Yes, absolutely! If a reader is to be fully immersed in the story, the author must pull him in with words that paint a picture of the surroundings.

Before writing Runaway Artist, I knew the direction the story would take, and I knew where it would begin: Beverly Hills, California, just two hours from my home. Most people are familiar with that locale’s upscale houses and rich residents, so the description could be minimal.

Beverly Hills is where the main character, Brooke Arnelletta, would reside with her well-to-do parents. Brooke, a talented young artist, would work as the summer intern for a posh Rodeo Drive gallery. On a dark night in the parking lot, she’d be the lone witness to a murder. Rather than wait for a vengeful killer to silence her, she would run away. She’d need a hideout, close by, but just far enough away to let her feel safe…well, at least semi-safe. Rather than send her into total isolation, I wanted her destination to be a small community, so she could interact with other characters, and I planned to “paint” a picture of that area over the course of the story.

A map gave me ideas for possible locations. I finally narrowed it down to a mountain town—Idyllwild, California—just 40 minutes from me. But I needed details. So, I asked two friends to accompany me on a fact-finding trip, promising lunch as a bonus. I queried shop owners and waitresses about cellphone reception, police and news coverage, and other issues that might find their way into my novel. Then we motored down the hill a few miles to Lake Fulmor, another possible addition, and talked to fishermen. Of course, I took photos for reference and picked up a copy of the weekly newspaper. Later, as I wrote down my findings, I realized the need to change the town to fit my “script.” Although Idyllwild will always be an awesome place as it is in today’s world, I eventually chose to combine the actual setting with bits and pieces from my imagination and create a fictional village, which I named Wildridge Pines.

RUNAWAY ARTIST
Genre: Suspense
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

TNN Light’s Book Heaven Finalist, Suspense Book of the Year 2025; Fox 26 TV Great Day Book Club, a must-read Suspense 2026; Literary Titan Book Award 2026

Talented artist Brooke Arnelletta knows she’s going places. She just never dreamed her journey would include running away. Behind the upscale gallery where she serves as a summer intern, she’s the lone witness to a stabbing. When police can’t find evidence to support the crime, Brooke begins to wonder if her creative imagination was working overtime. Days later, clues finally emerge, turning the alleged murder into a reality. Brooke must face a decision—risk the killer returning to silence her…or disappear into thin air. Can she remain hidden until an arrest is made? Or will evil find her first?

Meet the author
Sheila Hansberger (s-hansberger.com) is an artist and a writer. For over 40 years, commercial artwork and original watercolors kept her busy with galleries and clients. Serving as News Editor for the National Watercolor Society reminded her how much she loved writing. She joined RWA and SCBWI, then attended classes and conferences to hone her skills. A First-Place win in a national writing contest brought her to the attention of The Wild Rose Press, who then published her debut novel, The Gardener’s Secret. Wanting more control for her second novel, she turned down a publishing contract and opted to self-publish Runaway Artist. Her books are available on Amazon.