When I boarded my flight to visit the small village of Hallstatt in the Australian Alps, I had no idea how this new adventure would transform my writing. There is something about a small, idyllic, romantic town that completely transports you into a story. The words start to flow on the page after walking the streets of the picturesque, tiny villages that seem like they’re begging to be a part of a story.
My trips always bring life to small-town romances, touching love triangles, and friends to lovers stories that have been circling my mind, simply waiting to be brought to life on a page. Books have a way of transporting us into a story, and what better way to do that than to show the beautiful places I’ve fallen in love with in my travels.
So, I have to tell you how my traveling not only enriches my life, but also inspires my women’s fiction and romance novels to hold the dramatic, heartfelt, and authentic stories that I hold so dear.
New Cultures: A Source of Inspiration for Dramatic Romance Books
We live in a world full of vibrant and beautiful cultures. Before I traveled, I didn’t realize how unique each of these cultures are. Each one offers a new way for me to step out of my comfort zone and see things from a new perspective. No one can deny that there are places in the world where we discover that romance lives within the walls of these towns. Italy is no exception. The locals know that the cobblestone streets and brick buildings whisper stories of vibrant romance and artistry.
Imagine sitting at a cozy café, watching couples intertwine their arms as they sip espresso. Picture wandering the bridges of Paris, where men hold umbrellas over their lovers, whispering sweet nothings that make them blush and lean in closer for another soft kiss. Italy taught me how romance and pure, captivating love can overwhelm a soul, and I soaked in every minute of its beauty to capture the romance that begged to be in the pages of my books.
The history of the romance that lives in those ancient cities, and the depictions of modern, romantic chivalry were beyond what I could ever imagine. I can’t help but try and recreate that love I experienced in the pages of my own clean romance novels.
Small Town Adventures: Fueling Friends to Lovers Romance Narratives
While visiting the peaks of Mammoth California, I might be on top of a mountain one day, looking down at the peaceful lull of nature surrounding me. Then at the base of the mountain, I might be bombarded by the bustle of life that’s rushing around the small town. While I sit and watch the rush, I wonder how often those hustling locals look up and realize the beauty that towers over them. The close community is surrounded by beauty that the rest of us could only dream of living in and it becomes the perfect inspiration for a story of two friends who discover the love that’s growing between them.
I remember sitting outside the small coffee shop in town and watching as kids spent their summer running from neighbor to neighbor. All of them were eager to climb the mountains to escape to the lakes for the afternoon, and my novel, From Friends to Forever was born. Those kids had a spark in their eye, an eagerness for adventure, and an innocence to the gravity of love that painted the story in that small, idyllic town. Quickly, the story was brought to pages, watching the small town friends, who had no idea of the beauty and romance that surrounded them and the chance for romance that was right in front of them.
The Creative Boost from Workplace and Military Stories
The small towns and cultural cores gave me amazing inspiration for my clean romance novels, but even further, my travels led me to people whose stories inspired my workplace romances and military romance novels.
When I visited a military base for the first time, I witnessed a passion for their careers that I had never seen before. Service members told me firsthand about the courage, sacrifice, and love they had for their country. They didn’t think twice about giving their lives to serve their country.
Instantly, I knew I needed to write a fiction novel that encapsulated the love, passion, and calling that military service members experience. From Friends to Forever was able to show the sacrifice, courage, and strength that these heroes have, and how they must fight for their happily ever after.
Boston and the small communities that surround it, where From Friends to Forever originates, inspired me even more for all of my writing. I saw people with a drive to work hard and pour into their careers in Boston, that was different from other cities I had visited. Their picturesque streets and the history of their buildings held stories of businesses and art that had built Boston into the artistic hub that it is today. Cultures intertwined as people from all over the world gathered in that city to work for their dreams.
My husband and I met a chef in Boston who talked about her grueling schedule and the endless hours she had worked to get her to where she was. As she spoke about the trials she had faced, she had this love and passion in her eyes for her career that I knew was very special. Her enthusiasm and hard work were the inspiration for Balancing Love & Work. Someone with that much love and drive for their career deserves romance the same as anyone else.
The Endless Journey of Creative Exploration
My travels have given me endless inspiration for my novels, and I have no doubt they will continue to do so. Each place and every person, gives a new layer of story and romance to continue to craft new and captivating stories.
Whether it’s the cobblestone streets of Italy, the peaks of the Sierra Mountain range, the passionate hearts of our military bases, or the bustling streets of Boston, these experiences give life to the whispered stories waiting to be put on paper. Each dramatic romance, friends to lovers tale, and small-town romance book encapsulates the stories I’ve seen in the travels I’ve been lucky enough to experience.
The beauty of it all, is that there are endless places for me to see, hundreds of romances scattered around the world, characters walking old streets, love budding in small cafes, and sunsets inspiring beauty for me to create new romances. We all have a love for stories and for romance, because they transport us to these beautiful places.
So, if you’re a writer, a romantic, or a book enthusiast, I implore you to pack your bags and find the stories hidden in these idyllic places that are begging for a reader.
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