Shaded Goodness – Small Town America

Quaint, artsy, small-town charm. Sentiments that perfectly describe Bay Town where, Book Five Shaded Goodness, resides. I’d like to introduce you to the real-life town that inspired it, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. With a population of just over ten thousand, it’s officially considered Small Town America. In fact, year after year, it consistently makes the top fifty and sometimes the top ten Best Small Towns in America in the Southern Coastal category.

In the series, most local shops are located on Main Street, but in Bay St. Louis, a downtown area isn’t confined to one street. The town hosts music, art, cultural, and fashion events almost every weekend on various streets near the bay. Sometimes in the bay! An old family friend recently visited there and took pictures for me. He said it hasn’t changed much in the last forty years! It’s just more colorful, more exciting, but retaining the charming.

Downtown

In Shaded Goodness, much of the action takes place on Main Street, the downtown area. Doesn’t every Small Town America have a downtown? It’s where Jacque works and frequents the local businesses. If you’ve read any of the Bay Town Series, I hope you’ll have fun revisiting some of the local establishments. Here are a few:

Victoria’s Dress Shop. Victoria’s grown up quite a bit since her story in Let Them Eat Fruitcake. She’s also a mentor in Shadowed Doubt, and now Jacque values her friendship and godly wisdom.

The Second Chance Vintage Boutique is a popular hangout in all the books, but with a new owner in Shaded Goodness. Overcoming tragedy in previous books, the glamorous young Virginia, though slightly developmentally disabled delightfully returns. She’s a key figure in Books one and two, and charms us again in books three, four and five.

Second Chance Vintage Boutique is also the anchor in the award-winning book Restored Grace, the boho, middle-aged, free-spirited owner Carol embarks on a harrowing journey fighting a human trafficker to protect young Virginia.

Jacque and most of the locals visit The Pink Rosette, the local florist, where Max, the British ex-pat always has a listening ear. His love story with Roxanne, the diffident author, takes place in Ransomed Peace. A story of overcoming domestic abuse through the power of love, God and community.

Beautiful transformations happen at Helena’s Full Service Day Spa, and not just on the outside.  It was a fun to take Mickey, Jaque’s ex, there where he encounters the crazy, attractive and entertaining Tina. You’ll enjoy her spunk in all the books.

And, of course, you’ll often go for coffee at The Mockingbird Café where Jacque works. It’s the only establishment that’s an actual place. A hub of activity in both Bay Town and the real-life Bay St. Louis happens at The Mockingbird.

You’ll also be reintroduced Melanie and Pastor Desmond…where it all started, and now spiritual mentors to all in the community. But you don’t need to read all the books to fall in love with them. Each book is a stand-alone. You’ll also cozy-up with the downtown feel where local residents often run into each other. Unfortunately, that’s where the bad guy finds his prey, as well. Ooops…no spoilers! But for more photos of the delightful town of Bay St. Louis, please visit Michael Harding’s website: Miles2go. You’ll not only enjoy a ride through Bay Town, but lots of Small Town America! Thank you, Michael for your lovely photos.

https://www.miles2gobeforeisleep.com/blog/2020/2/29/snapshots-bay-st-louis-a-place-apart

Small Town Nostalgia

As a young girl, I lived in Bay St. Louis. It was only for one year, but talk about being smitten with a small town nostalgia bug! BSL had about five thousand people back then and the warm impression it made on me has never left.

This is interesting because my family lived there during the Civil Rights Movement, from 1964 to 1965. It was difficult at first. Our family was the only Asian family in town, and my father, being white but from California, was an outsider. You should have seen the faces of the kids on our school bus when three half-oriental (vernacular of the time) climbed aboard. Mouths hung open, and hushed words escaped.

It took some getting used to for all of us. But kids are resilient. My mother, not so much. Eventually the locals welcomed her … when they needed her help. The Mardi Gras theme was Ancient Japan, so who did they call in for authenticity in cultural settings, dress, and entertainment? Mama directed the entire Mardi Gras ball that year! She designed and oversaw the construction of kimonos, and taught three-hundred high school girls a traditional dance to perform. They never knew it was Okinawan and not Japanese! Then she danced the final performance as a solo. God is so good to bring people together. His love always prevails.

Bay St. Louis Memories

I loved the small-town vibe, though I didn’t know that’s what it was back then. My sisters and I picked wild blueberries along the rusty railroad tracks at the end of our street but never once saw the train. We jumped off piers and swam in the warm, smelly bay waters. As much as I loved swimming, I couldn’t wait to go home and bathe.

One of my favorite events was our little local Mardi Gras parade. We’d get so excited when our costumed friends riding on the homemade floats pulled by old automobiles threw us beads and candy! I think my favorite was the school carnival, where the whole town came out.

I attended Catholic Elementary school, where we were often yelled at by some of the grumpy nuns, but surprisingly, they were friendly at the carnival. They played games even while wearing their long black and white habits. Donned with black head coverings over white wimples, they giggled like the rest of us. The Irish priests were always lovely, but it was amusing to see them a bit tipsy at the carnival. I still remember loving the hand-sewn stuffies everyone won as prizes!

Small Town Romantic Suspense

That’s why Bay St. Louis was the perfect setting for my Bay Town Books. The small town charm, the memories and the community. It all fits in the genre of Christian Romantic Suspense. Heart-pounding action and the mystery of romance, culminating in small-town coastal America. It’s clean, inspirational, but riveting and redeeming.

I hope you’ll enjoy reading Shaded Goodness and the entire Bay Town Series. If you’d like to read more about the series and fun facts, check out my previous blog posts. Link below

https://www.kathleenjrobison.com/blog/page/18/

Thanks for reading and please let me know what you think about Small Town America! I’d love to hear about your favorite.

I’m so grateful to God for you all. I especially thank you for celebrating the release of Shaded Goodness and reading my blog. Just for those reading this, I’m running a giveaway for the next two weeks. Just comment on this blog below, then click the link to enter the giveaway for a signed paperback copy of Shaded Goodness and a $15 Amazon Gift card. Link below.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f888f7c029/?

I’ll post a new blog each day for a week, but the giveaway will run until July 3rd. Just comment and enter each day. I hope you win!