Location! Location! Location!

WELCOME to the Girly Books Blog Hop! Not only am I giving away an ebook, and several other sites giving away their books… but the Girly Books Blog is giving away a TON of prizes. Make sure to check it out! 

And now… let’s talk about location!

Do you believe there are magical places where anything can happen? I totally do.

It’s amazing what the right setting will do for your story. It can become almost a character itself.

When I write, I have some clear pictures in my head of where things are taking place. For me, personally, the fictional world is a magical place. It allows you to bring the best of the past, present, and future, swirl them all around in your imagination and paste together the best possible places.

The magic seems to be catching, because I’ve just put out The Last Single Girl and several people have already asked where the Brew Ha Ha is.

I have two things to say to that:

  1. If such a magical place existed, I’m not sure I’d be willing to share
  2. Somewhere…. somewhere in the Boston area.

Which is the answer to just about every setting in the Single Girl story and the Theories in Love books.

Glancing through these settings, I realize one thing about my heroines — No matter how classy the place, she can always manage to ignite wackiness!

Unlike me… Yup, I’m totally cool. Like ice, ice baby. All the time. Those stories you’ve heard about …. well, those pictures weren’t me. I swear.

Anyway. Moving on…

Let’s check out a few magical Boston-Area places and I think you’ll see what I mean.

brownstone

Imagine a lovely neighborhood, just on the other side of your budget line.  Ok, probably wayyyy on the other side of the budget line.

Some place where you can you imagine people sitting in bay windows drinking very expensive wine and patting their toy poodle, ShiShi.

Now, stop and turn. Just down that side street off to your right, there’s a little hill leading down past the sides of the brownstone until you see a small, wrought iron gate framing the front of a cottage tucked between two towering brick buildings.

The maroon sign with gold letters letting you know you’ve arrived at your destination swings just off to the side.

Seriously. How could something magical not happen here?

And so, when you have to tackle the daunting chore of finding Mr. Right in four weeks with the internet as your only guide, wouldn’t you need all the magic you can get? Desperate times call for the perfect coffee shop. Sarah can’t help herself when she sees. it. I wouldn’t have been able to either

boston-bar-m-bar

But not all magic is quite so quaint. Because Sarah’s high-end friend Claire is in charge of picking the restaurant for Girl’s Night, of course they’d go to a place where Sarah could only afford a salad, right? But hey, every girl likes to go out on the town once in a while.

And if you can’t bring your Classy Act here, where can you bring it?

And that’s not even the most glamorous place Sarah ends up at! The last place, talk about magical… talk about glamorous… talk about romance!

But that’s the entire point. Where you go… those places, they’re part of your story. They fill in the sights and sounds and smells of love or anger or betrayal or friendship in a way that a green-screen set could never do.

I’m lucky to live in a city rich with old-school charm and contemporary sensibilities. And the city in my head — the one Sarah and all her dates take place in — mines those charms to help paint the picture in vivid, emotional colors.

I bet we all have magical places – some, like Sarah’s, are in the city. Other people escape to the mountains or the beach. Feel free to share your magical place story. Part of being a writer is loving hearing other people’s tales. 🙂

Want a chance to win a kindle copy of The Last Single Girl and head off to all these places with Sarah? Check out the excerpt HERE and tell me which of these spots she went to first.

On Monday, I’ll draw a winner so make sure whatever email you use, I can send you an Amazon gift ebook on!

Don’t worry – I don’t harvest emails! I HATE that so I’d never do it to anyone else.

After you enter, make sure to click the blog hop button below to continue hoping and enter for the grand prize!

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Comments

  1. Great post, Caitie! I love what you wrote about the magic that exists in the settings you find yourself in. The Last Single Girl sounds fantastic, and I’ll meet you at the Brew Ha Ha anytime.

    Samantha Stroh Bailey

    • Thanks ladies! Yes! I lovvvve me some of my locations. It’s especially fun to find something small and hidden, imagine it into something special and share it with the world 🙂

      The pics… well, Boston is a beautiful town.

  2. thanks for the wonderful post and awesome photos!

    *email hidden* 🙂

  3. The chi-chi Boston restaurant sounds fun…the whole city sounds intriguing!

    *email hidden*

  4. Hi, Caiti! You do live in one of the great American cities. Think how many writers have used Boston as the backdrop for your tale. I loved visiting Boston. I thought the swan boats were magical. Happy hopping!

    • I totally remember my first time on the swan boats when we visited when I was a kid! They were so magical. I still love walking through the Gardens at lunch and watching all the tourists play by the water and listen to the performers and ride the Swans!

  5. Fabulous post, Caitie! That picture of the brownstone and the neighborhood you’re describing is Beacon Hill, right? What a gorgeous ‘hood that is. (I went to college in Boston.) I love the way you describe the magic of the fictional world. Beautifully put. Can’t wait to read The Last Single Girl 🙂 Thanks so much for participating in the hop!!

  6. Great post, Catie! I want to live in that cottage pictured and have Friday drinks in that bar. I’ve never been to Boston, but I can see why people say it’s a beautiful city.

    Oh, and i love the cover of your chick-lit book. Great iconic shapes!

  7. She’s at the high-end restaurant. Sounds like a fun read. Thanks!

  8. I would guess the restaurant, because of the martini straw. Looking forward to reading more, I love Boston!

  9. Have only been to Philly when it comes to the East Coast. It was great but I’m definitely ready for more. Would so love to visit Boston!

  10. Great post! I’ve never been to Boston but would love to visit one day.
    I would say she went to the high end restaurant.

  11. Susan Buchanan says

    She’s at the restaurant. I was meant to go to Boston this year – have been dying to go, but now I am 7 months pregnant and unlikely to be going overseas anytime soon. So, happy to add your book to my TBR to make up for my being unable to go! Great post and photos! Sooz

  12. April Holgate (@grapeapril75) says

    I have visited Boston a few times and loved the ambiance!! What a wonderful city!

  13. Love Boston, love the idea of finding the magic in real cities, love books in which the location is its own character. Great post–thanks for sharing!

  14. Boston sounds wonderful! I believe they are at the upscale restaurant. The picture of the bar is phenomenal and makes me want to throw on some high heels, grab a Fendi, and go sip martinis with my girlfriends all night long!

    Best wishes,
    Marlena

  15. Thanks to everyone who played along!!! Roomie picked a random name out of a hat and MARLENA is our winner 🙂

    Marlena, be watching for Single Girl in your email 🙂

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