My husband and I lived in Kansas City, Missouri, for twelve years. In the spring I often enjoyed picking blueberries with my children at an area blueberry farm. Blueberries are amazing fresh off the bush and my kids often ate more than went in their buckets. The owners assured us they fully expected this. After all, who can resist a sun ripened blueberry? The town of Westfall, Missouri, the central location of the Applewood Hill Series, is a fictional town inspired by the area north of Kansas City I passed through on my way to the blueberry farm.
I still recall the beautiful rolling hills, winding roads, white picket fences that paralleled the road, and big houses down long drives. Apple orchards replete with all the harvest fun any child young or old would enjoy dotted the countryside along with small towns filled with the promise of history. A lovely setting for my book, but I needed a town, so I created the fictional town of Westfall. But where within Westfall would my story take place?
Over the years, my husband and I have lodged at quite a few bed and breakfasts and found it fun to discover new ones. I often thought running a bed and breakfast would be wonderful. Why not run one in my imagination? The Applewood Hill Bed and Breakfast was born. Surrounded by an area like that outside of Kansas City, the Applewood Hill became the perfect setting to host the story of the Hannigan family, broken and in need of redemption.
If you could live in or visit a setting from a book you have read, where would it be?
Angela D. Meyer, author of The Applewood Hill Series, lives in Nebraska with her husband of 25 years and their high school daughter. Their son serves our country in the Marines. Angela enjoys hanging out with her family, reading, connecting with friends and encouraging women to grow in their faith. One of her dream spots to vacation is next to the ocean, and someday she wants to ride in a hot air balloon. Connect with Angela at her Website
More on Where Healing Starts: Joanna, full of bitterness over the past, can no longer ignore the growing storm inside her and is bent on self-destruction as she seeks to ease her pain. Her brother Blake must choose between what has always been safe and what he has always wanted, but one mistake after another leads him down a dangerous path. Will the Hannigan siblings find refuge in the God who loves them? Or will they get lost along the way?
Read the first chapter on the book’s web page.