California Dreamin’
When I first started writing Inked Caffeine, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that it would take place in LA. I’ve just always had this odd obsession. I fantasize about going to Disneyland (Disneyworld will have to do), I’ve always wanted to go to Pacific Pier in Santa Monica, and I’ve always wanted to go to Hollywood. Not even for the ‘glitz and glamour’, because I honestly just don’t care (but I do think it’s cute that North America has its own little Rich Club: Members Only). The national parks that the state has to offer are breathtaking. The weather, the beaches, the art, the architecture…
I could go on.
Once I got the idea, the first thing I did was open Google Maps, go to Hollywood, and plan out where I wanted everything to initially take place. Melrose, Vine, and Highland caught my attention, having no idea how iconic they all were to the city. The research carried on from there and I made it that geographically, everything was realistically distanced (there are obviously some places I made up (and some loopholes I created because it’s my story and I can do what I want), but for the most part, everything is a real location with real distances (walking/driving) apart from one another).
I’ve studied Hollywood so many times in Google Maps (street view included), pictures, movies and video games (predominantly GTA5), that when Brian and I went in the spring of 2019, I could navigate us around without the use of a map. Sad? Perhaps. Beneficial to my story? Absolutely! Plus, it was fun.
The series Inked Caffeine is very heavily influenced by Hollywood Undead and Green Day (if you know, you know) and I grew up watching The OC and The Hills in the early 2000’s (I know I’m not alone in that), which I’m sure only fed my growing fascination with the state.
That being said, I didn’t want to write ‘the stereotypical Hollywood vibe’. I didn’t want to get into the rich and famous side of things, or gangs and drugs. I wanted to try and write my own version of ‘an average joe’ living in Hollywood, California. Which honestly, I think I did a pretty good job of doing.
I did my best to write accurately. It was a challenge, what with being Canadian and uhm…not living in LA. And even once I thought I had it all perfect…after our trip, I came home and added sooooo muuuucchhh mooooreeee. So many edits.
I hope an Angeleno will read my book and tell me I did a good job!
If you wrote your own story, would you stick to the more realistic side of things, or would you create your own world with your own rules?
