Joyce E.S. Pyka
I was asked by someone from one of the groups I joined what inspired me to write about the town of Willow Woods using the real life Village of Riverside. Thought you might like to see my response below:
Oh, so many things! On my way to work, I had the privilege of driving through Riverside, a picturesque village designed by Frederic Law Olmstead (he also designed Central Park in New York). The Arcade, was going through a thorough restoration. It was a thrill to see its ramshackle bones come to life again. One day, I decided to visit their tiny museum along the tracks and learned just how far back in time this town went.
As a writer, and a self-professed history nerd, who also loves reading mysteries, it “called” to me. Filled with stately historic mansions, a train route that has tied this national landmark to Chicago for more than a hundred years, it was the perfect setting. After doing more research, I felt inspired to write a historical fiction cozy. I filled it with colorful characters, including a young woman, struggling with her ambitions at a time (circa 1900) when women had little opportunity to do so, and of course, have her solve mysteries along the way!
Of note – the Village of Riverside was featured on PBS, in Ten Towns That Changed America.
https://interactive.wttw.com/ten/town...
Oh, so many things! On my way to work, I had the privilege of driving through Riverside, a picturesque village designed by Frederic Law Olmstead (he also designed Central Park in New York). The Arcade, was going through a thorough restoration. It was a thrill to see its ramshackle bones come to life again. One day, I decided to visit their tiny museum along the tracks and learned just how far back in time this town went.
As a writer, and a self-professed history nerd, who also loves reading mysteries, it “called” to me. Filled with stately historic mansions, a train route that has tied this national landmark to Chicago for more than a hundred years, it was the perfect setting. After doing more research, I felt inspired to write a historical fiction cozy. I filled it with colorful characters, including a young woman, struggling with her ambitions at a time (circa 1900) when women had little opportunity to do so, and of course, have her solve mysteries along the way!
Of note – the Village of Riverside was featured on PBS, in Ten Towns That Changed America.
https://interactive.wttw.com/ten/town...
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