Dear Reader,
I am so excited to introduce you to the lovably quirky community of Starr’s Fall! While the town of Starr’s Fall may certainly be seen to take some inspiration from the beloved TV series Gilmore Girls, my real inspiration is the five years I lived in Connecticut myself, just a stone’s throw from the area of both the TV show and my own novel. Northwestern Connecticut is such a special place, with all the New England charm yet not as remote or wintry as Vermont or New Hampshire. I loved living there—think red wooden barns, snowy fields, scarlet leaves, apple cider, and of course, sugary doughnuts! Yum! When I lived in Connecticut, I liked nothing more than attending an autumn fair or festival, and that particular scene in the book is taken directly from my own experience of a cake walk at one many moons ago.
Besides the town of Starr’s Fall, though, I loved writing about Laurie and Joshua’s romance, as well as Laurie coming into her own as a valued member of her community. As someone who has moved around a lot, belonging is such an important theme for me, and I really empathized with Laurie, who wants only to feel a part of things. I know all too well how it can be a struggle at the start.
Another character I loved writing was Henrietta Starr, the fearsome matriarch of the town. As someone who has a big heart for older people, I loved making Henrietta an important part of the story. Look out for the continuation of her story in future books!
Finally, my favorite character in the story just might be Max, Laurie’s dog, named after the adorable mutt in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. If you want to see my actual inspiration, watch the 1960s TV show of the book, although protect your eyes from the psychedelic colors…!
All in all, I really hope you love Coming Home to Starr’s Fall and fall in love with the town and its residents as much as I did. Thank you for reading and do keep in touch via my social media or website.
Happy Reading,
Kate