The fictional town of Palmer City, just outside Colorado Springs, features all of my favorite things from nearby and not-so-nearby places. If you read this month’s Throwback Thursday newsletter, you know how much it hurt for me to set a series in CO. (If you’re new here and would like to read that newsletter, you can find it here.)
So, when I started sketching out the town, it had to be a place I wanted to spend lots of my time. I knew that it had to be close to Garden of the Gods (because I had already written it into Love on the Ice), not far from the Air Force base, and close to a university. I added a creek, an old train station, shops, an inn, a cozy park, and lots of ranch land. Much of my inspiration came from my friend Jenny’s photos. She’s an amazing photographer and her pictures changed my mind about wanting to visit! The above photo is Maroon Bells. Isn’t it gorgeous?!
Nothing like my sketches, haha! But in my mind I can see it all. And there is still land to develop and more stories to tell, set here with the addition of the Brewer Brides series, coming later this year.
Below, near Estes Park the inspiration for Snowpack Creek and the location Taylor and Kingston go ziplining in Cruising on Ice. I like to cut and paste things in my imagination!
More from Steamboat Springs! Inspiration for the Brewer homestead and Brenna’s barn:
Inspiration for Main Street and Restaurant Row in Christmas on Ice and Melting the Ice:
