Writing Beyond Your Borders: Crafting Setting as a Character in Frank Abroad

One of the greatest gifts—and challenges—of writing Frank Abroad was this: I had to take my lead character out of his comfort zone and drop him into a world that was as beautiful as it was unfamiliar.

Writers talk a lot about character development and plot mechanics, but there’s another element that can elevate a story from good to unforgettable:

Setting as a character.

And in Frank Abroad, Italy isn’t just a backdrop. It’s an active participant in the story.

Why Setting Matters More Than You Think

When I write a Frank Rozzani novel set in familiar territory, I have a home-field advantage. I know the rhythms, the speech patterns, the unspoken rules of behavior. I can rely on instinct.

But when you take a character abroad—literally and figuratively—you strip away that comfort.

Frank is no longer the most knowledgeable person in the room. He’s navigating language barriers, unfamiliar customs, and an environment layered with centuries of history and meaning. That disorientation creates tension—and tension drives story.

As writers, we can use setting to:

• Disrupt our characters
• Force them to adapt
• Reveal new aspects of their personality

Italy gave me all of that and more.

Using Real Locations to Fuel Fiction

The locations in Frank Abroad are drawn from real places I’ve visited—Rome, Florence, Assisi, Padua, Venice.

Each city has its own emotional tone:

• Rome is layered, chaotic, and ancient—perfect for secrets buried in plain sight
• Florence is elegant, artistic, and deceptive—beauty masking darker truths
• Assisi offers quiet reflection and spiritual grounding
• Venice is a maze—visually stunning, but full of shadows and hidden paths

When you write with real places, the key isn’t just accuracy—it’s emotional truth. What does the place feel like? What does it do to your character?

In Frank Abroad, I used those environments to mirror Frank’s internal journey.

Letting the Setting Challenge the Character

A detective like Frank thrives on control and familiarity. He reads rooms. He understands behavior. He knows the rules of engagement.

Take that away, and suddenly:

• He has to rely on instinct instead of experience
• He misreads cues
• He makes mistakes
• He becomes vulnerable

And that vulnerability is where the most compelling storytelling lives.

As writers, we sometimes protect our characters too much. We keep them in spaces where they’re competent and confident.

But real growth—and real drama—comes when we place them somewhere they don’t belong.

Sensory Writing: Bringing the World to Life

One of my biggest goals in writing Frank Abroad was to make readers feel like they were in Italy.

That meant leaning into sensory detail:

• The echo of footsteps in ancient cathedrals
• The scent of espresso and stone streets after rain
• The sound of voices bouncing through narrow alleys
• The glow of evening light reflecting off Venetian canals

When you engage the senses, you anchor the reader in the moment. They’re no longer observing the story—they’re experiencing it.

Blending Beauty with Danger

Italy is undeniably beautiful. But beauty can create an interesting storytelling contrast.

In Frank Abroad, I leaned into the idea that danger doesn’t always live in dark alleys. Sometimes it lives in the most breathtaking places imaginable.

That contrast heightens tension. It unsettles the reader. It makes every scene feel just slightly off balance.

And that’s exactly where a mystery wants to live.

Take Your Characters Somewhere New

If there’s one takeaway from writing Frank Abroad, it’s this:

Don’t be afraid to take your characters somewhere they don’t belong.

It doesn’t have to be another country. It could be:

• A different social environment
• A new emotional situation
• A moral dilemma they’ve never faced

Change the terrain, and you change the story.

And sometimes, you discover things about your characters—and your writing—that you never expected.

Final Thoughts

Frank Abroad allowed me to combine personal travel experience with the craft of storytelling in a way that was both challenging and rewarding.

It reminded me that setting is never just scenery.

It’s pressure.
It’s influence.
It’s transformation.

And when used intentionally, it can become one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s arsenal.

If you’ve read Frank Abroad, I hope you felt transported.

And if you’re a writer, I encourage you—send your characters somewhere new and see what happens.

You might be surprised by what you discover.

— Don Massenzio

You can get your very own copy of my new book here.