Las Vegas isn’t just a 24-hour city, it’s a 365 day city – an all-you-can-eat buffet of bulging neon, glamour, and action. I always like to say that my glittering hometown is willing to be whatever you want it to be, and that you can find whatever you’re looking for here – whether good or nefarious.
Having set my Signs of the Zodiac series here (and next year’s THE TAKEN, from my new Celestial Blues series), I’ve been asked if the locales in my books are real … and I’m happy to say that many of them are. Real life settings add weight and mental moorings to fantastical stories, and surprisingly, I’ve found that the stories do the same for the real life settings. Readers who have visited these places in the past say they can almost see my characters peering at them from around the city’s most shadowy corners … but, of course, they know where to look.
Below is a mini walking tour* of the city … though unlike one ever cobbled together before. This is my protagonist’s, Joanna Archer’s, city – one with dueling agents of Shadow and Light, comic book shops filled with kids who know a little too much, and watering holes that are more than they seem.
First up, no journey to Zodiac Vegas would be complete without a stop at the Neon Boneyard. Central to my series - as this is where my mystical superheroes hang their metaphorical hats and call home - the Neon Boneyard is where the signage of Las Vegas’ yesteryear goes to die. Collected and stored until they can be refurbished and transformed into their previous neon glory, the signage is a literal clustering of Las Vegas’ past. There are guided walking tours five days a week, where you can view the signage up close, and that brings us to …
The Silver Slipper. This great beauty lay rusting in the Boneyard for many years until someone donated enough funds to give that great shoe a proper shine. It now stands atop a pedestal along the Cultural Corridor (to my heroine’s chagrin – she calls it the world’s largest stripper pole, but I digress) where it spins with other refurbished signage as a testament to the city’s glittering past.
While you’re downtown, you might as well wet your whistle at the boho-chic speakeasy, the Downtown Cocktail Room … that is, if you can find the door. Locals can, of course, and have a great time watching from the inside as newbies give it a go, but it’s well worth the I.Q. test once admitted. It boasts a swanky, urban vibe, unique cocktails, and good service. It’s one place downtown that locals deem to call home.
And let’s not forget about the children, shall we? Alternate Reality Comics is Vegas’ oldest comic book shop, and it’s also the loose blueprint for my fictional comic book shop, Master Comics. Though I can’t say you’ll find a changeling or the manuals of Shadow and Light inside these doors, they do have a fantastic selection and a knowledgeable staff … and they’re located right across the street from my alma mater, UNLV.
Finally, no tour of Vegas would be complete without a visit to the incomparable Peppermill Lounge. Ultra-lounges come and go in Vegas, but this place has been grooving since the seventies … and has the outdated décor to prove it. It also has a bubbling firepit, and velvet lounge chairs tucked into faux tropical foliage, making it one of Vegas’ iconic make-out spots. But don’t worry. What happens at the Peppermill, stays at the Peppermill.
These are just a few of the locales that show up in my series, but they’re also places that make my hometown so unique, kitschy, flashy and fun. So if you’re headed to Vegas why not consider visiting one of the above places, and give Joanna Archer’s world a try.
If you can separate fact from fiction, that is. If you dare.
*walking tour, btw, is a bit of a misnomer. You’d be risking heatstroke if you tried to walk from one place to another, so I suggest a car or cab … though if you’ve read my series, you’d know even that carries a bit of risk. ;-)
Have a wonderful summer, All.
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Ohhh ... poker chips :-) this is cool! Thanks for the chance!!
I have only been to Vegas once but I loved it. I was able to go eat at a buffet at like 2am! Awesome city.
I've only been to Las Vegas a couple of times, and didn't really venture out too much, mostly stayed inside the casinos. Your "walking tour" sounds fun, but I guess a car would help.
Awesome giveaway - this series sounds wicked rad.
Good reading ~ Escape by Fiction :)
I haven't been to LV, but I would love to go one day. Signs of the Zodiac series has been on my "to read" list and I would love to win this!
Yes... I have seen Vegas traffic... it is harrowing! Great post... would be fun if all were real. :)
Another great giveaway! I'm loving this event. Keep em coming! :)
rabidreads[at]gmail[dot]com
I love this series. And think it would be great fun to take a tour of the Boneyard.
This is one of the best series EVER, and I'm sad to see it end, but I'll be glad to see how Joanna's journey ends up.
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
Oh, I need to find out more about new series!!! Signs of Zodiac were one of the first urban fantasy I picked up and I loved it! Thank you for the giveaway!
awesome giveaway! Thank you so much for the chance!
I've only read a couple of novellas of this series in Anthologies and really enjoyed them.
Thanks for the chance to win this.
Huge poker fan! Thanks :)
So just where is the door to the Downtown Cocktail Room? I've tried to go through windows when there were clearly labelled doors right next to them (they were automatic as well) I'm pretty sure I'd fail at finding a hard-to-find door.
This was a fantastic series and I enjoyed all the books
Thank you for the giveaway
This is a great series. Thank you for the giveaway.
Sounds like a great series. Thanks for the giveaway. Tore923@aol.com
Nice idea to have a poker chip as a giveaway item:) And thanks for the chance to win it!
I love these books and am very excited about this last book.
Great give away!!! Las Vegas is is on to-do list
I love this series, and you've definitely brought Vegas to life in your stories.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
I still remember my first visit to the Neon Graveyard. It was beautiful and depressing at the same time. I wonder how much more the signs have decayed?
lady.midnite@gmail.com
Interesting post! I love the Signs of the Zodiac series and I would like to visit Las Vegas.
Thank you for the international giveaway! :D
The Zodiac series is total win. Just about finished with Neon Graveyard, and it's gonna suck to see it end, but hey, there'll be more Vicki Pettersson books set in Vegas in the future.
And Vegas is win too. The occasional visits drive the Seattle grey away.
Those poker chips are just too cool!! Love this series, sad to see it end!
Never been to Vegas since I don't fly...but I devoured this series!
Thank you for the wonderful giveaway opportunity. I would love to read this book.
Thank you very much for this giveaway ! i'm very curious to read this one !
I've never been to Vegas so I really enjoyed your descriptions! Thanks for a great giveaway:)
jwitt33 at live dot com
This book is AWESOME! I'd love to be entered for a signed copy! The copy I have is on my Nook. Man, I read that thing in, like, two days. Great series. Enjoyed the writing, the world and the characters!!
I haven't been lucky enough to go to LV yet...someday I will be.
LOVE Ms. Pettersson's work!!!! Thanks for the contest! xo
the poker chip was a unique idea. Love this series and would love to win this one.
After reading the Zodiac series, I will never look at Vegas the same way again. Your books have add a certain depth to the city that was never there for me before. Now, I can't wait to go back and maybe check out (or take a slide down) the silver slipper!
The book sounds great and the poker chip is awesome!
Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway!
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
Cool blog post.
Thanks for the giveaway!
This series minus the newest is in my TBR pile and I am wholeheartedly looking forward to it!
I have been trying to talk my husband into a trip to Vegas for years! Perhaps he would be more inclined to visit your version of it *wink*!
sionedkla@gmail.com
I should really pick up this series again lol I stopped at bk 3 after the negative reviews the 4th one got
Awesome! Great to find you!
It's cool that you set parts of your book in real places. This series sounds great.
Your series sounds great!
robindpdx (at) yahoo (dot) com
Wee, these prizes are cool xD And many thanks for the post and the giveaway,
mikki-mano@hotmail.com
Vegas sounds pretty interesting from your POV. I was there once, when I was 16 and too young to gamble. You know at 30 I've still never gambled. We went to this casino called I want to say the Luxor for lunch. It had all these cool Egyptian themed statues which is mostly why I remember it. Is it still there?
You know I've never really had any burning desire to go to Vegas, but I find I actually really enjoy reading books that are placed in Vegas. Weird....
Love the Poker Chip though!!
PelicanJL@hotmail.com
I've never been to Vegas! Sounds like fun!
I have never been to Vegas but I want to go so bad
I never go to Vegas since I live outside USA. But would love to go there.
Thanks for sharing about this Sin City :)
sawamura_foxman AT yahoo DOT com
My friends who have gone to Vegas loved it! I hope to go someday as well
I love Vegas and really want to go back. The book sounds great! Thanks.
I would love to visit Vegas someday.
Enjoyed the post! I haven't ever been to Vegas but have wanted to go. Really liked the first book in this series and would love to catch up on it.
pams00 @ aol.com
What a wonderful idea to make special poker chips for the series :-D I have to say I am so intrigued by the title of this last Zodiac novel, I mean Neon Graveyard! Can't wait to read it!
Thank you for the great giveaway!
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks for the giveaway!