We all know that romance can hatch and blossom and burst anywhere. Take my husband and me — we got to know each other while working together at a summer day camp for three-year-olds to sixth graders and did fall in love over games of knockout with a dozen pre-teen boys and while cleaning up the lunchroom after thirty-some elementary-aged kids.
Now that I think about it, perhaps those things showed us quite a lot about each other. Hmm…
Anyway, when writing fiction, there are certain settings that just evoke romance. Paris, modern-day and historical. A beach. A cabin in the woods. Historical England, aka any setting where Jane Austen found inspiration.
Each of us probably find different settings bring romance to mind more than others. For example, Chicago is — to me — a very romantic city. My husband and I dated a lot downtown. We did the lakefront boat tour, went to the zoo (once with about sixty kids in tow! Day camp again.), explored Marshall Fields, took a carriage ride around the old water tower, got lost looking for the most romantic restaurant ever (Burger King — ha!), and ate at an authentic, upscale Italian restaurant that a former mafia member my husband knew had recommended to us.
When I was working on Kept and told people where the book was set — downtown Chicago — I got a variety of looks from people, most of them bad. Chicago has done such a good job of trashing its own reputation that people don’t think anything good can come out of Chicago! Especially since we’re talking about Christian fiction. But to me, Chicago can be one of the most beautiful, romantic, gorgeous cities out there. It’s all based on my perspective and experience, isn’t it?
Gorgeous Chateau de Gudanes! Image from their website.
Lately I’ve been following two different Australian families who are renovating abandoned chateaus in France, Chateau de Gudanes and Chateau Le Mung. Since one of my most favoritest books ever is Chateau of Echoes by Siri Mitchell, it makes total sense that these two buildings would hold all sorts of romance for me. I’d love to travel over there and stay in an historic chateau and explore these out-of-the-way rural settings. Paris? Sure, we’ll stop there. But give me these chateaus any day! Can’t you just feel the story ideas start to come out? You could go historical, contemporary — or both like Siri did. The mountains behind the massive home, the painted wood beams, the ancient kitchens, and the views from the many, many attic windows — so much potential for romance!
I’m curious what unique setting do you find romantic? If you were or are a storyteller, what place would you choose to set a romantic story? Do tell!
Sally Bradley writes big-city fiction with real issues and real hope. A Chicagoan since age five, Sally has been fascinated by all things Chicago (except for crime, politics, and traffic) for almost as long. She now lives in the Kansas City area with her family, but they get back to Chicago for important things -- like good pizza and a White Sox game. A freelance-fiction editor and former president of her writing chapter, Sally has won a handful of awards for Kept and another work-in-progress. Visit her online at sallybradley.com or on Facebook.
I have romances set everywhere from contemporary Boston to historical WWII Nazi prison. It’s funny that people think you can’t have a romantic setting in Chicago!
I would love to set a book in Paris, but having never been there, I won’t. I like to feel a place before writing about it and as nice as google maps is, you don’t get a sense of the vibe that way. Instead I try to find places that make me feel a certain way when I’m there and use those as settings. :)
Paris does have a reputation for being a romantic city, but romance is in a person’s heart and can bloom anywhere, geographically. However, some settings certainly feel LESS romantic, thinking of Hallee’s comment above about Nazi prisons!
I like settings in quaint villages with the hero being an honorable man. Love beautiful mountain scenery as well!
Kept was a great book and it did not bother me at all that it was set in Chicago.
jennydtipton at gmail dot com
My plan has always been to set a story in every state where I have lived. So far I have Washington State, Massachusetts, Georgia, Florida, South Dakota, Montana and Ohio. I have part of a story finished that is set in Illinois with some scenes in Chicago. I have the idea for for one set in Tennessee. Now I have to figure out one for Arizona.
Having also fallen in love in Chicago (and its surrounds), I have to agree it’s a very romantic city. But I also agree with Val, it’s all about your heart more than the location.
That said, those chateaus are gorgeous and definitely story-inspiring.
Most of my stories take place in small towns that only existed in my imagination. I never thought that much about the setting, but now I will! As to Chicago, having visited there half a dozen times in my life, I have always thought of it as an exciting and yes, romantic place. So much to do, day or night, and so much beauty.
I’ve been to Chicago and I enjoyed my visit very much. How about Carmel, California for a romantic setting? I don’t know if Carmel has ever been used or not.
Isn’t it, Hallee? :)
Kimberly, I’m exactly the same way. And I bet all your knowledge comes through in your books. :)
Kinda makes you want to write in a challenging setting, doesn’t it? Just to see if you can make something unromantic, romantic?
Aren’t they, Elizabeth? I think I’m going to just have to set a story there so I can visit for research and claim the whole trip as a business deduction on my taxes. :D
I guess romance can happen in any setting, at least for me! It’s a matter of choice, choosing to be romantic with my husband in the grocery store by holding his hand or putting my arm in his. Things of that nature. Romance shouldn’t be a HUGE thing all the time, it’s in the little things too :-) Just spending time with my husband is romantic. We’ve been to a lot of places in our travels, and frankly, just having the time together is more precious then going all out to a pricey restaurant & maybe seeing a show afterwards. Not that I wouldn’t want to do that, mind you, it would be very romantic. I hope you can understand what I am trying to say :-) To boil it down, romance to me is a state of mind, of choosing each moment to show your love.
Now, if money were no object, I’d love to visit the most romantic place in the world…..Paris, France!! Have dinner under the Eiffel Tower, take a romantic stroll arm in arm afterwards & watch the town light up after dark :-)
Diane, I have to say that I love setting a book in real places, but I know a lot of people like to make up their own place too. I guess if you’re using a big city, a well-known city, you’d have to be pretty accurate. Like Kimberly said, you have to know pretty well, but I find that freeing rather than confining. I so enjoyed bringing out some of my favorite aspects of the city and sharing them with my readers.
Jenny, thanks for your input there. I find that interesting that you normally like the village setting yet still liked Kept.
We visited Denver/Colorado Springs a couple years ago–so stunning, isn’t it? I wish I lived close enough to visit Garden of the Gods whenever I wanted and see those mountains out my windows.
Fun, Merrillee! I’d love to hear where in Chicago those scenes are set.
Kathy, I’m not familiar with Carmel at all. I’m assuming you’ve lived there or nearby. What about that area do you like?
I just saw La Jolla, California, on an HGTV show last night. Wow, was that a gorgeous area!
You’re exactly right, Trixie. Romance really is a state of mind.
Beautiful mountain backdrop in the fall, my favorite time of year.
Linda Rainey
I visited Carmel when I lived in California. It’s on the coast. They have storybook cottages and quaint business, charming streets and beautiful flowers. I loved it there. :)
My top three spots to write a romance (if I wrote) would be Switzerland – probably Zermatt at the base of the Matterhorn; Spain – the Basque region with the Pyranees and the Bay of Biscay; and Kansas – I’m from there and I love the wide open spaces, waving wheat fields, and wind!
Sounds beautiful, Kathy!
Fall is beautiful, isn’t it? And after a hot summer like Kansas gets–so perfect!
I find myself routinely setting books in spring and summer. Spring, I understand because it’s my favorite season. But summer’s too hot.
Anyway, now I want to read a good fall book while curled up in comfy jeans and my favorite sweatshirt. :)
Katy, you made me laugh. As I read your comment, I’m thinking, Wow, have never been there and wouldn’t have a clue how to capture such exotic locations–oh, wait. Kansas! I live there. :D I can do that one. Although it’s hilly and there are a lot of trees in my area.
I read a southern-type fiction novel once and it featured flashbacks to the h/H ‘s childhoods. Their time as children and teenagers was dismal and poverty-stricken. When I think of that book now, the flashbacks seem so dark and sad and I have a hard time getting from there to the happy ending in my mind. So I would say that locale (and the author’s descriptive writing) can have an effect on the romance.
Sally, I spent a summer in Europe and those were two of my favorite places. My in-laws are the C’s from Osawatomie that go to your church =) but I’m from Newton and my parents are from further west near Great Bend.
Sally, I spent a night in Chicago in 2013 on my way to the ACFW conference in Indy. I’d love to visit Chicago again, and have more time to explore the city :)