I knew I wanted to set my next series in a small town in Iowa, and I knew I wanted a character from my last series to live and own a business there. Because of his background as a musician, I decided early on that I wanted the business to be a restaurant and music venue.
Beyond that, I didn’t know much about the town—certainly not enough about it to make it something of a character of its own in my upcoming series.
Though I’m sure every author has their own unique process for developing a setting, here’s mine!
- Name the town
I looked at a map of Iowa to get a feel for common city names there. There are a lot of names with “City” in them and a number with nature-related terms—and some, such as Forest City, with both!
I’ve always liked nature-related names (my last series was set in fictional Lakeshore, Wisconsin, and other place names included Fox Valley and Havenridge), so I decided to go that route. Since cedar was used in a few real places in Iowa, I wondered about finding a different tree.
I soon landed on the oak tree. Researching Iowa, I learned there are 12 species of Oak native to Iowa and soon settled on the name Twelve Oaks … until someone pointed out that was the name of a plantation in Gone with the Wind.
Oops.
I adjusted and dubbed my new city Many Oaks.
- Craft a landmark
While visiting relatives in Iowa, I learned that a fair number of them have town squares—something I don’t see as often in Wisconsin. A series of one-way streets surround a small park, forming a (you guessed it) square. On the outside of the square, facing the park, are old brick buildings that house small businesses.
I knew I wanted to have a town square in Many Oaks, and I couldn’t let that fact about oaks native to the state go to waste. So, in the park there stands one of each kind of oak tree, planted almost two hundred years before by city founders. I didn’t manage to set one of my scenes for my prequel novella there, but I’m looking forward to exploring the park with characters in my upcoming novels!
- Consider common businesses for characters to frequent
In the prequel, I did learn a lot about the businesses in town.
There’s a nice Italian restaurant near the square (based on a mashup of restaurants I’ve been to).
There’s the restaurant and music venue my crossover character owns. The Depot was based on a restaurant/music venue I saw on TV once and crossed with a house made from a renovated train depot a few blocks from my own home! (It looks like such a cool place to live!)
I got to visit Dubuque, Iowa, recently, and love to think that The Depot would fit right in among the historic buildings we saw along the Mississippi.
Many Oaks, like lots of towns around, isn’t all old buildings. There are a few newer businesses, such as a medical center, in a more recent business development on the outskirts of town.
- Get to know the community
My stories are character-driven. To develop a coherent series around not only a place, but a group of people, I needed for them to have been through a lot together.
A tragedy ten years before the start of the series shaped the characters you’ll meet in the Many Oaks Romances. Everyone went into the event with different backgrounds and perspectives, so they were all impacted in different ways, but the effects have been lingering all these years. But now, through the love of God and each other, healing is on the way.
I hope you’ll enjoy visiting Many Oaks through the series! The prequel novella, Now or Never, releases in just under a week on April 28th. Pre-order from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or other ebook retailers.
In the meantime, what is your favorite fictional setting? What do you like so much about it?
Emily Conrad writes contemporary Christian romance that explores life’s relevant questions. Though she likes to think some of her characters are pretty great, the ultimate hero of her stories (including the one she’s living) is Jesus. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their energetic coonhound rescue. Learn more about her and her books at emilyconradauthor.com.
Firstly you now have me singing Iowa Stubborn and the names of the towns mentioned in the song!
In Australia a lot of towns have a town square too. We have one its actually 2 divided by a road or street.
I like Janet Tronstad’s Dry Creek I think cos of the people more than anything.
I’m more accustomed to a Main Street than Town Square. Love the idea though of somewhere where the community can congregate. There’s nothing like a small town where everybody knows your business and in tough times always come together for support. Creating a world or town isn’t something I’ve considered before – I’m glad authors have the patience and time to invest in creating them as it can build so many interesting, interconnecting stories. My favourite is rural settings. Thanks and congratulations on your release :)
Hi Emily! Thanks for sharing. This retired high school English teacher is impressed with your research. In today’s world with the internet, researching can be invigorating. Love your Iowa setting. I have visiting many intriguing Iowa communities near Pella, Iowa. In Michigan there are several restaurants in old train depots. In my small SW Michigan community we have Silver Beach pizza (best pizza in the area). Our small community has a brick main street – no town square, but in Germany many towns have a square.
Some small town fictional settings I have in enjoyed are in series by IR authors: Arcadia Valley, Idaho and Chapel Cove, Oregon. Best wishes! Enjoy your weekend.
It’s so interesting hearing how you developed this idea and how much detail you’ve put into the town.
I’m from the UK and I love reading about small town settings in the USA, particularly rural settings as there’s nothing like them where I live. Recently I’ve really enjoyed Elizabeth Maddrey’s Peacock Hill and Hope Ranch settings, I can really picture them even though I’ve never been anywhere like that!
I didn’t know town squares were a thing in Australia too! So interesting, the similarities that span the globe!
I love that you fell in love with the people of Dry Creek! It’s wonderful when an author can draw us in like that.
Thanks, Dianne! Yes, Main Streets are far more common in my area, too. When my husband and I first went to visit his family in Iowa, they were talking about a town square like it was a given, but I was totally unfamiliar with the idea! It’s surrounded by one-ways? What?! Haha. :)
We got to visit Pella during the tulip festival one year! Sounds like you’re well-versed in small towns, both fictional and real!
Interesting that town squares are common in Germany. I imagine they’re in other European countries too, and that’s a tradition that carried across the ocean to communities here. Interestingly, though my area has a lot of German descendants (my grandma spoke German in her home until she started attending school and had to learn English), we have more Main Streets than town squares. We do enjoy bratwursts and strudel though!
I have quite a few favorites! I love the fictional towns of Heart Lake, Hope Harbor, and Chapel Cove!! It’s the unique places, the unique characters, and even the unique side characters that make me wish I could go and visit!!
The similarities and differences is so intriguing, isn’t it? We’ve watched shows set in small-town England, and there are certainly some differences. I love that we get to travel the world through fiction!
no fav
Hi, Emily! I am so looking forward to the Many Oaks series. I have my pre-order all lined up and ready to go.
I do enjoy small-town settings. Perhaps it’s because I grew up in one. I can see the dynamics. It may be because I am more drawn to the fictionalized version. “Welcoming” and “small town” don’t always go together in real life. I love the quirky shop names and the kind-hearted oddballs as well as the main characters.
Somewhere I heard about town squares or “greens” as having a purpose for the local church. All the farmers had their land out away from the town so the parson was allowed to have, as part of his support, a cow for milk which could graze on the town square. I don’t know how universal the practice was or why certain areas would do something different. It seemed interesting when I came across it.
Thanks for the peek at your creative process. Fun!
Oh, interesting! I hadn’t heard of grazing on the town square.
By the way, I think you were one to comment on a past post of mine here to suggest Celebrate Recovery for the back matter in To Begin Again, and I’ve added it. New versions of the book should have it listed! (Forgive me if I have that mixed up with someone else’s comment!)
Thanks so much for following along into this new series! I hope you enjoy Now or Never!
Yes, I remember referring to CR in a past conversation with you. I’m glad you found it useful and could include it in the current edition. Thanks for letting me be part of the production :).
We do have a main street and the town square is probably different to yours. but hows is sandwiched between the Main Street and the one over. We have a sound shell that has a stage where we have outdoor events like carols in the square at Christmas but other events too. and there are picnic tables and some benches. the second one has the epitaph (or statue to the fallen soldiers from the wars) This is where we have our ANZAC day service and Rememberance day (nov 11) service.
It’s the smaller towns that have the town square some are a little away from the main street. My capital has several squares around the edge of the CBD.
There are so many that I have fallen in love. I love that they all care about each other. They have each other’s backs. They become like family. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I lived n Iowa from 2012-22 and saw town squares in many towns throughout the state, but mine didn’t have one. My best memories are from the years we lived in Highland, IL. The city administration sponsored numerous events and the square was the gathering place. I think it’s a great idea that you have built a town square into your fictional town. Sounds lovely!
I lived in a small town in Iowa growing up, 25 minutes from the big city of Cedar Rapids. Towns and cities have the name Cedar after the Cedar River running through them. Our town was too small to have a town square. But our street’s common name was Main Street, while it was really Greene St.
When I taught school in a small town in Ohio near the Ky border, we had a town square, anchored by the Courthouse.
I also happen to live in MI not far from that same Silver Beach pizza restaurant that Renate mentions.
Ah, that explains all the Cedars! Maybe I’ll have to add an Oak River to Many Oaks :) Sounds like you’ve called a lot of great small towns home!
Oh, I like the idea of using the square as a gathering place for events. Highland sounds like a special place!
The people are really what make the place!
Of course! I’m grateful you brought it up!
Sounds like you’ve found some good ones! You’re right that the characters are a big part of the place.
The town squares sound like great gathering places!