Why do authors set their stories in places they've never lived or never visited?

I’m currently writing three interconnected series. Daimonika is a somewhat-contemporary (2006–2016) paranormal romance series. Apocalyptica is an apocalyptic fantasy series starting at the end of Daimonika. Historica is a historical/paranormal romance series that takes place before the events of Daimonika.

I’m currently working on Book 2 of Historica, Book 12 of Daimonika, and Book 15 of Apocalyptica. That’s a lot of books.

Here’s a list of some of the places my books are set:

Conamara, Ireland; London, England; Tampa, Florida; Fort Meade, Maryland; Washington, DC; Sarasota, Florida; Melbourne, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Athens, Greece; San Angelo, Texas; Topeka, Kansas; Augusta, Georgia; Port Royale, Jamaica; and Carlingford, Ireland.

Just how many of those places do you think I’ve visited, let alone lived?

My stories span the entire globe. The scope of Apocalyptica—the literal apocalypse—makes such a setting necessary. If I stuck only to places I’ve actually been, you’d be asking why major cities were being left out of the action.