Jewel Bay, Montana, home of my Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries, is a place of the heart. But it’s modeled on a real village in NW Montana, with bits and pieces drawn from other communities around the NW and the western provinces of Canada. My friends and neighbors tell me they like seeing what I’ve done to the place, figuring out what buildings I’ve moved, what businesses and people I’ve used as models. And even if you don’t have a clue what communities I have in mind—or care—I hope you’ll enjoy taking in the scenery with me, on the next several Thursdays. This scene is the one-lane bridge into town, built shortly after 1900 when the dam and electric plant (behind where I’m standing to take the picture) were built.
I lived in MT for many years. Sheridan, Helena, Thompson Falls, Whitefish and Kalispell. Moved to Alaska a year ago and feel like I’m in the “other” MT.
That bridge reminds me of a little town called Noxon in NW MT. The only way in and out of town was to cross the river via bridge.
Kathy — this one is in Bigfork. And yes, there are a lot of connections between MT and AK, aren’t there?
Sheesh, I forgot about Bigfork! Been quite a few years since I was in that area but it always held a charm of its own.
Best place I’ve ever lived! (Though Seattle in the late 1970s and 80s was a lot of fun, too!)
Thought it was Bigfork, we bought a couple books from you.
In 2014 I was on a tour of our national parks and went through Kalispell, MT. I am from a big city in California and thought that this small town was delightful. I went into the bookstore and asked where I could find a book by a local author. The clerk picked out your first book for me and I enjoyed it very much. So, now I am reading each one. Keep up the good work.
Oh, that’s so sweet — thank you!