The New Kid on the Heartwarming Block

Hi there! I’m one of the new kids on the Heartwarming block, having moved into the Harlequin village in March. Given that Harlequin is global, I suppose I should say ‘metropolis’, except it feels way more like a small town with the way fellow Heartwarmers have cyber-strolled over with their introductions and welcomes, and have invited me into their circle of doings and get-togethers.

Like many an author of clean, contemporary romances, my stories too are set in a small town, specifically the one I actually live in. I moved to it twelve years ago to raise my kids, and their dad and I agree that it was the best decision ever. We moved here on the cusp of a boom here in Alberta, and the population has nearly doubled since then. Still, it remains family-grounded, community-minded, and with its clean and open lake, picturesque.

I’ve changed the town’s name to Spirit Lake and all the people in my stories are my invention but the town itself is perfect for my stories, so perfect that I use it just the way it is, practically street for street, business for business. Yes, yes, I also admit that I lack the imagination to recreate an entirely fictional town.

Soooo…I thought I’d show you my town and what will become your town in 2018 when my three stories are released. Come walk with me and my trusty iPad on a Saturday evening in late May in a small town somewhere in central Alberta….

Let's start with your tour guide: me.

A few blocks on is one of the many walking paths that wend through the town.

Street (with ubiquitous black truck), another walking path and a the railroad track. We've had three derailments right in town in the twelve years I've been here. Go figure.

At the end of the walking path and off to the right is our palatial Town Hall and grounds. I intentionally captured the playground because it existed before the Hall and municipal blueprints had to build around it.

And swinging in the opposite direction is the downtown. Usually there are gorgeous hanging baskets up. Hmmm....maybe they'll be there in time for the town's June Days festivities.

This is the town's pride and joy, with a grand opening earlier this month. Our recreation/sports plex. The shorter attached area to the right of the entrance (you see just a slice of it)  is the new meeting room for weekly bingo.

And even though it's a warm summer evening, inside Canada's favorite obsession continues. Yes, hockey training camp.

I was trying for a pic of a man with his two dogs on another walking path opposite when these two vehicles crossed in front. Now, we have a man with his two dogs in a truck.

A longstanding watering hole here. Motorbikes, pedal bikes, a taxi and trucks. Note the tattooed woman and old-timer chatting. I know, tiny, tiny. 

And finally, The Lake. 

Fishing off the pier.

A sense of the shoreline, where the lake meets the town. On Canada Day, July 1, the grass can't be seen for slowly roasting human flesh. 

While uploading these pics, I realized all the good ones I didn't take. Next time, right? Meanwhile, connect me with below or at my website or my Facebook page . Have a bright, safe day!