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Monday, May 06, 2013

LuAnn McLane - Small towns



I think that it’s safe to say that there is a special place in all of our hearts for small towns.  After all, who wouldn’t want to live in Mayberry where residents smile and wave while the days slip by at a leisurely pace?  There’s just something warm and comforting about old brick buildings with a rich past.  Quaint shops sell one-of-a-kind treasures and diners serve up meatloaf and mashed potatoes and homemade apple pie for dessert.   

I suppose my love of small towns goes back to my early childhood in Bellevue, Kentucky where we could walk to the butcher shop, bakery and grocery store.  There were no malls so shopping meant a bus ride across the river to Cincinnati where we shopped in beautiful department stores and had lunch served on real china followed by a delicious dip of Graeter’s Ice cream.  Later, we moved to suburbia but my love of small towns remained so it’s no wonder that I place most of my stories in a small town setting.  I find it sad to travel through small towns who are struggling with Main Street all but shut down.  Like in Cricket Creek, it’s always my hope that the residents will find a way bring life back to local shops and stores.  

A recent article in USA Today http://www.businessinsider.com/the-ten-best-small-towns-in-america-2012-11?op=1 talks of friendly small towns and I wasn’t surprised that Kentucky has three in the top ten.  I’d like to think that if Cricket Creek were real, it would have made the list!  Do you have a favorite small town, local diner or shop that you love?  Let me know! I will randomly choose a post and give away a copy of on one of the novels in my Cricket Creek series.  You can catch an excerpt of Whisper’s Edge, (the May release in the series) at www.luannmclanecom

11 comments:

Mary Preston said...

I do live in a town, but it could not really be considered small. I've lived in many small towns in my time, but most were so small they were basically just whistle stops - no shops, or streets , just a road running through.

petite said...

Many small towns are enchanting. I live in a city but when we go on road trips we travel to small towns. Leadville, Colo. was one that captured my heart and the location is special.

traveler said...

I enjoyed your warm and wonderful post about small towns. I think that small towns are charming and appealing. Unfortunately I have never lived in a small place, just large cities. A diner that I found in a small town on a summer vacation was interesting since it had the retro-vintage decor and I enjoyed eating their delectable fare.

Quilt Lady said...

I love small town stories, as a matter of fact I live in a small town in Kentucky, its called Junction City. I was raise in a small community about an hour from where I live now. It was called High Bridge and its still home to me. Love going back for a visit because my sister still lives there. Your books sound fabulous and I would love to read them.

Quilt Lady said...

Forgot to mention that I live about three miles from Danville, KY

Eli Yanti said...

I'd lived in small town long ago and I don't have a favorite shop or diner. Our life is very simple when I was child. Now I lived in big city.

Lory Lee said...

I also live in a town, though not relatively small, but it's away from the bustling city. The air is very fresh (since our house is near the sea) and there are trees everywhere. :)

Kathleen O said...

Cricket Creek is one of my fav small towns to read about.. I sometimes can picture me living in these places. I live just in a small city, but I am surrounded by farms and lots of field of fresh grown fruits and vegetable. I get the best of both worlds.

Linda Henderson said...

I grew up in a small town so I do have a fondness for them. There used to be a cafe there that had the best food. Sadly it closed a few years ago. They have a big celebration every year the first week of June and everybody goes back for the carnival and events.

Laurie G said...

Ephraim, Wisconsin right on the shore of Green Bay. You drive up Hwy 42 and travel through several tiny towns: Fish Creek, Sister Bay, Egg Harbor, along this scenic route in Door County, Wisconsin... all the way up to the tip of the finger where you can take a ferry boat ride to Washington Island.

Ephraim has Wilson's Ice Cream Shop where young woman dish out sundaes and cones with jars out asking for tips for college expenses. Across the street is a beautiful park where you watch gorgeous sunsets across Green Bay's water. You can rent wind surfers and kayaks and bicycles. It's near Peninsula State Park where you can camp or hike or bike.

Pat Cochran said...

Small towns are lovely to visit. I just would
rather live in a big city, like my hometown
Houston.