What parts of London are settings in your writing?

[Gail Gray]

So far I've read White Chapel Gods (a little too violent for me) set in London and of course, Sherlock Holmes and Baker St.

I'm curious to see where other writers are setting their stories or novels in London. My mother was from London, so I naturally gravitated towards that city as a setting. My novel, currently titled "The Foxglove Broadsides", but soon to be retitled, is set in Kensington, an area which was listed in the Doomsday Book in 1086, so it's steeped in history. I also chose it because of the availability of the rail lines since steam trains are one of the main forms of transport (along with hot air balloons).

This is a different Kensington than either the historical or current part of the city. In my novel, its a much more dystopian locale as it is slowly being dismantled by "The Industrial Council" to be replaced by mass production factories who press gang whoever they gang into their workforce.

I also have a number of scenes set at Kew Gardens where the protagonist, Cecile Bainbridge is a botanist in the poisonous plants greenhouse. Her long time associate, Nathanial, a mechanical inventor fascinated with Tesla, makes a number of forays into the surrounding countryside to launch some of his inventions. When Cecile inherits her father's bookshop, The Equinox, after he's murdered, she and Nicholas witness the disintegration of the Kensington community. They become involved in the resistance and eventually she discovers that in addition to many other psychological and militant assaults on London, botanical warfare is being developed to further suppress those who refuse to acknowledge the corrupt government.

One of my favorite aspects of writing is research. So now, I'd like to hear what other parts of London have called out to the writers on S.W.A.G.

[Lia Keyes]

Okay, so I'll definitely be picking up a copy of your upcoming novel, Gail! Sounds fascinating. Especially as I grew up in Kensington so it will be fun to see it reimagined through your eyes!

And that greenhouse at Kew is splendidly steampunky, isn't it?

I think the London docks are a natural candidate as far as settings are concerned, but especially old Father Thames himself. The river has a rich "otherness" that most of London is now oblivious to, but it wasn't always the case. The river used to be the main artery of London's industrial heart, as it still is, but it was also used by all levels of society.

Even the London Eye, modern as it is, feels quite steampunk to me - a huge structure created solely for the entertainment of Londoners who want a different perspective on their city.

[Nicole Ross]

The London portion of my novel is set in St John's Wood and around the University College, London campus. I chose St John's Wood because I needed an older, moneyed, villa district for part of the story. UCL is where my protagonist wants to study, so I added a campus which is partly based on photos and partly on my imagination.

[Xeno Gilder]

Non yet, but I plan to. That White Chapel one sounds interesting, I was thinking of doing a Steampunk, Splatterpunk crossover.