walking between the pages

On my travels this fall, I wandered into the small Ontario town of St. Marys. Even though I was positive I'd never visited before, the feeling of homecoming as I drove down the main street was strong enough to raise goosebumps. 

Crossing the Thames River bridge, into St. Marys, Ontario

I stopped to explore "The Stonetown" - so called because of its many lovely old buildings made of limestone from a local quarry - and suddenly I knew. This was the real-world version of Riverdale, the small quarry town Anne Norman and I had created for our novel, Rock Solid. And there came the goosebumps again. It was like walking into the pages of our book.





"Main Street, Riverdale" - Rock Solid







"She craned her neck to see around the horribly overgrown hedge of Chinese elm
that hid his house from the street. Good. No sign of the shiny black car." - Rock Solid
 





"Wandering leisurely through Street's backyard and along the riverbank, Rachel was charmed by the peaceful setting. Vivid images of its eventual transformation crowded her mind as she carefully measured distances and scribbled notes on important features and interesting plants. This would someday be a very special place, she thought, anxious to begin her sketches and see the project under way." - Rock Solid
 





"Riverdale Place" - Rock Solid
 





Town Hall in The Stonetown, St. Marys
 



My unexpected ramble through St. Marys is a pleasure to remember - it's a town I'll forever imagine as the face of Riverdale. For more information about the real-life Stonetown, visit their web site at townofstmarys.com.

Rock Solid by Cheryl Cooke Harrington and Anne Norman is available from Montlake Romance in hardcover, paperback, and for your Kindle.