In the last two posts, I shared the hardships and miracles of writing Dress Shop Miracles. This week, let’s visit the story’s fictitious location, Pinewood Village.
This quaint little town portrays similarities between those from my past and my current residence. I live on rolling hills eight minutes from an unincorporated community with less than ten businesses surrounded by agricultural land. The nearest city with ample shops is twenty minutes away. In the process of bringing Pinewood Village to life, I blended the charm of a small rural area with mom-and-pop shops, agriculture, and distant groves.
I had one challenge. Raised in a region where it rarely gets cold enough for snow to fall or accumulate on the ground, I lacked experience with snow country. I wanted a snow-covered storybook village.
I’ve watched many Christmas movies with beautiful, romantic snow scenes but how actuate were they? What does the sky look like before a snowstorm? Do snowflakes float? Are six inches enough to cause roadblocks? Is it windy during snowstorms?
Dissatisfied with Google search results, I turned to my street team. Terri Lynn Flowers whose annual winter scenery is covered with white fluff, read the snow scenes I had written, corrected my misconceptions, and answered all of my questions. Thanks, Terri!
Did you know snow doesn’t adorn one’s hair with pretty little flakes? They melt. Terri explained it this way: “Your head radiates heat so snowflakes don’t usually linger.” She also said if someone is in a blizzard for any amount of time, their hair would be stiff or frozen.
Leave it to Hollywood to manipulate nature.
Regardless, I loved writing the snow scenes—the beauty, even the avalanche of trouble it brought into Molly’s life. Yes, there is misfortune in my protagonist’s life—lots of it—and for her boyfriend, an ex . . .
Oops, you’ll have read the story to uncover Ted’s mysterious past, but you can learn more about Dress Shop Miracles by reading the blurb here.
How about you? What type of winters do you have? Are you a city or country dweller?
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Release day is November 1, so be sure to get it now on Amazon while it’s discounted.
Email from a Reader: “I loved Kiss under the Lemon Tree – I read it in 3 days, that’s a record for me, lol, my mind usually wanders to other things when I read, but that story kept me engaged. So I am looking forward to [reading] and sharing this new story [Dress Shop Miracles].”
Top Photo credit: Jill Wellington, Pexels
Bottom Photo credit: Celine Ylmz, Unsplash
Dianne Marie Andre 
I have experienced both northern and southern hemisphere Christmases; both have unique attributes. But I think growing up with stories of snowy Christmases in a sunshiny Christmas left me with a deep longing to experience a snowy Christmas, which I now have! There is something extraordinary about snow, the quiet whiteness of it, and the cozy warmth of being in a warm house observing it, that makes it a special experience.
You painted a beautiful picture in my mind. Thanks.
When we knew we would be moving, I told my husband, no where where it snows! Central Texas. Freak snow storm of seveal snow storms back to back our first winter here. Great fact to know about snow melting in the hair.
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