Nantucket . . . the Perfect Setting for a Romance

 by Courtney Walsh

Many years ago, I had my first introduction to Nantucket. My kids were little, and I was not a go-with-the-flow kind of mom. I’m still not, if I’m honest, but when you’ve got kids who need naps and you know the value of the schedule, it’s hard to relax.

I don’t think I appreciated the island or its beauty at all. (Side note: I don’t travel well. I’m working on it.)

But then a couple of years ago, a mom with older kids now, we took a vacation to Cape Cod. We stayed in a house my kids swear was haunted, and we ventured out to do all the touristy-type things. One day toward the end of our trip, we decided to take the ferry over to Nantucket.

The island needed to be redeemed, I think, and I am so glad we went.

Looking at Nantucket through more relaxed eyes, I was instantly smitten. The charm of the cobblestone streets, the brick buildings, the cedar-shingled cottages, the lighthouses, the beaches—it was all breathtaking. And every single bit of it lent itself to romance.

"For many books, the setting is another character..."

For many books, the setting is another character, and getting it right can bring the story to life. I knew after this second visit that this was a place I could get lost in. This was a place where I would love to spend more time.

I’m not sure if this is an actual quote, but someone gave me the advice once that if you want to be inspired, change your routine. I couldn’t agree more. Getting outside of my Illinois town and letting my mind wander as I walked those streets and took in every single bit of the island was exactly what I needed to get my imagination going.

"there are stories everywhere. You just have to slow down long enough to find them."

The truth is there are stories everywhere. You just have to slow down long enough to find them. Millions of what-if questions floating through the air, waiting to land on someone willing to play along. Sometimes it starts with a setting: “What if two kids who had the same birthday spent their summers together on Nantucket and what if they made a pact to revisit the island on their shared golden birthday and what if something happened to drive them apart . . . ?” 

For me, that’s how this story began.

Filling in the blanks and answering those questions made the process of writing this book so much more enjoyable, and setting it in a place that I absolutely love was like a mental vacation. My hope is that everyone who reads it will get to experience a sliver of Nantucket, whether they’re leaving their home or not.

I, for one, feel like it’s the perfect romantic escape.

Welcome back Courtney, and thank you for sharing your story with us! 
About Courtney:
Courtney Walsh is the author of more than ten contemporary romance books. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, was a New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller and a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. In addition, she has written two craft books and several full-length musicals. Courtney lives with her husband and three children in Illinois, where she is also an artist, theater director, and playwright.
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About Is it Any Wonder
Can a promise made as kids bring them back together as adults? In this Nantucket-set beach read, “master of the genre” (Midwest Book Review) Courtney Walsh delivers a sparkling inspirational romance about first love and second chances. 
Twelve years ago, Cody Boggs and Louisa Chambers made a pact that no matter where their lives took them, they’d return to Nantucket Island’s Brant Point Lighthouse on July 30, their shared golden birthday, and continue their tradition of exchanging birthday wishes. But that was before a tragic accident upended both of their lives, irrevocably pulling them apart.
Their worlds collide just months before that particular day when Louisa’s fledgling event planning company is hired by the local Coast Guard station, where she discovers Cody has recently returned to the island as the second in command. As they plan a regatta fundraiser, hoping to promote positive PR in the community, neither can deny the fireworks each encounter ignites. But working together also brings up memories of the day Cody’s father died, revealing secrets that have Cody and Louisa questioning everything they thought they knew and felt about their families and each other.
GIVEAWAYLeave a comment for Courtney to enter for a chance to win a copy of Is It Any Wonder, releases on April 6, 2021.  
Giveaway prize courtesy of Tyndale Publishers. (Seekerville's Giveaway rules applied. Open to US residents with a US mailing address only.)