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| Prague city map |
Author Kathryn Orzech writes
mystery, suspense, and thrillers set in New England “and other exotic locations”
where everyday women face chilling situations, flirt with romance, and brush
with the supernatural. An avid film fan, news nerd and traveler, Kathy’s other
interests include history and geopolitics, archaeology and psychology, earth
science, and parapsychology, leaving few subjects off her literary table. Her
real-life website, DreamWatch.com, true paranormal experiences of everyday
people, has been online since the late 1990s and was the inspiration for Premonition of Terror when she wondered,
What if…? Learn more about her and
her books at her website.
“Exotic Location” Prague,
Czech Republic
After character development and
plot, setting is next important to me. My world travels (30-plus countries)
offer readers a glimpse of another place and culture. Most of Premonition of Terror, a psychic
thriller with a global terrorism threat, is set in the northeast USA, with key
scenes set in Prague.
A hoard of international
souvenirs is stored in my basement, stacked in plastic bins labeled by country.
When drafting Premonition, I was torn
between an overseas setting in Budapest or Prague. I reviewed my stash of
brochures, receipts and mementos including the street maps I used while there.
Prague emerged the clear winner.
Prague overview
At first glance, districts on a
city map can be confusing with the Old Town, New Town, Lesser Town, and more. I
needed the big picture so my first stop was the elevated location of Prague
Castle for a confusion-clearing overview. Prague’s most striking feature is the
Vltava River that runs through the city, thus easing navigation to at least
determine which side you were on.
Said to be one of Europe’s most
haunted cities, I found Prague to be fascinating, vibrant, and affordable, an
easy walking city with deep-rooted culture. From historical castles, palaces
and cathedrals to underground cave restaurants with delicious food and “outstanding”
beer (so I was told); from concerts and galleries to river cruises and ghost
walking tours, it’s no surprise that Prague attracts visitors from around the
world.
Protagonist as innocent tourist
I have no qualms about writing
what I don’t know as long as my point
of view remains that of a stranger, a visitor, a tourist. In Premonition of Terror, protagonist Kate
Kasabian explores popular attractions including Old Town Square with the
600-year-old Astronomical Clock, the Charles Bridge, Powder Tower, Peace Wall,
and Prague Castle.
Old Town Square. The Old Town
looked to me like a fairy village with Romanesque and Gothic architecture in a
labyrinth of cobblestone lanes, and there was always something interesting
happening at the square. I especially enjoyed evenings with new friends at
favorite sidewalk cafés to people-watch and listen to conversations at nearby
tables in a medley of languages, background I used in the book.
The Charles Bridge (aka:
Karluv most). An icon bridge and one
of many river crossings. Completed in 1390 (30 mostly Baroque statues were
added later), it connects Old Town with Lesser Town. More than 500 yards
across, by 9:00 AM it is a gauntlet of hawkers, tourists, and an occasional
pickpocket. I relished the incessant activity.
Lesser Town (aka: Mala
Strana). A lovely area in which to
walk, home to Prague Castle and foreign embassies. As my steps crushed fallen
leaves against worn sidewalks, I felt I was back home in the Northeast.
John Lennon’s Peace Wall. Let
me explain. Sometimes called Prague’s answer to the Berlin Wall, this
graffiti-covered wall is often credited for having inspired the Velvet Revolution,
a non-violent youth rebellion against Communism. The Peace Wall began with an
image of Lennon, a remembrance following his murder. Lyrics from his songs and
messages of peace, love and freedom soon followed. Located near the French
Embassy, an impulse to find the Peace Wall draws protagonist Kate to Mala
Strana where not all is as peaceful as it appears.
Writing this post stirred
memories of the sights and sounds of Prague, so thank you all for that.
Premonition of Terror
DreamWatch.com, true paranormal experiences, began as a hobby. It was supposed to be
fun—until premonitions from around the world predict the same catastrophic
attack.
The last time reluctant psychic
Kate Kasabian revealed a prediction, people close to her were hurt. But with
thousands of lives at risk, she has no choice but to badger her FBI brother to
investigate. He refuses to help. When she sets off to prove her suspicions, he
thinks he’s heard the last of her supernatural silliness—until the legendary
Matt Chase from Counterterrorism alerts agents to a credible threat eerily
similar to Kate’s warnings.
Tracking clues from Prague to New
England, Kate trusts dreams and premonitions while Chase relies on technology
and global intelligence, but can their unlikely alliance stop the U.S. plot?
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