Colorful Colorado Cities (and Towns) Found in My Books, Part 2
Last week, I told you about a few cities I’ve written about in my books (places like Boulder and Pueblo). This week, I’m going to tell you about a few more. I like using real places in my stories sometimes because it adds an element of realism—and those of you who know me pretty well know how much realism in books means to me. While fictional settings are good from time to time (especially when I need a town to be like what’s in my mind), it’s sometimes fun to work within the real parameters of a real place!
Without further ado, here are a few other places in Colorado I’ve written about.
Beaver Creek
This lovely ski resort village is actually not the sort of place I’d ordinarily go, mainly because I’m a middle class girl and this place is made of money…but in my day job, I’ve enjoyed many a conference there. It’s a beautiful spot just off I-70 a little over an hour west of Denver. It might be a village, but don’t think you can’t find a Starbucks there!
Val, Brad, and the kids get away from it all by taking a holiday vacation here in Christmas Stalkings. Unfortunately, as you can tell from the title, they’re not the only ones there!
Golden
This lovely town is actually part of the Denver Metro area. If you’re not paying attention, you can drive from one suburb to the next without realizing you’ve done it. Like many Front Range cities, Golden lies right next to the foothills. In fact, Jefferson County calls itself the Gateway to the Rockies—and with good reason. There are several roads leading from Jeffco into the mountains—just a few minutes on the highway and you forget you were even in the city!
Golden’s a charming city with a rich history (oh, and beer! They make Coors there!!!). If you’re ever visiting the Denver Metro area, I recommend taking in Golden as well.
If you don’t remember when I’ve mentioned this fair city, you might recall it’s where Valerie and Ethan settled down. Their house is Golden is one of the settings in Rock Bottom. It’s also mentioned in Savage—one of Nina’s children attends college at the School of Mines.
Grand Junction
When I was younger, Grand Junction always reminded me of Pueblo but on a smaller scale—and on the western side of the Rockies, rather than the east. It was smaller too, but it just reminded me of home (which was Pueblo at the time). I believe it’s the largest Colorado town on that side of the mountains, but don’t quote me. It’s pretty dang close to Utah too, not too far away from Arches National Park.
Grand Junction is one of Casey’s stops in Then Kiss Me, and it also gets a mention in Savage.
I took this shot of the old Adams Mountain Café (they’re now in a new spot) in Manitou Springs because I thought it looked like the parking lot of Merlotte’s in HBO’s True Blood. 
