The real Crested Butte

While Lisa prefers to write about fictional towns, I've chosen a real place as the setting for all my Harlequin American Romances. Crested Butte, Colorado is a real ski town in Southwest Colorado, and one of my very favorite places to visit.

I did contemplate changing the name when I first set out to write my series of books set in the carefree resort town, but I decided that the real thing is too unique and fun to try to copy.

Not only is the town real, but all the festivals and most of the businesses and landmarks in my books (Marriage On Her Mind, The Right Mr. Wrong, The Man Most Likely and the upcoming Daddy Auditon and Her Christmas Wish) are real. From Flauschink, which celebrates the flushing out o winter, to Vinotok, featuring a giant effigy of The Grump that goes up in flames with the complaint and regrets of townspeople inside, Crested Butte knows how to throw a good party.

None of the people in my books are real people, though. That probably doesn't stop people in Crested Butte from looking for their friends and neighbors in the pages, but so far I haven't had any complaints.

Of course, I'm writing fiction, so I don't pretend to stay true to every facet of life in the real Crested Butte. I try hard not to write anything derogatory or negative. I really do love the town and the people I've met there have always been very nice and supportive. If any of them are offended, I'll take this opportunity now to apologize to them.

Writing about a real time is a tricky balancing act between adhering to facts and choosing the details that work for my characters and story. I hope readers will see love visiting the town in my books as much as I love going there iin real life.

You can find out more about the real Crested Butte here.

Who in the World Is Luke Song?

Imagine working at a job you love and doing it well. Many people don’t get to experience that satisfaction, so those of us who do are very lucky.

But now imagine that you suddenly and unexpectedly receive international recognition for what you already love doing. It’s something many of us dream of, and it’s wonderful to hear about it actually happening to someone. After all, if it can happen for them, then maybe it can happen for us.

Take Luke Song, a Detroit milliner/hat designer. For him, this Monday was probably just like most days in the life of a hat designer. On Tuesday, when Aretha Franklin took her place at the inaugural podium, the eyes of the world were riveted, not on her but on her hat. Whether you love it or not, there’s no denying the hat is an attention grabber.

That creation was designed by Luke Song, whose family business, Mr. Song Millinery, has been making hats for several decades. This week, thanks to Ms. Franklin, everything came together at just the right time and place, and he became fashion industry icon.

According to the Detroit Free Press, “By Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Song had sold hundreds of hats. A store in Dallas had sold 500 more, and the material was running out. ‘People are calling from England, asking for the hat,’ said Luke Song, who designed Franklin's chapeau. ‘I'm shocked. I had no idea. We did not expect this.’ ”

Wow.

And then there’s the US Airways pilot who landed his disabled aircraft in the Hudson River last week. I’m guessing that Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III has always been an outstanding pilot, admired and respected by his family, friends and colleagues, but most of his passengers would only have known his voice as he welcomed them aboard and hoped they had a pleasant flight. Now he’s a hero—the pilot we all want in the cockpit the next time we fasten our seatbelts and ensure that our seatbacks are in the upright position.

How does a person handle being catapulted into the limelight after working in relative obscurity?

If you’re Luke Song, you immediately get to work on an entire line of bow-inspired hats and plan to display them at the Women’s Wear in Nevada trade show in Las Vegas next month.

If you’re Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III (isn’t that an absolutely perfect name?), I imagine the talk show hosts are clamoring for a chance to interview you, and I’ll bet there’s a good chance there’ll be a book deal, and maybe even a movie.

The stuff dreams are made of, right? So here’s a question. If your dream comes true tomorrow, are you ready to make the most of it?

~~~

Switching topics, Winter Peck, an aspiring Christian romantic suspense author, is holding a Valentine’s book giveaway on her blog. Among the prizes are four Harlequin American Romances:

The Good Mother by Shelley Galloway
Marriage on Her Mind by Cindi Myers
Temporarily Texan by Victoria Chancellor
The Man for Maggie by Lee McKenzie

For a chance to win, drop by her blog and post a comment. Then check back on February 14 when she announces the winners!

Happy reading, and keep on dreaming!

Lee
Lee’s blog
Lee’s website

Congratulations to our Romantic Times finalists!

Romantic Times Magazine has announced the finalists in its 2008 Reviewers' Choice Awards.

For Best Harlequin American Romance:

FOREVER HIS BRIDE
Lisa Childs (Aug.)

RELUCTANT PARTNERS
Kara Lennox (Jun.)

THE RIGHT MR. WRONG
Cindi Myers (Feb.)

THE PILOT'S WOMAN
Ann Roth (Mar.)

TEXAS HEIR
Linda Warren (Sep.)

For Best First Series Romance:

MARRYING THE BOSS
Megan Kelly (Apr.)

Congratulations on your outstanding achievement!