My journey to create this story and characters.
LOVE DELIVERED features a heroine and hero who, at first,
appear very dissimilar. Bianca is a big-city girl who is not only following her
own dreams, but following the dreams her mother never achieved before her
untimely death.
Pete, the hero, has tight ties to the small town where he
grew up, and never wants to leave the charming town.
My journey to create
LOVE DELIVERED began with this conflict. I needed a reason why these two people
could not possibly stay together as a couple. When Bianca returns to the small
town to fix up and sell her deceased grandmother’s house, she fully intends to
return to New York
Many people in the small town where I grew up still live
there today. Sometimes, they buy a new house, and often they purchase the
family home from their parents. When I needed to create a small town that
offered many reasons for Bianca to stay, it was easy. I modeled the town after
the one I grew up in.
One particular scene portrays July 4th
celebrations in the small town. Growing up, I thought all towns went crazy for
this holiday. Turns out, our town was pretty unique in the way it celebrates.
For one thing, one week before July 4th, residents stake out a spot
along the parade route by lining up roped-together lawn chairs and tarps. A
week before the parade!
July 4th starts out with a bicycle decorating
contest and games for kids at the local high school. Then, a two-hour long
parade complete with our local NFL marching band, floats, politicians, and
baton twirlers entertain the crowds. Most people retreat to their homes for a
few hours, don themselves in glow sticks and bug spray, and then head to the
local high school for a spectacular fireworks display.
I hope I captured the essence of this celebration, and the
way the town embraces this day as not only a commemoration of America
Purchase LOVE DELIVERED at these locations.
Thanks so much for hosting me today, Bernadette! Did I make it obvious enough that I'm a small-town girl? LOL. :)
ReplyDeletePeople used to camp out for the Rose Parade MORE than a week ahead of time. It got so out of control (and messed with traffic!) that the city finally had to impose a rule barring camping until noon on 12/31. I spent the night once - nothing romantic about sleeping on a sidewalk with thousands of strangers!
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, Christi. You're right that there's nothing romantic about sleeping on a sidewalk with strangers. Sounds like a good idea to impose a rule. I'll bet it was quite an experience, though. Thanks so much for stopping by today and sharing your parade experience. :)
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