When most people think of deserts, they picture sand and camels. The Sahara and Death Valley come to mind. But high desert is different.
I lived in New Mexico for four years and it is the perfect example of high desert. There's more rock than sand.
Scrub brush and cacti abound, but so do pine trees at the higher elevations.
There's rolling hills and large mountains.
Yes, it's hot in the summer. (Dry heat people! Humidity's around 11%) But it's also cold in the winter. And it snows. Sometimes a lot!It doesn't rain often, but there's definitely a thunderstorm season.
There's also a dust season, Yes, tumbleweeds are for real!
Fewer bugs, but more poisonous critters.
It's often windy. Okay, where I lived, it was always windy! And there was always a headwind, no matter which direction you faced.
Since rocks outnumber trees, many buildings are made of adobe. (Such a fun word, isn't it?)
Fall mornings, it is cold before the sun rises, and at its coldest the moment the sun crests the horizon.
And the most beautiful thing about high desert - sunsets. The gradual shading of yellow to orange to red to purple to blue to black is indescribable. Sorry no photo - I always meant to take a picture!
I used a high desert setting and the city of Albuquerque in Book IV of my series, incorporating most of the above into my story.
Are you ready to incorporate a high desert into your story?
33 comments:
Oh my -- LOVE it.
Love the photos, they're breathtaking. The high desert is a perfect place for a story of any genre.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
The setting of a story is important to me when I go to read a book. I recently read a novel set in Delhi, and I learned so much about Indian food and culture. It was awesome!
Great pictures! Definitely not NC. :)
Love the idea of a desert setting.
Great pictures and lovely idea for settings.
I could handle the dry heat! Nice pictures.
These pictures just go to show there are some wonderful places in the world. Thanks for sharing.
Yvonne.
Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing!
It really is beautiful. I love the jarring geography, and the idea of 4 seasons but winter not lasting 9 months... Seems pretty ideal to me. (not the poisonous critters though--I'd probably fall over dead if I ever saw a scorpion)
Love these photos! Setting is so important to a book! :)
High desert is indeed a beautiful spot! I lived in Albuquerque for a few months and loved it! A beautiful setting for a story! Thanks for reminding me of the beauty!
Sylvia Dickey Smith
A War of Her Own
Thanks, everyone.
Hart, I never saw a scorpion or rattlesnake, but we did have black widows and brown recluses in our wood pile. Not fun!
The first thing I noticed on arriving at your blog post was the first photo and the word "Bahamas." And I sez to myself, I sez, "The Bahama? Boy, that sure looks like New Mexico!"
I've lived in southern New Mexico since '06 and love it here. You're absolutely right about the desert being a great venue for a story.
This just emphasizes how important it is to know the area where your book is set or to do research.
Fabulous pictures, Diane.
Helen
Breath taking, and it speaks of a rugged people!
I've just been to a high desert called Tibet. It was stunning and bleak and beautiful all in one. Great place to set a story.
Jai
What a great photo story. Yes, someday I will write about a high desert.
CD
Nice photos. The desert and desolate places have a beauty and mystery that has always fascinated me. My WIP (which I have put on hold for a bit) is called A Desert Place and it opens on a ranch northwesterly of Albuquerque and later some of the action shifts to that city. I will be going back to put the finishing touches on this novel soon.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Cool photos! I love the one with snow. In New Zealand alpine plants look similar to desert plants, and it can be hot and dry in the summer.
Wonderful photos. Though I’ve visited high desert areas, I haven’t thought of incorporating them into anything I’ve written – yet.
I don't think I'll be doing any stories in the high desert, because I haven't spent enough time around one to do it justice. The closest I've gotten is Flagstaff. Great pictures, though.
Bob, them's some funny lookin' Bahamas! LOL
Jai, I would love to see Tibet!
Lee, that is cool! If you have any ABQ questions, let me know.
Simon, I definitely want to visit New Zealand! (And I wanted to even before the LOTR movies.)
Looks like a great place to set a book. Nice pics!
These are wonderful photos and look a little like the northwestern Arizona country where I visit my youngest son and daughter-in-law.
Patricia
I love your words and your pictures. The word 'spunk' had me worried, however, as it means something a bit rude in the UK.
Wow! Love the pics! I can honestly say this has never crossed my mind for a setting...may be time to think about it.
Love love LOVE the photos! I think I'm ready to live there. Not sure about writing though -- most my stories take place in an urban setting.
There are so many possibilities in a desert setting! I lived in the Death Valley area for 12 years and there IS so much more than sand and cactus!
Love the photos!
Hi Kay! Since it's a juvenile term, I don't worry about it.
Tali, there's urban in Albuquerque!
Crystal, you'll need to tell me about your Death Valley Days - LOL!
Awesome pictures. Truly beautiful and inspiring. I recently did a review for author Larry Seeley who lives in the high desert of New Mexico and that is where the setting of the book is.
Stephen Tremp
Gorgeous pics. Here in Utah we have Black Widow spiders too. I watched one rude girl build a web in our garage from the lawn mower we'd just used to our car bumper. You better believe we had the Orkin man at our house THAT DAY!!!
Great photos, Diane. I was raised in the high desert. REally high. Over 4,000 feet. Lived in Phoenix for a while, too. Still collect cacti and succulets. Love your photos.
Best,
Carolyn
Very neat pictures!
Post a Comment