When Cities Take Life
Many times, authors write a novel and most of it takes place in a particular city or spot – being that city real or imaginary is not important. Sometimes the soul of the city comes alive and the city itself becomes a character, an important part of the story. The city breathes and even talks to the reader as he/she follows the story. This always fascinated me – how a city or place awakens and sometimes takes over its place in the story and the readers minds.
A good example of this is the city of Forks in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga. Forks is a real place in Washington, but it also became real in the minds and hearts of readers. The real city of Forks has seen a flock of Twilight fans visiting and touring while reminiscing about their favorite parts in the books.
Another good example is the city of Barcelona, Spain in “The Angels Game” by Carlos Ruiz Safon, and what better example to illustrate this point than the island in the TV series Lost. The island becomes the main character, in my opinion.
Such is the power of words and description, conveying feelings, emotions, smells, sounds … that they become spells that give life to cities and places, and those places continue to grow and develop infinitely in the mind of readers – an amazing and extraordinary event.
Inkspeare 
Hmm, yeah. Bringing the world to life is a job itself. Requires its own workbook and all. But it is so fun to do!
True, one has to love writing to sit for many hours every day, while removing yourself from the world – sweet price to pay? Who knows, when you love it and have fun with it, everything else blends into the background.