Spanish moss, marshy areas transitioning to pristine sparkling ocean with dolphins and shrimp boats, humidity, pine trees, and a cute little downtown area. Does that sound like a fairy tale setting to you?
When I started contemplating where my Snow White retelling should be, my mind immediately wen to Brunswick, Georgia. After all, what’s more romantic than setting a romance in the area where you honeymooned? Twenty-two years ago, my husband and I spent a lovely week in Brunswick and St. Simons Island. We’ve been back once since, but would gladly go every year.
The oak trees in that area are giant, their branches twisting and stretching down the ground and back up again, wearing Spanish moss like a lacy shawl. When I think Snow White, I think of the trees and forest where she gets lost.
It’s a big tourist area. There are lots of wonderful places to eat, beach access, and other tourist-y attractions nearby on the islands, including the remains of a fort and some plantations. Since I knew my character was going to help her uncles revamp their old inn, I needed a touristy place to set the story. Perfect.
My family has so many fond memories there, it was easy to picture several of the scenes in my head. The tropical trees mixed with the ones we’re familiar with. Standing on the pier watching the sunset and the lighthouse come on as the shrimp boats return from working all day. Eating ice cream.
Touring the old fort and Christ Church Frederica.
My character Kari isn’t much enamored of the area when she first arrives, though. It’s hotter than she’s used to (can you say humidity?), smells rather salty, and doesn’t have mountains. Still, as she explores and discovers more about where her mom’s family is from, she falls in love with the Georgia coast … and maybe a certain person along the way.
One of my favorite scenes is set in Brunswick at the Lover’s Oak. Tradition says that the Native American warriors would meet their love under the oak to steal a kiss. It’s supposed to be one of the oldest oaks on the island. My husband and I never actually visited that particular oak, but we did see a bunch over on St. Simons Island that have fun tree spirits carved into the bark.
While a coastal tourist town may not be your first pick for a fairy tale, in my reimagining of Snow White, Brunswick, Georgia combines fond memories and emotions of my own into the classic story hints and pieces to weave together as a whole new tale. I can’t wait to hear what you think.
Have you been to coastal Georgia? I’ve also visited Savannah and Tybee Island, and love them too. There’s just something about that area that feels unlike any other beach town.
Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face genuine struggles, it can still work out for good.
Follow her at https://linktr.ee/authoramyranguish
Check out Amy’s latest release:
Fairest Inn All (Real-life Fairy Tales #2)
A queen, seven uncles, and an apple tart—real life is no fairy tale.
Kari White never planned to rescue a historic inn—or risk her carefully guarded heart.
Summoned to coastal Georgia by seven uncles she barely knows, Kari arrives with one goal: fix the failing Apple Inn and leave. Upon arrival, Kari faces challenges including an aggressive developer closing in, deadlines looming, and the inn’s future hanging in the balance.
Royal Barrett believes some things are worth fighting for, especially the soul of his hometown. As the creator of the Fairest Inn All contest, he’s determined to protect Brunswick’s history from being erased. But when Kari and the Apple Inn land squarely in his path, Royal discovers that saving the past may require risking his own future.
Forced together by storms, impossible repair projects, and undeniable chemistry, Kari and Royal must confront the fears shaping their choices. Kari gave up on happily-ever-afters long ago, and trusting Royal could unravel everything she’s built. Yet leaving might mean losing the hope she never believed she deserved.
Fairest Inn All is a sweet small-town romance filled with heart, faith, and charm—a contemporary fairy tale retelling about legacy, belonging, and discovering that love can grow in the most unexpected places.