[Cynthia Herron] 10 Reasons to Make Ruby Your New Hometown

I’m a huge fan of The Andy Griffith Show. I also enjoy television classics like The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, and The Brady Bunch. Those old shows wrap me in warm fuzzies and “feel-goods” and draw to mind sweet memories.

In a way, fictional Ruby, Missouri—the setting for my contemporary romance series—lets us revisit a gentler way of living. It reinforces our belief that goodness still exists. 

Though the quirky, lovable folks who live there carry some baggage, our new friends and neighbors are people just like us. They muddle through the good and the bad and they learn a few life lessons along the way, too.

There’s no need to “put on airs,” wax eloquently, or dine with your pinky extended. A receptive heart, a kind word, and good manners trump closed mindsets and ugly attitudes. And grace with a side of donuts on our off days is always welcome!

Still need convincing? Here are ten reasons to make Ruby your new hometown.

1. 1. Fancy duds aren’t necessary. Save your Sunday best for church.
   2. Speaking of church—come on down! We’ll pound you! Er…that is, we’ll shower you with a pound of this and a pound of that. Coffee, sugar, a side of bacon—it’s how we welcome you to our fold!
   3. Did I just mention food? Well then, your first order of business is Miss Sugar’s Pucker-Up-Buttercup Gooseberry Pie, served fresh at the Come and Get It Diner.
   4. No one is a stranger. Town transplants are welcomed with open arms and an invite to supper. Hope you like country fried chicken and mashed taters and gravy!
   5. Lively conversation and grin-worthy witticisms like this gem: “It’s okay to sit on your pity pot now and then, just be sure to flush when you are done.”
   6. Don’t feel like shopping? No worries! Nora and Ned’s General Market still delivers and they carry everything from A to Z.
   7. Life in the fast lane is a nap in the hammock on a warm summer day. We’ll wake you when dinner’s done.
   8. If you enjoy the changing seasons, you’ll love Ruby, Missouri. Every day is different. From sweltering heat to bone-chilling cold in a 24-hour timespan, the Ozarks region has you covered.
   9. Have a few faults and imperfections? Great! You’ll fit right in! Sainthood is just over the rise and two streets beyond Halo Hill. (Read book one, Her Hope Discovered, to understand that reference.) 
   10. Respites in Ruby don’t cost a fortune. A pot of hot coffee shared between friends is a better investment than that trip to the tropics. And—no bikini required! Well…you know what I mean.

Now, that I’ve whet your appetite for your new hometown, maybe you understand how my roots and experiences led me to create fictional Ruby, Missouri.

I hope you’ll get acquainted with a few of the Ruby, Missouri locals in this behind-the-scenes peek. (If you’ve read Her Hope Discovered or His Love Revealed, it’s a refresher. And if you haven’t, I hope you’ll enjoy meeting your new friends and neighbors.)

In Her Faith Restored, book three of the Welcome to Ruby series, some of your favorite characters reappear. Though each story can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone novel, you’ll notice common threads and familiar themes.

There’s always room at the table for “just one more,” and to make you feel really at home, we’ll even let you wash a dish or two! We won’t judge you by the car you drive, the clothes you wear, or the baggage you carry. Just come as you are and limber up those arms for a big, ol’ bear hug.

Welcome to Ruby—your new hometown!

In what ways is your hometown unique?

What do you appreciate best about where you live?