Getting Acquainted in Door County

Joanna here, sharing photos of my author friends Rachael, Eileen, Becky, and Cynthia, who came to Door County to get to know me, Maddy, Jillian, and Amanda better. What a fun fall day--chilly, but gorgeous! How can the sparkling waves of Green Bay look so achingly blue?

Earlier, Jilli posted lovely outdoor scenes from the artist colony we all visited. Here's an inside view of one of the buildings. With the golden light, soaring ceiling, and magic windows, would there be any better place to write a novel?

Since a bed and breakfast figures prominently in A Door County Christmas, they had to explore rooms in the White Gull Inn. Nosy authors, but they were women on a mission. They were writing about Door County, and they wanted to get it right!

After only one day, Maddy, Jilli, Amanda and I felt like we had known them all our lives.

A Hint of Wood Smoke

I passed a farm field on my way to work this morning. Brown vines have surrendered to the ground, no longer camouflaging round, ripe pumpkins. I pulled my little red Hyndai off the road for a minute, just soaking up the scene.

If you live in a place where the change of seasons is dramatic, do you love this time of year? Do you relish the contrast of bright orange on weathered brown, of bronze and gold leaves against a background of stately pines? Do you smile as you wrap a bulky sweater closer to your body and savor the hint of wood smoke on crisp air? Or does the fading of summer leave you feeling sad, contemplative, nostalgic? Are you embracing every color-changing day, or simply bracing yourself for winter?

As for me, I'm counting the days to the Sister Bay Fall Fest in Door County. There's no place I'd rather be when the leaves start falling and fireplaces come to life again. Give me a mug of hot cherry-apple cider and a big, fat pumpkin-shaped sugar cookie with orange icing, and I'm a happy girl. Maybe this year the wonder of autumn in Door County will hold something special--an unexpected encounter?--to help me forget the last date I'll ever have.

I'm sharing a few pictures here of the Clearing, an artists' retreat in Door County. It's a place I've only heard about. . .but I have a feeling I'll be visiting soon.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this time of year. If you leave a comment about your favorite place to be in the fall, we'll put your name in for a chance to win a copy of A Door County Christmas. I'll ask Lola to pick the lucky name on Wednesday, October 6. Hope it's you!

Now slip into that comfy sweater and get out and smell the wood smoke! Thanks for stopping by,

Love,
Jilli (and Jolly!)

The People Who Created Us

Hi. Amanda here. I'm the one who was drafted into serving as innkeeper while Lola--the one who knows what she's doing...most of the time--is... Well, I'd better let you read about her adventure in the pages of A DOOR COUNTY CHRISTMAS, The Heart's Harbor.

I'm stopping by to let you know that those people with carpal tunnel and stiff neck muscles and cups of tea sitting all over the place--our authors--are being interviewed this week on Jan Newby's blog. You can find it here: http://janmarienewby.blogspot.com/

Please jog or snowshoe on over to Jan's blog. I learned a lot about the person who penned me. No wonder I have issues!