The Cookie Connection is set in Springfield, Ohio, and I used many of the local businesses and people in the story. Some names were changed, but if you live here or know Springfield, you can probably guess many of the places mentioned in the book. Here are some of the places and people that inspired scenes in The Cookie Connection.
I often picture the opening scene of a book first before I even start writing it. This holds true for The Cookie Connection. Julie, the main character, is wanting a specific gourmet cookie. They are sold at the downtown coffee shop on a certain day. Now that it’s November, she’s in the Christmas mood and can’t wait to try the Winter Dream cookie – a sugar cookie with chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and crushed peppermint. They’re out of stock and a stranger offers her his cookie.
The inspiration behind the cookies is Springfield’s Oats & Doughs cookies. Brittany Barlow sells her gourmet cookies mainly online now, but there was a time when people would show up early on the day her cookies would be sold at the downtown coffee shop. (Her cookies are really, really good!)
At least a quarter of almost all of my books have been written at Springfield’s downtown coffee shop – Winans. It’s a local chain and the coffee is roasted nearby in Piqua. They not only have really good coffee, but they also have locally made chocolates. The coffee shop is featured in The Cookie Connection twice – once in the opening cookie scene and again when the couple go for a Christmas date and get something warm to drink before checking out the downtown Christmas tree.
Winans now has two locations in Springfield and several throughout the local area. I’ll be having my book launch party at their downtown location on Friday, Nov. 10, from 4-7 p.m. Stop by to chat, buy my book, get it autographed and try a Winter Dream cookie.
In The Cookie Connection, Julie meets up with the stranger who offered her the Winter Dream cookie at the Thanksgiving morning 5K in Springfield. I’ve run it a few times, but I have friends and family members who run in the Thanksgiving Day Fountain 5K every Thanksgiving morning. There is always quite a crowd, whether the weather is sunny or bitter cold. It’s changed hands this year, but it’s up and running.
The couple in The Cookie Connection have one of their dates at the skating rink in Springfield. One of them ends of being a much better skater than the other one. The Chiller is a great ice skating rink in Springfield, located in a pretty brick building just a few blocks from downtown. It stays busy between ice skating lessons, hockey practice, ice shows and skating parties.
When the couple change plans due to a traffic jam one night, they end up at a restaurant that has every table full, but is not on a main road. On Route 571 in New Carlisle, there’s a restaurant that makes really good burgers and pizza – 571 Grill. This is the inspiration for that date in The Cookie Connection.
Downtown Springfield is packed with events during the holidays, knows as Holiday in the City. When the couple visits the Christmas tree on one of their dates, it’s during Holiday in the City. This is where they get pictures taken by a photographer. While there are a few photographers who have taken advantage of doing pictures in the downtown setting when it’s all lit up, I know of one that I have used for our family – Andrew Grimm Photography.
For Julie’s birthday, her friend takes her to a downtown European deli and then to a paint and sip place. Downtown Springfield features not only a European deli, but also a European bakery. Salato Deli and Le Torte Dolci can be found right next door to each other. The inspiration for the paint and sip place has moved in recent years, but is still downtown. The inspiration is Sip & Dippity, owned by Tracey Tackett.
In the heart of Springfield is a park that runs from Snyder Park to Veterans Park along Buck Creek. Snyder Park features a playground, splash pad, tennis courts, running path, dog park, baseball field and children’s garden. Veterans Park features an outdoor stage where shows happen all summer long. During the holiday season, Snyder Park does host a Christmas Card competition, just like the one the couple visits on one of their dates in The Cookie Connection.
One of Springfield’s favorite spots to meet up is the local brewery. Mother Stewart’s Brewing is located on the edge of downtown and features a lot of space to sit inside and a courtyard to sit outside. It’s named after one of Springfield’s historic leaders who supported Prohibition. Food trucks can often be found there like a local Tex-Mex truck (Painted Pepper) or a pita-themed truck (Pitabilities). These are both featured in The Cookie Connection.
I have often said that Springfield should advertise, “Come visit Springfield – it smells like bread!” Driving towards downtown, you’ll pass by Klosterman Baking Company. Many afternoons, we have taken deep breaths smelling the bread baking. In The Cookie Connection, “the cookie guy” is working at the bread factory.
In The Cookie Connection, the couple visits a neighborhood where Santa is on the roof of one of the houses. When we saw this as a family, I think I enjoyed it even more than my children. It happens in Ramar Estates near the Springfield airport. There’s always a line of cars when Santa is on the roof.
To learn more about Springfield, Ohio, visit their Web site.