contract) in 2021. American Writing Awards named Behind the Lens 2021 Best Book of the Year (Fiction), Best Women’s Fiction, and Best Mystery/Suspense. Firebird Awards recognized Behind the Lens as Best Debut Novel and as a Finalist for Women’s Fiction and Suspense. Shelf Unbound recognized Behind the Lens as a Notable Book. The audiobook, narrated by actress Nicole Swanson, released on Audible in March 2022. Double Exposure, the second Annie Hawkins novel will launch in September 2022.

Find Jeannee here!

https://www.jeanneesacken.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanneesacken
Instagram: Jeannee Sacken (@authorjeanneesacken)
Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/JeanneeSacken

Schedule (Pacific Time)

9:00 a.m. Zoom link will open for casual chat and networking
9:30-10:30 a.m. Business Meeting
10:30-11:30 p.m. Presentation, followed by Q&A