Book Journeys – St. Louis

by | Jun 8, 2017 | Uncategorized | 12 comments

Named after the famed king of France, Louis IX, St. Louis is a glittering city on the Missouri River. Most notable for The Gateway Arch, it’s baseball team (Cardinals, in case you don’t know), and, in my opinion, its pizza!! Yum!

St.Louis.pngSt. Louis’ history included lots of paternal confusion 😊 First, it belonged to France, then went to Spain after the Seven Years War, then back to France, and finally became property of America through the Louisiana Purchase.

Interestingly, St. Louis was the host of both the Olympics and the World’s Fair in 1904, which inspires all kinds of story ideas in my head.

1904.png

I’ve had the opportunity to visit St. Louis three times now (in real life), but many more times through stories. It’s about a 9-hour drive from my neck of the woods, but a wonderful entrance into the city as you cross the bridge and see the skyline appear ahead of you over the river.

18985151_10213240347143929_862338993_n.jpgMy critique partner, Amy Leigh Simpson, claims her home on the outskirts of this thriving city and her books really bring out the culture of the suburbs of St. Louis. One of my favorite memories from St. Lou was visiting Amy when her sweet baby Eisley was born. 😊 Oh my goodness, there are so many cute blondes at the Simpson house, my upcoming hero, Alex Murdock in Charming the Troublemaker, would be pleased as punch! Plus, Amy has her very own swoony hero in real life.

 

Amy’s books, When Fall Fades and From Winter’s Ashes, both take place around St. Louis and are fantastic, fast paced, super-romantic suspense novels. Totally worth your time 😉 Talk about swoony heroes? Mama Mia!!!

Many of St. Louis' most popular attractions are free. Here are 15 great things to do in St. Louis without spending any money.:

St. Louis Art Museum  Pinterest

In fact, author Amy Leigh Simpson has this to say about her hometown. “Yes, I love that Saint Louis is known for being the biggest little city around. It’s like the 7° of Kevin Bacon. ( if you’ve never heard of that, it’s kind of a running joke in Hollywood that anybody can be connected back to Kevin Bacon in seven sources or less) Here you could meet a stranger on the street and undoubtedly they would know someone that you know. There’s a strong element of interconnectivity between friends and strangers alike. I also love that we get the full force of each of the four seasons. A long snowy Winter, a picturesque blooming Springtime, I nearly tropical hot Summer, and a beautifully crisp Autumn.”

Cathedral Basilica - St Louis, Missouri:

Cathedral of Basilica Pinterest

Some places of interest in the “Independent City” besides the Gateway Arch and Busch Stadium, are the St. Louis Art Museum, the Cathedral of Basilica, the St. Louis’ Zoo, and 1894-built Union Station.

I’m NOT a city-dweller, but my visits to St. Louis have been filled with good memories that make me want to take another trip in a westerly direction.

 

gateway-arch-1829219_1920.jpg

Have you ever been to St. Louis? What about another mid-western city? Share your thoughts and travels, whether fictionally or not.

Where You Can Find Amy’s Books

When Fall FadesWhen Fall Fades
The Girl Next Door – Book 1

Amazon
Add to Goodreads

 

From Winter's Ashes.jpg

From Winter’s Ashes
The Girl Next Door – Book 2
Amazon
Add to Goodreads

About Amy

Amy Leigh Simpson writes romantic mysteries with honesty and humor, sweetness and spice, and gritty reality covered by grace. When she’s not stealing moments at naptime to squeeze out a few more adventures in storyland, she’s chasing around two tow-headed miscreants (Ahem)—boys, playing dress up with one sweet princess baby, and being the very blessed wife to the coolest, most swoon-worthy man alive. Amy is a Midwestern-girl, a singer, blogger, runner, coffee-addict, and foodie. Her Sports Medicine degree is wasted patching up daily boo boo’s, but whatever is left usually finds its way onto the page with fluttering hearts, blood and guts, and scars that lead to happily ever after.

Amy would be delighted to connect with you on Facebook, at her blogging home www.thewritersalleyblog.com, or at her homepage on wildbluepress.com <3

12 Comments

  1. Amy Leigh Simpson

    Aww! Love your view of my fair city! And what a sweet spotlight! Thanks so much!!! Super-Romantic Suspense… can that be my tag line? 🙂 <3 Love you BIG!

    Reply
    • pepperbasham

      ALWAYS, sweet friend!! I have some pretty wonderful memories of your fair city…and YOU

      Reply
  2. Dana Michael

    Yes, I have been to St. Louis many times. My husband is the St. Louis Cardinals number 1 fan! I love to visit there and the Cards fans are first class!! And, I umm, claim Mike Matheny as my baseball boyfriend. lol!!

    Reply
    • Amy Leigh Simpson

      Dana! Lol 😂

      Reply
  3. Pam Graber

    My husband and I were in St. Louis two summers ago (in 2015). For us the food was BBQ at Pappy’s and Frozen custard at Ted Drewes. Oh, MY!! Unfortunately, the Cards were away that week so we didn’t get to see them but we did see the Royals in KC the week before. We loved the Gateway Arch and, even though we’re not beer fans, the Annheuser-Busch tour was very interesting. This country girl loved this city!

    Reply
    • Amy Leigh Simpson

      Love! Yes, Ted’s is a VERY big deal here. Yum! Oddly enough, I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never been up in the arch nor have I done the Anheuser-Busch tour, though I really want to do both!

      Reply
    • pepperbasham

      I have one word. Imo’s. My life has NEVER been the same since I tasted it!

      Reply
  4. Gail Hollingsworth

    Now I know where you got your character’s name, Eisley! And so close to my granddaughter’s name Aisley. And my son in law, her daddy is Wes… looking forward to your next book Pepper!
    I’ve read and reviewed When Fall Fades. It was really good!

    Reply
    • Amy Leigh Simpson

      Gail, actually Pepper’s Eisley came first! It was certainly a contributing factor to the name 😍 And believe it or not, I remember your review! ❤ Be sure you check out book two, From Winter’s Ashes before book three comes out! Xo

      Reply
  5. Paula S.

    We lived in STL for 20 years. My husband went to the LCMS Seminary there. We lived in Mapkewood for the first 10, until a fire forced us to move right next to 170 in University City! Some of my favorite places to visit are Botanical Gardens, Grants Farm and the Art Musuem, the History Museum, Forest Park, the Zoo, the Science Center. Most for free! Never went up to the Arch but went to two Cardinals Games. One in the old stadium, one in the new one. Wish I could have gone to the Basilica, I’ve heard it is very beautiful. We moved downstate about 3 hours, so I miss the shopping! I knew my way around West County! Can’t believe I called that bustling city home for twenty years! It was supposed to be 5 but God had other plans! I’m going to have to look up Amy’s books. I have read a lot of Irene Hannon books and she puts a lot of STL places I know in her novels. Thanks for the post!

    Reply
    • pepperbasham

      Paula, if you like the romantic pulse of my books, you’ll definitely enjoy Amy’s AND she add suspense!!! Icing on the love cake 🙂

      Reply
    • Amy Leigh Simpson

      Paula! How cool that you lived here! Yeah, I’m a west county girl myself. But I love all the wonderful (and yes FREE) things to do in STL. 😊 You’re an honorary local… you’d recognize a ton of story from in my books ❤got a lot of love for my city and it shows!

      Reply

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