Behind the Story: Antiquing
Have you ever read a romance set in an antique shop? I've read a few, and I loved them all. But especially this new story by my friend Heather Greer, part of our Pets Amore collection. The shop in her story comes from personal experience, but not from actually owning a shop herself. See what I mean. 
It doesn’t matter how different a character’s personality is from mine, there is usually a little bit of me in every story I write. Usually, that means someone bakes at some point in the story. Doesn’t matter if it’s cupcakes or cookies or a pie. Treats will be baked.
For Pegboards, Parrots, and Pickup Lines, my story in the Pets Amore novella collection, I decided to go a different direction. I do have more I enjoy doing than baking, and I thought it was time to work some of those things into my stories too. As I considered Charlotte and what her new business venture should be, inspiration struck. Antiques and vintage collectibles. While I’ve never run an antiques store, they comprise a large portion of my favorite dates with my husband.
When opportunity arises for us to spend the day together, we often drive to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, about an hour from our home. The city has a wonderful riverfront district with many independently owned small businesses. At least four of those are antique and collectibles stores.
Andy and I each have our favorite things to peruse. He likes old knives and swords, especially if they are martial arts related. And he loves really old books. While it isn’t our favorite of the stores, there is one with a large selection of books organized by year. He loves going through the shelves to find new ones to add to his collection.
I tend to be less specific in my likes. If it catches my eye, that’s what I enjoy that day. But there are a few things I always walk away with. First printing Little Golden Books are a must. So are vintage Monopoly sets. And though I have enough to curb my desire to buy more, I’ve also been known to buy those vintage snack trays from the fifties. You know the ones. Little glass trays with a special divot for the matching teacup to sit in. Now I only buy those if it’s a design I just can’t pass up.
Some days we come back from antiquing empty-handed, but that’s okay. While we both enjoy our treasures from times gone by, and I enjoyed adding a bit of that element to Pegboards, Parrots, and Pickup Lines, that’s not really what those days spent on the riverfront are about. Andy and I don’t share a lot of interests or hobbies. Our days spent antiquing are a way for us to spend time together as a couple doing something we both enjoy and making memories along the way.
“Pegboards, Parrots, and Pickup Lines” by Heather Greer—Charlotte Herring wants one thing—to prove she can succeed on her own. But to avoid failure, she needs the people of Brookview to accept her and her antique store. For years, Tyson Abbott’s only goal was to realize his father’s dreams for the family hardware store. After meeting the town’s newest resident, he adds a new goal—helping Charlotte find her place in Brookview. With a parrot named Cracker Jack paving the way for their partnership to become a romance, Charlotte and Tyson see more than the dreams for their stores coming true. But when their plans conflict and past hurts resurface, will they lose their dreams and each other?
Born and raised in rural southern Illinois as a preacher’s kid, Heather was well acquainted with ministry life before her husband became a pastor fifteen years ago. She started serving in youth and children’s ministries when her daughter was still a child. Now, those ministries and wrangling the schedules of her three teenage boys takes a lot of her time and energy, but Heather still tries to carve out a little time for herself. Like many of you, her favorite way to relieve the stress of the day is spending time with a good book. Of course, if she wants the time to be really special, Heather will add a warm blanket and a mug of hot cocoa to her reading time. If she isn’t reading to relax, you can either find her baking in the kitchen or binge-watching her favorite television shows.
Heather has been active in youth ministry for several years. She has led children’s and youth groups for many years. She also directs a Christian youth camp for teenagers every summer. While most of her ministry work has involved children and teenagers, Heather has a heart to see women of faith encouraged and growing in their relationships with God. As believers grow closer to God and begin living out His truths in everyday life, others will see their need for the Savior and long for relationship with Him. It is Heather’s prayer that God will use her love of writing to foster this encouragement and growth in the lives of Christian women.
Heather’s book Grasping Hope is a 2020 Selah Awards finalist in the Women’s Contemporary category. Cake That! is the third place finalist in the 2022 Selah Awards in the Contemporary Romance category. Her Historical Romance, Window of Opportunity, is a 2024 Selah Awards finalist.
You can learn more about Heather by visiting her website: https://heathergreer.com/
You can also connect with Heather on social media here:Social Media Links
It doesn’t matter how different a character’s personality is from mine, there is usually a little bit of me in every story I write. Usually, that means someone bakes at some point in the story. Doesn’t matter if it’s cupcakes or cookies or a pie. Treats will be baked.For Pegboards, Parrots, and Pickup Lines, my story in the Pets Amore novella collection, I decided to go a different direction. I do have more I enjoy doing than baking, and I thought it was time to work some of those things into my stories too. As I considered Charlotte and what her new business venture should be, inspiration struck. Antiques and vintage collectibles. While I’ve never run an antiques store, they comprise a large portion of my favorite dates with my husband.
When opportunity arises for us to spend the day together, we often drive to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, about an hour from our home. The city has a wonderful riverfront district with many independently owned small businesses. At least four of those are antique and collectibles stores.
Andy and I each have our favorite things to peruse. He likes old knives and swords, especially if they are martial arts related. And he loves really old books. While it isn’t our favorite of the stores, there is one with a large selection of books organized by year. He loves going through the shelves to find new ones to add to his collection.
I tend to be less specific in my likes. If it catches my eye, that’s what I enjoy that day. But there are a few things I always walk away with. First printing Little Golden Books are a must. So are vintage Monopoly sets. And though I have enough to curb my desire to buy more, I’ve also been known to buy those vintage snack trays from the fifties. You know the ones. Little glass trays with a special divot for the matching teacup to sit in. Now I only buy those if it’s a design I just can’t pass up.
Some days we come back from antiquing empty-handed, but that’s okay. While we both enjoy our treasures from times gone by, and I enjoyed adding a bit of that element to Pegboards, Parrots, and Pickup Lines, that’s not really what those days spent on the riverfront are about. Andy and I don’t share a lot of interests or hobbies. Our days spent antiquing are a way for us to spend time together as a couple doing something we both enjoy and making memories along the way.
“Pegboards, Parrots, and Pickup Lines” by Heather Greer—Charlotte Herring wants one thing—to prove she can succeed on her own. But to avoid failure, she needs the people of Brookview to accept her and her antique store. For years, Tyson Abbott’s only goal was to realize his father’s dreams for the family hardware store. After meeting the town’s newest resident, he adds a new goal—helping Charlotte find her place in Brookview. With a parrot named Cracker Jack paving the way for their partnership to become a romance, Charlotte and Tyson see more than the dreams for their stores coming true. But when their plans conflict and past hurts resurface, will they lose their dreams and each other?
Born and raised in rural southern Illinois as a preacher’s kid, Heather was well acquainted with ministry life before her husband became a pastor fifteen years ago. She started serving in youth and children’s ministries when her daughter was still a child. Now, those ministries and wrangling the schedules of her three teenage boys takes a lot of her time and energy, but Heather still tries to carve out a little time for herself. Like many of you, her favorite way to relieve the stress of the day is spending time with a good book. Of course, if she wants the time to be really special, Heather will add a warm blanket and a mug of hot cocoa to her reading time. If she isn’t reading to relax, you can either find her baking in the kitchen or binge-watching her favorite television shows.Heather has been active in youth ministry for several years. She has led children’s and youth groups for many years. She also directs a Christian youth camp for teenagers every summer. While most of her ministry work has involved children and teenagers, Heather has a heart to see women of faith encouraged and growing in their relationships with God. As believers grow closer to God and begin living out His truths in everyday life, others will see their need for the Savior and long for relationship with Him. It is Heather’s prayer that God will use her love of writing to foster this encouragement and growth in the lives of Christian women.
Heather’s book Grasping Hope is a 2020 Selah Awards finalist in the Women’s Contemporary category. Cake That! is the third place finalist in the 2022 Selah Awards in the Contemporary Romance category. Her Historical Romance, Window of Opportunity, is a 2024 Selah Awards finalist.
You can learn more about Heather by visiting her website: https://heathergreer.com/
You can also connect with Heather on social media here:Social Media Links
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