Are Brenda and Effie too obscure and parochial for the rest of the world..?

Would no one in the States or Europe or anywhere else around the world care for the adventures of my spooky investigator ladies? This is the message that's been passed back to me. Even in a world obsessed with vampire stories and zombie stories, no one wants to hear about the supernatural ladies of Whitby, on the North East Coast of England, the site of course of Dracula's first arrival on these shores.

So, is it true? Does a touch of local colouring and legend put people abroad off? Does the 'very British humour' and 'macabre joie-de-vivre' not really translate?

Here's a nice review from a US-based review site, specialising in paranormal romance and spooky mysteries: http://www.bookchickcity.com/2009/10/book-review-conjugal-rites-by-paul.html

I love Book Chick City, and rely on her recommendations for the strange and mysterious and series I haven't found yet.

(Another lovely review - UK-based this time) is on Simon Savidge's site: http://savidgereads.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/conjugal-rites-paul-magrs/

So what do you think? What should I do? Set something in California, suddenly?

I'm reminded of when I first started publishing novels and my first few were set in County Durham. Then, when I set something in London I was told: 'Oh, that's good. You're maturing now.' Aaagghhh!

I just posted on facebook and twitter a bit about my predicament. The brilliant Gothic specialist, Catherine Spooner came straight back with: "It's just occurred to me that the U.S. is the *home* of regional writing, it's a major part of their literary tradition! " Which is true! Where would I be without the gorgeous low-demotic of Carson McCullers and Truman Capote?

Also, novelist Mark Clapham points out: "That's really weird, as most books I've seen which touch on similar things like The List of Seven (Conan Doyle, Whitby) or Newman's Anno Dracula books (various fictional horror characters) have had BETTER distribution in the US than over here..." Which makes me feel a bit less obscure in mining out this seam...

and here comes Tavis Ryan King with the very pithy comment: "I'm American and I freaking love those girls. I would have given my right arm for a book like that in High School before I jumped ship for the UK."

Oh! Illustration above comes from the blog of Sorrel Sparks (http://sorrelratbagsparks.blogspot.com/) who I don't know, but I think is brilliant. Especially her imagining of Brenda and Effie.

So tell me! Should I put my efforts elsewhere if I want to sell abroad..? What do you think?