I started to read a new book last night.  Part of the beginning of the book is how the girl (who lives in New York City)wins tickets to a concert in Montana for this famous band along with a five night stay in 5 star hotel.   Her and her friend get in her car and drive to Montana after she arranges to take a week off of work.

Okay.  Do you see a problem here?

NYC to Montana is a 32 hour drive.  If she only took 7 days off of work, it would take 2 days to get to Montana if you drove and they’re all excited to use all FIVE days of their 5 star hotel experience.  Does she not realize she needed to take at least 9 days off of work to drive there, stay five nights then drive back.  This really annoyed me.

While lost in the backwoods of Montana, the main gal notes how they haven’t seen a petrol station in a long time.

Do you see the problem here?

I’m from New York, and I can assure you that no on in the state of New York calls a gas station a petrol station.

To be honest, the girl with the car lives and grew up in NYC.  She’s a workaholic too.  I think I really could have used the author justifying why she had a car to begin with.  Just about everyone in NYC who lives and works there takes mass transit. When she got into a fender bender with the guy in the book, she couldn’t afford to get a new headlight for her car. So I have to wonder why she has one to begin with in a city that you don’t really need a car in.

Am I nitpicking? Yes, but I’m only like 15% of the way into the book!!!!

Lesson learned, know your geography first of all. Know that really no Americans use the term Petrol Station, and remember that if you’re writing about a big city lifestyle, ask someone who lives that lifestyle for advice on your character.

Now back to the book to see what else will annoy me.  Good thing the characters, though illogical at times, are interesting enough for me to continue.

-Jennifer

Jennifer Geoghan, author of The Purity of Blood novel series and If Love is a Lie: A Partly True Love Story.

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