It’s easier to remember winter fondly when you’re safe from the daily truth that the isolation can bring into your life.
As many blog readers now. I might live in Miami now, but I remember growing up in Boston. Boston is windier than Chicago and it’s ten degrees colder than New York. I might not understand how the winters of Nebraska are, but no matter where you are, the snow brings out this isolation.
In Winter Peril, I originally did not have Erica ever leaving the house. A friend who read the draft was like ‘she needs to leave.’ I argued that it’s deadly to go outside in the snowstorm, but she was adamant. The girl needs some self respect and ‘I would go.’ The friend is a Floridian. The character is a Floridian. I gave up the argument and wrote in the wolves attack. She needed to stay in the house. It was a fun scene that also ended up changing the dynamic of the couple in the story.
In Stormy Peril I had Kimberly diving into the frigid Atlantic ocean for a few minutes. She comes back shivering cold, but she succeeded in her mission. She had a clue.
So yes I really do dream about winter. In my new manuscript I’m penning now, it has a winter and isolation element. Growing up I remember having to spend the day in my bedroom because I couldn’t go outside. Families get louder and even if we’re all in our own room somehow the air becomes tight. Spring allows for escape. I always longed for the time when I didn’t have to shovel snow to get the car out of the driveway. Moving to Miami fulfilled that dream and I didn’t wait until I retired to do it.
With all this said, I hope everyone on the east coast of the USA stays safe. The storm looks horrible. I’ll be snuggling up with my RITA books to read today. I hope you have something inviting to read while you’re stuck inside the house but SAFE.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does winter isolation affect the mood and setting of a thriller novel?
Winter isolation creates a naturally confined, tense atmosphere in thriller fiction. In the novel Winter Peril, the author originally kept the protagonist Erica entirely indoors during a snowstorm, arguing it was too deadly to go outside. This isolation shaped the story’s dynamic and heightened the danger, ultimately leading to a key plot scene involving a wolf attack when the character did venture out.
What is it like living in Boston winters compared to other cold-weather cities?
According to someone who grew up in Boston, the city is windier than Chicago and about ten degrees colder than New York. Boston winters bring significant snow and isolation, requiring tasks like shoveling snow out of driveways just to use a car. The harsh conditions are memorable enough that many Boston natives eventually relocate to warmer cities like Miami to escape them.
Is it better to stay inside or go outside during a severe snowstorm?
During a severe snowstorm, staying indoors is generally the safer choice. A thriller author notes that when writing Winter Peril, she kept her protagonist inside specifically because going out in a snowstorm is deadly — a point reinforced when the character who did venture outside was attacked by wolves. Real winter storms, like major east coast events, carry serious risks that make sheltering in place the recommended option.
