“This place should be in a book.”
Readers, has this thought ever crossed your mind while wandering beautiful places? That was how I felt when I first visited Montana’s Madison River twenty years ago. Soaring mountains, wildlife sightings, pine-scented air, and bright blue sky simply screamed rustic romance! So, when I started writing and needed refuge for a fallen hero far away from city life and smack dab in the middle of small-town drama, I had the ideal spot picked out. Before I knew it, I’d written an entire series!
It was the perfect chance to share with others my love for this river and the town of West Yellowstone. My hope? That even if a reader never visits this region, they could experience it through my characters. They might feel the chill of the mountains’ morning shadows on their skin and the blessed warmth of the riverside café’s coffee between their palms. They could imagine the gravel rolling beneath their soles as my guy and gal walk along Wildflower Road, lifting their voices to be heard above the rolling rapids nearby.
Just this week, for the first time after releasing all three of my Madison River Romance novels, I revisited West Yellowstone.
Words cannot describe how it felt to gaze upon the locations of major scenes: the library where Robbie and Keira had their first kiss (This Wandering Heart), the crosswalk where Thomas saved Blue from getting hit by a car (Glory Falls), the bookshop where Ryann and Shane played a game to get to know each other (Wildflower Road). I could see each moment play out like a movie and taste the excitement, the fear, and the tethering love each couple shared.
Look, I’m humble enough to know that I’m likely the only person who has read my books and visited my setting. As a result, it’s a strangely haunting but strikingly intimate experience to envision the lives, albeit fictional ones, that lived here. This was most evident at the Campfire Lodge and Café. The time I’ve spent at this fly-fishing resort through the decades inspired me to create the fictional River’s Edge Resort.
At one point, I stood next to the woodburning stove where Shane so lovingly cared for Ryann as she told him about her darkest moment in life. I peered out the windows to the spot on the riverbank where they first met. As I ate my oversize omelet and mammoth bacon, I watched Ryann and Shane slow dance in the dining room. Call me crazy, but I pitied those around me who couldn’t see, much less recite the moving scenes as I could.
I must admit I’m grieved that my Madison River Romance series is complete. Yet, I now get to travel to new locations so breathtaking, so unforgettable, and so romantic that I simply must set a novel or series there. With the beauty the Lord laced into this world, the possibilities are endless!
Lincoln says
My wife and I have enjoyed traveling to many places with romantic settings. Sometimes the romance is in the natural beauty of the place. Sometimes, like with a bed and breakfast, the romance is in the place itself. And sometimes the romance is in the story of how we got there and what God did to provide for us.
We went to Phoenix one year for a friend’s wedding. We made it a multi-day special trip for us. However, when we got there, the hotel was a disaster. We were exhausted and trying to call around to other hotels. I finally got hold of a resort that had one hotel style room left.
We drove there and as I came up to the check-in desk I was informed that the person I had spoken with had made a mistake. The room was not available. In that moment, I had no idea what we were going to do. We were so tired that we were in danger of having health problems. No other place had been available. Could we survive sleeping in our car? All this was going through my mind as the person behind the desk continued to speak, telling me that they would give us a 1700 sq ft villa (two master bedrooms, full kitchen and laundry and a large gathering room with fireplace) and, oh by the way, for the same price as the regular hotel room. Would that be acceptable? Um, yes, I think that will do. I could not have arranged this if I tried. It was all God’s doing, a gift of love to us. The following morning we discovered that there were grapefruit trees right outside our patio doors which were bearing ripe fruit. There are places in the world and times in history when our experience would be enjoyed only by kings and queens. For us, it was a totally unexpected gift of love from our Heavenly Father.
Renate says
Hi Janine! Having traveled coast to coast (26 states) and 9 foreign countries on 3 continents I am intrigued by an interesting setting. Since retiring hubby and I like to travel back roads and discover unusual places, restaurants, small town museums. One interesting museum was the Mid-America Windmill Museum in Kendallville, Indiana, which is used as a wedding venue. As a retired American Lit teacher, I enjoyed visiting Mark Twain’s home town Hannibal, Missouri and taking a dinner cruise down the Mississippi River. Mark Twain also spent 6 months at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, which I have visited. He also wrote about the Lion Memorial in Lucerne, Switzerland – which I have seen. As a Michigander, who has lived on both sides of Lake Michigan I appreciate Carl Sandburg’s description of the Lake. Settings in life and books are intriguing. Best wishes and happy writing.
Have you ever been somewhere that simply begs to be the setting of a novel? Have you ever visited a place because it was the setting of a novel? Share in the comments!
Trudy says
I had to visit Savannah because of Eugenia Price’s books! Now, I’d love to go to Oregon and Minnesota because of books set there. I want to VISIT, though, not stay! If I actually moved from Florida, I’d want to live in too many states to just pick one! lol!
Jcp says
No, but I would love to visit because of E. Thane’s Williamburg series that I read as a teen
Alicia Haney says
Hi , yes I love going to the mountains and staying in a cabin in NM. It is beautiful there.
denise says
I went to a book club retreat and we were on an island which was the setting for some books we loved, but the trip was more for us a a girls’ weekend getaway.
Mary Preston says
There are a lot of places that I read about that I have added to m y travel list.
Amy Perrault says
I’ve camped my whole life & met my husband at a nice campsite & my daughter loves it here. It’s a loving childhood & adult camping experience with a river & love the bonfires. We also went on our honeymoon to the middle of nowhere & it was a motel with bar & a huge lake. If you drove in there is a water park & then you get to a nice beach. We loved it there. I think both of those places would be great in a book.
Natalya Lakhno says
We love to travel and camp out…so many places that should be in the novel :)
Debra J Pruss says
I have never been anywhere that was the setting for a novel. My Mom was born and raised in the area of Thomas/Davis/Canaan Valley, West Virginia. There is beauty as well as so much history and stories in the area. It would be a beautiful setting for a book. God bless you.
Janine Rosche says
That’s so lovely. What a great trip! And fresh grapefruit makes everything more heavenly! Thanks for sharing!
Janine Rosche says
I’m so jealous of all your travels, Renate! And the Mississippi is so full of history. I’d love to visit some of the places along the River
Janine Rosche says
Savannah is at the top of my list for where I want to visit!
Janine Rosche says
Oooh, me too!!
Janine Rosche says
I need to be a part of your book club!
Janine Rosche says
I visited Ruidoso (I can’t spell that for anything!) fifteen years ago. I’d had no idea NM had mountains but it was beautiful!
Janine Rosche says
Me too. The England-set books drive me crazy because I’ll probably never get over there
Janine Rosche says
That’s my kind of vacation!
Janine Rosche says
I’d love to set a book in West Virginia!
Janine Rosche says
So many beautiful campsites in the US!