I talked a little bit about this before, but I'd like to expand on it. So: Where are you going to place your Clan(s)?

This is a hard one to pick. For a new book idea, I jumped from Hawaii all the way to Alaska, with many places in between. First, you need to ask yourself: What basic, generic biome will my cats live in? Some ideas include:

• Beach/coast

• Tropical island

• Deciduous forest

• Coniferous forest

• Alpine forest

• Mountain range

• Desert

• Tundra

• Plains/savannah

• Swamp

Cool. Now, even more. For example, do you want a tropical beach, a desert coastline, or an Alaskan shore? Combine some of these biomes if you'd like!

Next, choose the you want. Instead of saying, "Deciduous forest! I'm done! Onto research!", say "What deciduous forest? Where?" Maybe you choose a forest in Sweden. However, there are tons of forests in Sweden! Flora and fauna may vary. Simply google, "Deciduous forests in Sweden." Pick the one with the most information available.

Maybe you settle on the mountains. Which mountains? The Rockies? The Andean mountains? Keep in mind that these mountain ranges are huge. Some mountain ranges span across several countries. Pick a specific region or a specific mountain. For example, don't pick the Andes. That's too broad. Pick Mount Everest!

I can't stress enough how important thorough research is. You aren't going to have a cattleya orchid in Antarctica! Write stuff down and save websites.

More questions to ask yourself before settling on a setting:

• Do they have a food source?

• Is there water?

• Is there shelter, or can they build shelter?

• Are there herbs or plants with actual medicinal qualities?

• What predators threaten the Clan?

• What natural conflicts might occur, such as sandstorms and hurricanes?

Now, . You aren't going to have a cat with fine, short fur in Antarctica. It wouldn't survive the cold. Instead, your cats would have thick, long fur and tufts on their ears and in between their toes.

If your Clan is in a mountainous region, they'll have that same build, but also wide paws and powerful hind legs for jumping and climbing.

Before, I said don't put your Clan in an extreme environment. However, if there is food and water, it's doable. Just adapt!

Here's another thing to consider; it's a problem I run into a lot: If the names of plants and animals are too long, multiple words, or words that cats wouldn't know, they wouldn't work in a warrior's name. If that occurs, it might be time to reconsider and pick a new place.

In short:

• Pick a biome

• Pick a specific region/area

• Check for food

• Check for water

• Make sure that there is shelter

• Make sure that there are herbs

• Adapt the cats to fit their environment

• See if there are viable prefix options