I’m so happy to have Jenny Hale on the blog today to give us a small glimpse into where she writes all of her amazing books! I’m super excited to read her upcoming releases, Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses (out tomorrow!), as well, which you can read more about below!
Inspiring Coffee Shops by Jenny Hale
When I’m working, I like to be out of my house, usually at a coffee shop—different ones all the time. While I’m there, I’m eyes-on-the-screen, fingers moving at a clip, downing a latte. To any onlooker, I might seem like a caffeine-laden vagabond who avoids housework to spend long hours on my computer in isolation. But that would be far from the truth.
New surroundings supercharge my senses; they affect me more than any amount of caffeine could. While I won’t deny my love of lattes, (I’m one of those who rattles off eye-rolling requests like “skinny almond milk sugar-free caramel latte with no whip”) the lattes are but an added bonus, a ticket to get me a seat in this new location.
The swirl of cold air as the old oak door opens and shuts, the smell of roasting coffee beans tickling my nose, the gurgle of the espresso machines, the embrace as two people meet up and settle happily at a table nearby—while my fingers move, my brain is taking all that in.
Traveling is my way of reviving my mind, of filling it with little bits of new information that I store away and draw upon when the stories start to take shape. Each place is like a gift, and I unwrap it slowly, taking in every fold, every angle, every line of it. I might unwrap the gift and find someone’s laugh, or the way they inhale just before they speak. I might see a shadow on a table and note how it moves whenever someone passes by.
And then I write.
Sometimes the locations themselves find their way into my stories. The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia is one of them. I used to live in Richmond, and I have spent a few Christmases sipping drinks among the incredibly festive holiday decorations there. You can catch a glimpse of it in my novel Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses. I hope you get a chance to visit with my characters Abbey and Nick!
Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses by Jenny Hale
Published by Forever on October 30, 2018
Genres: Adult Fiction — Contemporary, Christmas, Romance
Add to Goodreads • Amazon
Single mother Abbey Fuller loves her family more than anything, and she doesn’t regret for a moment having had to put her dreams of being an interior designer on hold. But with her son, Max, growing up, she jumps at the chance when a friend recommends her for a small design job. How hard can it be?
Nick Sinclair needs his house decorated in time for his family’s festive visit-and money is no object. What he doesn’t need is to be distracted from his multimillion-dollar business-even if it is Christmas.
When Abbey pulls up to the huge Sinclair mansion, she has a feeling she might be out of her depth. And when she meets the gorgeous, brooding Nicholas Sinclair, she knows that she’s in real trouble . . .
With the snow falling all around them, can Abbey make her dreams of being a designer come true? And can she help Nick to finally enjoy the magic of Christmas?
About Jenny Hale
When I graduated college, one of my friends said, “Look out for this one; she’s going to be an author one day.” Despite being an avid reader and a natural storyteller, it wasn’t until that very moment that the idea of writing novels occurred to me.
Sometimes our friends can see the things that we can’t.
While I didn’t start straight away, that comment sowed a seed and several years, two children, and hundreds of thousands of words later, I completed a novel that I felt was worthy of publication. The result was Coming Home for Christmas, a heart-warming story about friends, family, and the magic of love at Christmas.
The rest is history.
When I’m not writing, I’m a mother of two boys and a wife to a very supportive husband.
I live in Italy and here we don’t have coffee shops where you can actually chill and be inspired by your surroundings, but one time I went to a coffee shop in Amsterdam and it inspired me so much!
This was interesting to read about how she writes and where. I love reading Jenny Hale’s books. Great post Jana.
Thanks for this post. Coffee shops are not necessarily my thing. As I am not a drinker or lover of coffee. But interest post regardless and very useful information was provided here.
I’m very happy though that you are showing so much love for cardamom because it’s one of my favorite spices.
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I’m very happy though that you are showing so much love for cardamom because it’s one of my favorite spices.
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Thank you for sharing the best blog this information is more helpful about coffee shops
Hi this post is so useful……….thankyou
I really loved this post—such a cozy and inspiring perspective on creativity. The way you described how different coffee shop environments can “supercharge your senses” really stood out to me. It’s so true that it’s not just about the coffee, but the atmosphere, the people, and those little everyday moments that spark ideas.
As someone who also enjoys working in new places, I can totally relate to how a simple change of surroundings can unlock creativity in unexpected ways. This made me want to explore more local cafés and see how they influence my own focus and ideas.
Thanks for sharing such a warm and relatable insight—it felt like stepping into a peaceful writing session!