Have you ever been so attached to a fictional town that you wish you could visit it yourself?
One of my favorite things about writing a series is creating the world that surrounds it. Instead of using an existing town, I like to create fictional places for my characters to live, grow, and love. That’s why Kitner, Texas, the place where my Love’s Compass series is based, means so much to me. There’s just something special about a small town and the businesses and people who make it unforgettable.
For example, in Kitner, there’s Capturing the Moment Photography owned by Laurie, the heroine in Finding Peace. She enjoys taking portraits, and the studio is a dream come true for her. But what she really loves is working with families who have children with special needs. She can go to their homes, help the kids feel comfortable in their own environment, and really captures their true personalities.
And then there’s the little eating establishment just down the street. Every time I write about Daisy Belle’s Diner, I think of the sweet older lady who runs the place. She welcomes everyone in with a smile and the promise of a home cooked meal that’ll have them coming back for more. But it isn’t just about the food. She’s there to help Laurie after her photo studio is broken into. Sure, half the town might know about it later, but she’d do anything for a neighbor.
And we can’t forget Police Officer Tuck Chandler, the man who goes out of his way to not only investigate the break-in, but who refuses to let Laurie deal with the situation on her own when it begins to escalate. He’ll do anything to protect her, and it’s not just because he’s an officer. It has a lot to do with the people who raised him, and the extended family that means so much to him.
There are just a few examples of some of the unforgettable people living in this fictional town that I’ve come to love.
Do you wish you could visit Kitner?
If this small town sounds like a place you’d like to read about, you can get the first book in the series, Finding Peace, for FREE. It’s available on Amazon, Apple, Google Play, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble. I hope you enjoy it, and that you’ll fall in love with Kitner as much as I did.
Melanie D. Snitker is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes inspirational and sweet romance novels. She and her husband live in the beautiful Texas Hill Country with their two children who keep their lives full of adventure. They share their home with two dogs, a guinea pig, two lizards, and four frogs. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys photography, reading, baking, computer games, and hanging out with family and friends.
I too get “hooked” on fictional towns and enjoy the series based on them.
Sounds like a great place to visit. Small towns are the best.
There are many small towns in books that I’d love to visit, if only they were real!! I’m heading off to get the first book, too!! Which also probably means by TBR stack will grow even more, since I’m sure I’ll want the series!
Sounds lovely, looking forward to reading it, thank you!
Some of there are so fun and memorable, aren’t they?
I love the feel of a small town, too!
Thanks, Trudy, I hope you enjoy it! I do wish some of those towns that were real, too!
You’re very welcome – I hope you enjoy it!
Sounds like a fun place to visit if it were real. Some fictional towns really make me wish they were real. I’m partial to Melissa Tagg’s Maple Valley in her books too.
Or that we could magically visit them for a day. Or two! lol
I like small town reads.
I think I’m “moving in” in each small town I read about LOL
I really enjoyed this story and the series!
I really enjoyed Laurie’s story! I also liked her sister, Chelsea’s story in Finding Joy. This series is one I want to explore more once I whittle down the TBR pile of existing series. It was so precious to see Laurie working with the special needs boy. That just goes deep in my heart! Thanks not only for sharing today but for crafting such endearing characters. :-D
Kitner sounds like a wonderful place to visit….if it weren’t fictional! :-) I love when I can read a series or book that makes the town/city real in my mind. The characters and places (shops, restaurants, and etc) come to life & you can picture them.
There’s a book series I’m reading now set in the fictional town of Mule Hollow TX that I just can’t get enough of! It’s as if I stepped into the pages and am experiencing everything as it’s happening. The hair salon is a hot pink building & just as colorful as the owner is (she changes hair color on a regular basis), or see the two old men in the diner who play checkers everyday & bicker like brothers, and every building is as colorful as a rainbow. I’m going to be so lost when I get to the final book, I’m not sure what I’m going to do with myself, lol! It’s just so real in my mind :-)
I love stories that can involve a reader like that!
Kitner sounds like a great place, Melanie. We have family in TX and visit there every few years or so. Your fictional town sounds like it could be real since there are a lot of real small towns like that in TX.
It would be nice to visit another small country town.
I would if I could drive there & no places blocked off.
Sounds fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.