I love immersing in a story and transporting myself inside the pages. Books can take us places we’ve never been, but they can also take us to familiar places. While it’s fun to explore new locations we may never get a chance to visit, it’s also fun to read about familiar ones.
Last year I discovered Teresa Tysinger’s Laurel Cove series. When I started reading the first book, something felt familiar (it’s even titled, Someplace Familiar). Even though I knew Laurel Cove was a fictional town, I felt a connection based on what I was reading. I messaged Teresa on Instagram and had to ask where this inspired location was in real life. When she told me Laurel Cove was based on a small town close to where she went to college, I knew immediately where she went to school. Funny thing was, it’s only a couple of hours from where I went to college and where I live now.
Sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains
The small town of Burnsville is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. These mountains offer some of the most spectacular views you’ll ever see, and Teresa and I both share a love of this familiar place. Take a look at Blue Ridge Moments Instagram page to see for yourself. Look at these pictures of the Blue Ridge Mountains and imagine this scenery as you read the Laurel Cove Series. The last book will release on February 22, and I can’t wait to visit one of my favorite little towns once again.
In my first book, Holding on to Someday, the fictional town of Southern Springs, North Carolina is also an inspired location based on the small town I live in today. It’s also where I went to college and the reason I chose it. Many of my college friends who’ve read this book have asked, “Is that Boiling Springs?” and I always answer, “Yep, it sure is.”
Bakersfield, Florida is another inspired location in my Finding Home series. I created this fictional town after years of driving through the Florida panhandle on the way to the beach and taking in the beautiful farmland. I never knew the names of the towns I passed through, but I knew what they looked like, so I let my imagination run free as I created this small, farming town where Cait, Piper, Nolan, and Cort all grew up.
Small Town USA
Some might wonder why I don’t use the real town in a book. As an author, I come up with these “inspired locations” because it allows me the creativity to make the place my own. While there is certainly something familiar about the setting, the details don’t have to be exact because it’s fictional.
Do you enjoy when authors create their own places or do you prefer to read about real-life towns?
K. Leah is a hopeless romantic and adores a good Hallmark movie. Growing up in the South, she likes her tea sweet and coffee strong. Family and faith are what matter most and she wears many hats, including being a wife, mom, and graphic designer. Other than being creative with designs or stories, she likes to spend her free time escaping reality into the pages of a sweet love story.
I often prefer created towns. Sometimes real towns are too changed so that they fit the story.
I am happy with either but if its made up and in an area it needs some landmark or bigger town to let me know where its set. (I get frustrated when a book doesn’t mention the state its set in. sometimes a town will be named but know other clue as to what state or area. (I am going to try the 50 states this year and a couple I am already at the I have no clue where this book is set except America).
The latest I am reading while it’s a made up town it mentions the capital of the state so I know which state it is.
Often made up leaves less chance of using a town and then making up places in the town (Unless you have mentioned you have taken poetic license with some of the locations in the town. )
Thanks for the post! I prefer reading about real-life places.
Cool post. Hmm, I enjoy reading stories set in both created and legit locations as much as I enjoy writing both for all the usual reasons. BUT! Creatively, if I hope to sell a novel, it will almost always need to be located in the USA. Interesting, isn’t it? Location is best delivered as another character if the author can find a way of doing that, though a familiar location certainly saves some of the trouble ;)
Good morning K Leah! This retiree and traveler enjoyed driving through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina near Asheville in 2015. I just finished reading Teresa Tysinger’s Suddenly Forever. As a reader, I enjoy reading stories that are set in both real and made up settings. Real settings especially big cities need to be authentic. Made up small town settings as others stated are nice when the author sets them near a real larger city or body of water. As others stated, I appreciate when the author includes the state or country or at least on of the American regions – Midwest / Pacific NW, etc. As a reader it is frustrating, when I can’t picture where in our beautiful vast country the story “really” takes place. Stay warm and safe. Not fond of our Michigan weather today.
Good question. I have not traveled much, but once I get into a book, the place is real to me!
Thanks so much for thinking of Laurel Cove for this! It’s so fun to share a knowledge of and love for a place. When a place can satisfy so many of our senses and sensibilities, it’s no wonder it inspires us!
Interesting question! My first thought was to say real places, but the more I think about it as long as the setting is realistic and the author lets me know generally where it is located, I don’t have a preference either way. My all-time favorite series is set in a fictional town and some other favorites are set in real places.
I like both. I do most of my traveling through books.
As a reader I like both. I love learning about places I’ve never been, but I don’t mind if a place doesn’t actually exist.
As a writer I prefer to make up a town based on another. I used an actual small town in my very first series, then realized one of my key locations moved to the other end of town. I was able to write the move into the last book, but who knows what’s changed since then.
I like to read books with settings both in made up towns and real towns. I think it would be neat to be able to visit some of the real towns from books.
I like both! I like the connection when reading a book set in a real town and recognizing the places. I guess the only issue is when the real town changes, and the book stays the same, later readers might notice a difference. Small towns, like you pointed out, are usually closing related to a real town. I like the made-up towns because they feel like a place everyone would love to live in, to experience.
I like both I like reading books about places I have been to or want to go to.
I prefer when they create their own towns/settings, yet still manage to convey all the feelings from the real ones (coziness/closeness of small towns, etc.). :)
I think I prefer fictional towns, can be based on real ones, because if it is based on a real town and the author takes poetic license, it can irk me a bit because it isn’t true to life. Love the pictures in this post. The town looks like it could be any small town I live near here in PA. That brings a cozy feel.
I like both, as long as the author doesn’t take too much license with a real place! I had to visit Savannah because of Eugenia Price’s books, and definitely was NOT disappointed!!
Hi, I like them both , it doesn’t really matter to me as long as I enjoy the book. Have a great day and rest of the week and stay safe.
I like when authors create their own places.
I like either/or! As long as I can be transported to the town/city the author creates and feel like a part of it, it doesn’t really matter if it’s based on a real place or completely made-up.
I have a favorite author of mine who has made up a coastal community on the Oregon coast near where I live. It’s based on a real small town with a few real details, but completely made up as far as the name & businesses you would find there. So in a way, it’s the best of both worlds. :-)
I have no preference, but I do enjoy small town stories. I grew up in a fairly small town, and I can relate to the feeling of knowing most of the people in the town. The picture looks very similar to our town.
I enjoy both ❤️
I prefer fictional places
I prefer real life towns. 😊
Yes! This is exactly why I like to make up my own. :)
I’m a stickler for accuracy myself.
I love how you mentioned location can be delivered as another character! That’s an interesing thought I’ve never considered before.
I haven’t traveled much either and that’s why I enjoy reading about other places.
I love this series so much! I’m so happy we have this connection.
Me too!!
Yes! This is my thoughts exactly!
Yes! That’s what I try to deliver to my readers. I imagine the place as a real location in my mind.
Thank you! Yes, the Blue Ridge Mtns are so beautiful and this small town could easily be a replica of the towns in my head.
Oh that’s neat! I’ve never been to Savannah but I’d love to visit someday.
I love books that are located on the coast!
Me too! I can picture that this small town would easily represent one that lives in my head.
I think I like both, created settings may be embellished. But real places also makes it more realistic and relatable!
I like both! I’m an avid armchair traveler, in real life not so much!
I love stories set in small towns, but I also enjoy urban settings! I think if it’s a small town I prefer it to be fictional (though I love it when the fictional town is inspired by a real town!) and if it’s a large city I prefer for it to be a real place (For example New York City, L.A., Seattle, etc.) and written as authentically as possible, so I feel like I’ve visited the city just by reading the book.
I enjoy both. If the created town feels, sounds and reads an authentic. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I love both real small towns & made up towns by authors due to making it fun.
There both very interesting.
I like real-life and created town. I really like when the author creates the entire town and shows a map of all the locations.
I like both! It is always cool to read about real life places, but it is also fun to read about places that authors have created.
It is neat to read about real places, but most made-up places are usually based on a real town.
I like a mix of both, but currently my favorite fictional town is Freedom, Colorado from the multi-author Heroes of Freedom Ridge series. 🏔 I really wish I could visit that place & meet the characters who make up that small town.
Armchair traveler is a great description!
A map is a great idea!
I would love to visit Freedom, Colorado myself! The authors did a great job creating this fictional place.
I love, love, love seeing when authors bring real places to life, however I’ve also liked when authors bring new ideas of places that aren’t real to life … So, I’m kinda tied, I guess!
I like both but there is something special about a location you have visited or lived in that helps me picture it better and draws me in.
Not having visited America sometimes it is hard to picture locations made up or real.
like either