Tri-Cities Washington
Mercy lives in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State, at the confluence of the Snake and Colombia Rivers. It's a very rich setting for a book of this type. The area is culturally diverse, has an intriguing mixure of rural and urban environments, as well as large tracts of wildlife preserve and government lands. It has secret government research centers, outlaw biker clubs, and happens to be my home, which makes getting the details right a bit easier. Besides, how else can I justify taking the afternoon off to wander in the parks, just to get the ambiance right for the book?
Michael Enzweiler once again offered to draw a map of the area. I can't very well use the map in the phone book, or from the chamber of commerce. Not only are they far too detailed, the copyright folks would have a stroke. So, Michael did a simplified map, using a rather angular style that looks great. I especially like the little details, like the coyote chasing a rabbit in the legend!
