I came across an article on Facebook a few days ago, and coincidentally, it fits right into my series on small towns. Only in Your State published 15 of the Cutest Small Rural Towns in Northern California. What are the chances that I have a direct correlation to three of the fifteen? Number 3 just happens to be Placerville, which is where my first novel (and second and third) Surrendered takes place.
You might ask why I chose Placerville for my setting. I spent my summers at my grandparents’ property in Placerville, which is where they settled after retiring in 1972. This was before Apple Hill became a popular autumn destination spot—when Kids, Inc. was just a family apple farm. My brother, sisters and I spent endless hours pretending their fourteen acres off Apple Hill Drive was our private Camelot. My brother taught me to fish in their year-round creek and my younger sister and I tried to convince our baby sister that the mud pies we made were really witches’ brew. I’m sure she didn’t buy it, but we thought we were pretty convincing. Grandma canned pears from their orchard and Grandpa taught us to ride his riding lawn mower—which seemed to us as big as a real tractor. I learned how to pick strawberries and blueberries, and being outside was a gift.
It was a magical place for all of us.
Number 7 in the article is Sutter Creek, and it’s the setting for my novella, Seasons. I’ve always loved this little town, and it’s where I was living when my husband and I started dating. It was summertime, and I was on school break (I was a teacher, not a student—an important distinction). We spent the better part of our evenings walking—a lot! Through the quaint downtown, the back streets and even the cemetery. It was where he kissed me for the first time after pointing out the mistletoe high up in an oak and asking me if I knew what it was. Corny, but sweet.
Jackson is listed as number 11, which is the closest “big city” to where we lived. It’s where Chris had his chiropractic business for thirty years, and where I worked with him for nearly three. My blog Post, The Time’s They are a Changin’ on March 4th highlighted this town, only three miles from Sutter Creek and nine miles from where we lived—Volcano (population 103).
If you’re from Northern California, I’m sure you’ll connect with one or more of these small towns, as well. If you’re not from Northern California, I dare you not to be drawn to visit after reading the article.
Comments 3
Those summers at Grandma and Grandpa’s were magical. You brought back so many memories. For me that was the best place to be.
Love hearing the sweet memories of your grandparents and childhood days. I do want to visit this town now.
Love the small towns in Northern California. So much charm and uniqueness. Fun shops, good food, and friendly people. And I’ve been in 13 of the 15. Many are great places to raise a family and retire to.