httpv://youtu.be/uxpwvgRdyTU
I took the plunge into the vlog-o-sphere! Thanks to the inspiration of my debut buddy, Katie Ganshert, who is a vlogging trailblazer, I took my FlipShare with me when I wandered through Estes Park right before Christmas.
My debut novel, Wish You Were Here (WYWH), an inspirational contemporary romance published by Howard Books (May 2012), takes place in both Colorado Springs and Estes Park, Colorado.
In this brief vlog — about a minute and a half — I talk about how my favorite bookstore in Estes Park inspired me to get creative with fact and fiction while writing WYWH.
In Your Words: What’s your reaction when fact and fiction are woven together in a novel? Do you have a favorite bookstore in your hometown?
Comments 25
Oh…I love this, Beth. What fun to hear your lovely voice….and seeing this beautiful place makes me even more anxious to read Wish You Were Here.
Our rural community (with the highest unemployment rate in the state) doesn’t have a book store. Sad, isn’t it?
š I guess this is the first time you get to “meet” me, isn’t it, Patricia?
And, yes, it is sad to think you don’t have a bookstore nearby. I was so sad when Borders closed last year. Of course, we still have Barnes and Noble, which I love. But the one in Estes Park is one of a kind. It was up for sale a couple of years ago and I was afraid it would just close. But when we visited in December — no sale sign! And it was quite busy. Yay!
Great vlog, Beth! Alas and alack our hometown bookstore closed last year…it was such a cozy place to go with sitting areas and nooks and crannies to explore. But the owner retired and there was no one to take her place.
Look forward to more vlogs!
Your hometown bookstore sounds like the one in Estes Park, with the nooks and crannies. The one I created for Wish You Were Here is a little different, but there is still plenty of space for chairs and tables for reading … and, of course, a latte bar! š
I love this–great successful vlog concept, the first I’ve seen. Our nearby Christian bookstore has survived but changed hands so is now national rather than local, less personal and nearly impossible to arrange the story times and author signings I enjoyed there before–but at least the store and its strong positive witness in our neighborhood survives. I appreciate this early morning visit with you.
I only wish I could figure out how to be with each of you as you viewed the vlog … š
In my novel, Allison (my heroine) does develop a friendship with the owner of the bookstore, Work In Progress. I think people connect over books … and love to wander bookstores or sit and browse through books and drink coffee or tea. I know I do. There are some fun scenes in the Estes Park bookstore I created … but that’s all I’m saying … š
Woo-hoo! You’re taking big steps forward in the techy world. š Fun vlog, Beth. My kids liked it too. š I enjoy seeing fact and fiction woven together in a story. It’s fun watching your story unfold and hearing you share about it. š
Glad your kids liked the vlog, Jeanne.
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Next week, I’ll be premiering Part 2!
Found your blog through Rachelle Gardner, I always enjoy meeting new people especially authors as I am an aspiring one!
I have clicked around on your blog and I like it!
To answer your questions: I usually like it when fact and fiction are mixed (the YA novel I wrote blends the two) but there have been occassions when I didn’t care for it, but I think it had more to do with the style of writing and not that fact/fiction were woven together.
A few years back I looked into opening a book store in my area as we do not have one in my community, but it just was not possible. I am hoping someone will do it, I think there is a market for it .
TC,
Thanks for stopping by!
So you thought about opening a bookstore? Now I’m curious as to what stopped you … I had a friend who opened a bookstore with her husband. This was in a small town in Florida. They sold it about five years later and, as far as I know, it’s still going strong.
Wow, what a GORGEOUS setting! And what a great hook for your book, Beth. Can’t wait to visit Estes Park again via those pages. š
Thanks, Sarah.
You’ll get another glimpse of Estes Park soon.
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I love facts interspersed with the fiction. It gives me a better feel for a place, makes it more real. Even if I haven’t been to Estes Park or Seattle or Detroit, I get a better sense of a place with facts, landmarks, culture.
Hi, Karen,
Thanks for joining the conversation. I so appreciate the community here at In Others’ Words. As I mentioned to Sarah, you’ll get another glimpse of Estes Park soon!
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What a beautiful setting! Looks like a great place for a book. š Makes me miss you a bit more!
Casey, You have a standing invitation to come visit!
I just might take you up on that!!
Woohoo!! It’s BETH! My buddy, Beth! So much fun to see your beautiful face and hear your voice! Now if only I could give you a hug, too! Love the vlog debut. Love the setting, love the content. Love, love, love!
And many thanks for inspiring me to try a vlog, Katie. I’ve enjoyed all your vlogs. I’m hoping to get my husband out from behind the Flip and into one of the vlogs one of these days! š
Nice vlog and a great way to share how you developed your story – enjoy the blending of fact and fiction. Hubby and I spent some of our honeymoon in Estes Park. Way before we ever dreamed of living in Colorado.
Thanks, Stacy.
I think Estes Park would be a wonderful place to honeymoon. Now I’m wondering: Did you have snow? Or was it during the summertime?
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Beth, I love your vlog! It was awesome to put a voice with your picture. š You are so soft-spoken and sweet! I can’t wait to meet you in person someday.
The only secular bookstore nearby is Barnes and Noble. It’s OK but I preferred Borders. There are a few Christian bookstores too, but nothing I can really snuggle up and read in. I just use the library for that!
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I wasn’t thinking how this vlog would be my intro to so many of my online friends!
For some reason I like our B&N over the Borders — the B&N seemed better organized, lighter … more appealing. It’s hard for me to relax at the library. I’m usually in the children’s section hauling my daughter’s books.
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Beth, this was so fun! WHY do I keep forgetting how close we live? I visited Estes Park a few years ago and stayed at the Stanley Hotel with some friends. I wish I would have had more time to walk around and see the town, but I’ll just have to pick up your book and learn a little more about it. Oh, and I lived in Colorado Springs for 13 years, so I can’t wait to read your story. Thanks for sharing this with us š
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Sometimes I think I spend so much time on the Internet I forget about the real world out there … and where people live.
Glad you enjoyed the vlog — stay tuned for next week!