Locations Are Characters
Creek Island
As a former home decorating magazine editor, imagining what the scenery and homes looked like in The Other Yesterday was important enough that I ended up treating them as if they were characters in the book. I don’t think I started out doing it intentionally, but as I wrote, the places became as important to me as the people.
Is This a Real Island?
Well, yes.
And no.
Creek Island is a mix of several islands, all of them off the east coast of the United States. Mostly, it was inspired by the outer sea islands off the coast of Georgia. Many of those islands are accessible only by water, which has helped preserve them. Life moves slowly there. Traditions remain part of everyday life. The past does not feel as far away as it does in other places.
Thanks to AI generations, I’ve been able to create images of the places I carried in my imagination while writing the book.