The Creation of a Setting and a Tradition (Guest blogger Dineen Miller)

Welcome, Dineen! We're so grateful to have you with us today as Kim's out of pocket this week! 

So many ideas and planning factored into our setting and key elements in the Central Park Rendezvous collection. As four authors working together, our common goal became not only to create a common setting but also to integrate specific elements and relationships that would build depth and believability to this story about four generations of heroes.

When we set out to create a setting for our stories, our first choice was actually Times Square, not Central Park. Thankfully, we did our research first and discovered that Times Square was more of a Red Light District during the first half of the twentieth century. Imagine our chagrin had we not checked first!

With that new information in hand, we went back to brainstorming and chose Central Park, a real setting that existed even during the Civil War. Then the beauty of Bow Bridge beckoned to us, especially when it wore its winter coat with such splendor.

We also wanted something tangible that would be passed down between the generations, creating an even stronger connection between the characters. Ideas zinged back and forth through email until finally we hit upon something that again could be in place as far back as the Civil War and carry through the Wolfe family in present day.

The gold coin would become a symbol of courage and unfailing love through the generations of Wolfe men. The richness of this heritage is something we all can relate to and find so meaningful in our own lives. Such an element seemed to add more strength to our stories—more meaning. Though these men would not technically know each other, this tangible evidence of commitment and perseverance connected them.

Dare we say, were these stories true and promised a new generation, the coin would remain a treasured bond and evidence of a family not only committed to persevere in life but also to know a love that would never fail. 

~Dineen

Great post, Dineen! Thanks for sharing. And now, I'm wondering… How many of us love these new "novella collections" that are coming out these days? Have you read this one yet? Or any others? Please share!

Tammy