When I’m in writing mode, I like to move from room to room in my house. The change or scenery clears my mind. My preference for writing spots varies with the seasons. In the winter, I prefer sitting in my pink velvet chair by my gas logs. When the weather is nice, I would much rather be outside on my terrace. Most of the time, however, I write from my leather chair in my study. As I travel from room to room, I take four vital items with me—my computer, reading glasses, Yeti cup filled with ice water, and my dog-eared copy of The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglish.

I received an advanced review e-copy of The Urban Setting Thesaurus, one of two new releases from Ackerman and Puglish. These talented authors have done it again by providing writers not only with a thorough introduction into setting but also the thesaurus itself, which includes countless examples of descriptive words and phrases for a number of urban locations. Each location is broken into ten groups. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes, textures and sensations are a few of them.

While I appreciate the e-copy ARC, I rushed right over to Amazon and ordered print copies of both new releases— The Urban Setting Thesaurus and The Rural Setting Thesaurus. I encourage you to do the same.

I’m excited to have Ackerman and Puglish with us today to tell you a little more about their new releases . . .

There’s nothing better than becoming lost within the story world within minutes of starting a book. And as writers, this is what we’re striving to do: pull the reader in, pull them down deep into the words, make them feel like they are experiencing the story right alongside the hero or heroine.

A big part of achieving this is showing the character’s surroundings in a way that is textured and rich, delivering this description through a filter of emotion and mood. It means we have to be careful with each word we choose, and describe the setting in such a way that each sight, sound, taste, texture, and smell comes alive for readers. This is no easy task, especially since it is so easy to overdo it—killing the pace, slowing the action, and worst of all, boring the reader. So how can we create a true unique experience for readers and make them feel part of the action while avoiding descriptive missteps that will hurt the story?

Well, there’s some good news on this front. Two new books have released this week that may change the description game for writers. The Urban Setting Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to City Spaces and The Rural Setting Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Personal and Natural Spaces look at the sights, smells, tastes, textures, and sounds that a character might experience within 225 different contemporary settings. And this is only the start of what these books offer writers.

In fact, swing by and check out this hidden entry from the Urban Setting Thesaurus: Antiques Shop.

And there’s one more thing you might want to know more about….

Becca and Angela, authors of The Emotion Thesaurus, are celebrating their double release with a fun event going on from June 13-20th called ROCK THE VAULT. At the heart of Writers Helping Writers is a tremendous vault, and these two ladies have been hoarding prizes of epic writerly proportions.

A safe full of prizes, ripe for the taking…if the writing community can work together to unlock it, of course.

Ready to do your part? Stop by Writers Helping Writers to find out more!