In the novels Interference and Usurpation, the Pax Institute is located in Bayonne, France. Someone asked me why.
Well, basically, because I’ve been there (the photo is of me and my husband), so I knew Bayonne had a good climate for growing rainbow bamboo — which is the most important detail, of course.
Beyond that, I got a bit of a feel for the location, just enough to be able to imagine it a few centuries in the future: What’s the general layout of the city? Where are the hills? How far away is the ocean?
If you’re considering a visit to Bayonne, I recommend it. The historic heart of the city has beauty and charms that date back to before the Middle Ages. Nearby are wide beaches and forested parks, and not far to the south are the gorgeous foothills of the Pyrenees. The city hosts a variety of festivals — and, of course, there’s French and Basque food to enjoy.
In the novels, I hope I’ve respected Bayonne’s traditions and heritage, but I feel I should apologize for the damage I inflicted on the future city and its people. Je m’excuse pour le dérangement.
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Reminder: The ebook of the first novel in the Semiosis trilogy is on sale during September at Amazon for only $2.99. It includes an excerpt from the third book in the trilogy, Usurpation, which will be released on October 29.
Semiosis 