Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Google Maps -- An Amazing Tool

I've heard many writers rave about Google Maps, but until A Promise Kept, the book I just finished, I didn't really need it. I knew my settings well from site visits or having lived in the communities.

Cincinnati -- yeah, don't know it well at all.

So I turned to Google maps. I LOVE the satellite feature. It allowed me to explore neighborhoods and figure out exactly where my characters lived. It also allowed me to see the library branch. I strolled through Eden Park. It was amazing! I still would have preferred to actually visit the site, but this provided a second best approach.

So here's your challenge for the day -- go to google maps and see if you're house shows up. Ours doesn't (yet!), and I'm okay with that.

9 comments:

Pamela S. Meyers said...

My condo building has been there for a long time. In the most recent pic they use I can even see my little red car!!

Sarah/Robert said...

As good as google maps are, I can see our house even better with the Bird's Eye view at maps.live.com
There I find much more recent aerial
photos and ones from all directions of the compass! I do love the Street View feature on google maps, though.

Cara Putman said...

Oh, I'll have to try the maps.live.com site. That sounds great!

Sean B. Halliday said...

I've create a website using Google Maps and would love to hear some feedback on layout, color scheme, ease of navigation etc....
The site is: http://www.thetricitiesbest.com
Thank you in advance for your time,
Sean B. Halliday

jenna said...

I have been able to locate my house which is fun to do. What a great resource this is.

Pamela S. Meyers said...

Sarah,
Thanks for the tip about maps.live but the only problem is in smaller rural areas they haven't yet added pics of those spots. I can find my home in the Chicago area, but the area where my stories take place aren't yet available. :-(

But, it's very cool.

Kara S. said...

Our old trailer is on the map, but not our new house (added in May). I think the most recent pic is about a year old because one of our farm barns is missing too. Even funnier is my brother-in-law's sidewalk shows up but no house! And the sidewalk was added after the house. =)

petite said...

Google is great. I use it to look up friend's homes and my sisters as well.

Crystal Laine said...

I was talking to a lawn care service guy on the phone and he says, "Do you have a yellow car in the driveway." Creeped me out! LOL. He was using this to find us to come treat our lawn.

Yeah. Really handy for a creepy suspense writer! (LOL)

I'm checking out my old neighborhood when I grew up because it's too dangerous to drive by.

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