One of my favorite things to do when writing is creating fictional towns. Making up a town allows me a lot of creative freedom. Not only do I get to name the town, streets, etc, but I get to pick how it looks as well.
When it came to creating my fictional town of Maple Run, Virginia, I was actually inspired by an outing I went on with my mother and two sons. One year we decided to go pick some apples. As we drove through western Loudoun County, Virginia, I saw this barn a little ways off from where we drove. (Unfortunately the picture in this post isn’t the original barn. Didn’t think of taking a picture.)
I’ve been obsessed with barns since I was a little kid. Maybe that’s the Texan in me. ;) Anyway, I got to wondering what they had in there. There weren’t any livestock outside. No animal sightings at all. As we drove, my mind got to wondering. If I could buy that barn, what would I do with it? Turn it into a house? A library?
Slowly but surely, an idea for Buying Love was born. The barn would make a perfect place for a restaurant. In my Maple Run series, everyone loves to stop and eat at The Maple Pit. It’s a barbecue-home-down-cooking type of eatery. The chefs use maple in almost all of their recipes, hence the name.
Now that I had the heart of the story, I moved on to the rest of the setting. In my mind Maple Run is obviously outfitted with maple trees, the restaurant, and country-style homes. The matriarch of the Williams family lives in a wonderful home that was inspired by this home. There’s also a B&B that appears in book two in the series.
And of course, I filled it with awesome characters I wish were real.
What’s your favorite thing about a fictional setting? Answer the question by 5/17/19, 2:00pm EDT and I’ll pick a random winner to gift an eBook copy of Buying Love to.
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness. She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Find out more on her website at http://tonishiloh.com.
Hi Toni- how fun, to be able to create your own town and everything in it:) I think it is fun that you can plan out how you want the town to look, what the industry of the town is, its history and so on. I imagine that creating your own town requires some serious note taking however, to keep track of details- especially if you are writing a series set there.
Blessings:)
Hi Toni! In the 1990s while teaching Lord of the Flies each year in groups my students created their own utopia. As in the key ingredient to Maple Run was maple, in utopia we had all kinds of chocolate – milk, white, dark and more. The students had fun creating their own society. I enjoy small town fictional settings near a town I recognize. Food or some local craft always is a plus. Town needs to be realistic – no chocolate buildings, but a candy store is great. Michigan, an agricultural state, has lots of old barns. I had a German exchange student, who in Germany lived in a renovated barn. There are several barn homes in Michigan. Some farmers use their barns, especially near vineyards are used as wedding venues. Looking forward to reading the responses to her fun blog. Best wishes.
Oh it does! And sometimes I find I didn’t write enough notes and have to search the previous books in the series. :)
I love the idea if community in the small town setting. I live in a really large city… Jacksonville, FL….and there are so so many people and streets and cars and, well, everything!
Utopia should definitely have chocolate and renovated barns. :) Thanks for sharing!
One day I would like to set a book in a large city. I think it would be fun. :)
I enjoy fictional towns but they have to make sense. I even look at the maps if the author includes one.
I love looking at maps. I’m always excited if a story has one.
Great post, Toni! I love barns as well. I love the idea of creating a restaurant out of a barn. I will to check out Buying Love. Creating fictional towns is fun, isn’t it?
I’ve not heard of your books till I opened this email. Now I’m intrigued in reading one of your books I love the picture of the barn and the name of your made up town.
I think a neat feature of creating a fictional town is that you have the freedom to add special celebrations the place engages in (annual fair, city’s anniversary, etc.) that you can use to have the main characters interact.
I love the freedom of fictional towns, because you don’t have to worry about people who actually live there finding inconsistencies. ? I created my fictional town (named Smalltown, NC) by meshing aspects I loved from the three towns I’ve lived in the longest. And I love old barns, too! What a creative idea to set a restaurant – and not just any old mom and pop eatery but a themed restaurant – in an old barn! I can’t wait to read it now.
So much fun!
Thank you!
Yes! I completely agree. I love when towns add this.
I love incorporating bits from places I’ve lived as well. Lends authenticity. :)
This sounds soooo good! I like old barns, too. There were plenty to see on the drive from the Space Coast of FL to visit my Daddy’s family in Northwest GA. An old barn is a great setting for a restaurant!!! Love the house, too!!! You can do a lot in a fictional town!!
You can! I think that’s what makes it so much fun.
I also think some herbal tea to sip wile you are creating a town. (Herbal tea fixes a lot of things :)
I LOVE building fictional towns! I wish someone would code a “map building for writers” program – lol.
I love a fictional setting in a cozy beach town!!
How interesting to see how an author uses something as simple as a barn to create and plot an entire novel! Love hearing how your muse works!
That would be fantastic and I would totally buy that!
Beach towns are the best! I need to make one.
Thanks!
Hi, Toni! Awesome post! You know how much I love Maple Run, but I’m pretty sure I hadn’t ever before heard the story of what inspired you to write it! Very cool! ??
The book lookslike an enjoyable read and in a beautiful setting.
Fictional towns are fun. My hubby’s aunt and uncle turned a barn into a house. It’s lovely.
Thanks!
Hope you get a chance to read it!
Oh I’m jealous! I bet it’s awesome.
Love hearing the spark that started the Maple Run blaze! I have not read any of this series. I must take care of that deficiency. Is there a waterway that is the Run near the town? Thanx for the giveaway!!!
There isn’t but if they drive a little ways, they can get to Great Falls.