Behind the Books

My Inspiration for Alaskan Holiday

September 28, 2018

Readers often ask me what inspired a book and that question has an entire wheelbarrow of answers. Each idea is unique. Each book’s origin comes from something that sparks an idea. In this instance it was from my work on the cookbook, DEBBIE MACOMBER’S TABLE, that inspired the idea of creating a sous chef with big dreams. Josie is my heroin in ALASKAN HOLIDAY and takes a job in a remote Alaskan town while she awaits her dream job back in Seattle. But then life throws her a curve ball when she falls in love and is faced with the decision to give up on her dream or leave it all behind for the man she loves. And of course, I threw in a few quirky characters to liven up the tale. I wanted to set the scenery for this book in Alaska because there is something special about the 49th state. In the 1990s while doing research for another book, Wayne and I discovered and visited a tiny northern Alaskan town called Bettles. I got to see first hand what a small artic community looks like. My hope is that you will not only fall in love with the characters in this book but also immerse yourself into the community, close your eyes and picture the northern lights.

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2 Comments

  • Reply
    Patricia Barraclough
    October 3, 2018 at 10:19 pm

    There are so many little towns and places off the beaten path that people miss. Their character is special and each has its own quirks that make it unique. We have had a trip to Alaska planned for 2 summers and had to postpone it for health reasons. Next year we WILL make it. We enjoy traveling back roads and seeing the small places people miss.
    Alaskan Holiday sounds like it will be an enjoyable holiday read.

  • Reply
    Isilda Silva
    November 7, 2018 at 6:45 pm

    Truly enjoyed reading Alaskan Holiday. I thought this book would be a nice gift for my lady friends for Christmas, so I bought six. Cannot wait to hear their thoughts on this novel.

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