06/02/2026
So, while we're waiting until Where the Dunes Settle's release on June 23rd. Let's have some fun! Every Tuesday until the release date, I will post a fun fact about what went into writing the book, along with quotes to show it!
This second fun fact pertains to the book's setting. Willow Bay, New Jersey is a fictional town. The main reason I often create fictional but realistic towns in my writing is to maximize creativity without worrying about geographic accuracy. This allows me to fictionalize areas, businesses, weather, etc. It also makes it more protective of any real people, places, and events that may have inspired my work. That being said, the settings of my stories are usually at least inspired by somewhere in South Jersey or the tri-state area, because that is all I am really familiar with.
When I created Willow Bay, I knew I wanted it to be a shore town. I didn't want it to be far out from the rest of the world or rural like the Cape May County area, so I opted for more Atlantic County vibes. I also wanted it to match my idea of an ideal shore town that is artsy, walkable, and full of small businesses and young professionals, much like real-life Collingswood in Camden County, NJ. I know this type of town does not really exist near the shore because the culture is different from that of a town right outside a major US city like Philadelphia. So, Willow Bay blends the best of both words: the shore and a hip, walkable town!
Quotes:
"Leaving the beach behind, she moved through the empty streets of Willow Bay. The coffee shops, bookstores, and metaphysical shops along the avenue sat quiet at that hour, their personality tucked behind darkened windows. Pride flags and Black Lives Matter banners hung still, waiting for the town to wake.
She was grateful it was late September. Most of the tourists flooding neighboring Seashore City across the bay were gone, and the steady traffic between Atlantic City and Cape May had finally eased." -Chapter 1
