Behind the Scenes of Sing a New Song: Researching Branson by Candee Fick

In Sing a New Song, Songbird Gloria Houghton has always needed to be the center of attention, but the spotlight has shifted. Seeking fame and a fresh start, she finds a new stage in Branson, Missouri…only to risk being replaced by a manipulative rival. If she can’t be the star, who is she?

Finding the town for Gloria’s new stage was relatively easy since my family has vacationed in Branson every year for the past decade and driven past countless billboards advertising the endless variety of shows playing on theater row. However, since there are more theaters and shows than days in a month, narrowing down the inspiration for my fictional theater took more consideration.

And then a traffic jam along the main drag led to the perfect location. With bumper-to-bumper traffic of theater-goers creeping along, my impatient husband swerved off the road into the parking lot of a theater we had passed a few days before. This particular business had a theater and adjacent tourist trap gift shop along the main road, but the shared parking lot stretched down the hill to a hotel that was accessed from a different street. All carried the same family name and a billboard announced the main act was recently back from appearing on a television talent show.

Bingo! Suddenly, I knew it was possible for a family act to occupy a theater and also run several adjacent businesses. That proximity would make plotting a novel easier since my characters could bump into each other multiple times a day.

On the same trip, we found ourselves gifted with two free tickets to a show of our choice. As I studied the options, I came across a flyer for a group of singing siblings—the Haygoods—and booked seats for the show. All in the name of research, of course! The inside of the theater, concession stand, and multiple acts sharing a stage during the week all made their way into my story.

A bit of research into other singing families in town (i.e. the Duttons and the Hughes in addition to the Haygoods) made it entirely plausible for multiple generations to take the stage together along with spouses…and for formerly singing siblings to have slipped away to other careers for a season. My fictional Sherwood family is a conglomeration of all of those possibilities.

Once I had my backdrop of characters and the theater setting in place, it was a simple matter of sprinkling in a few other Branson area landmarks including Table Rock Lake, the rollercoasters at Silver Dollar City, the rolling hills, that bumper-to-bumper traffic, and the hot and humid summer weather.

Bringing the setting to life in Sing a New Song took a bit of research, but I truly enjoyed every minute of it!

Candee Fick is a multipublished, award-winning author. She is also the wife of a high school football coach and the mother of three children, including a daughter with a rare genetic syndrome. When not busy writing, editing, or coaching other authors, she can be found cheering on the home team at sporting events, exploring the great Colorado outdoors, indulging in dark chocolate, and savoring happily-ever-after endings through a good book.

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Kindle for Sing a New Song: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QHYNTJC/

Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1645260550/

BLURB:

The pampered diva is about to meet her match.

Songbird Gloria Houghton has always needed to be the center of attention, but the spotlight has shifted. Seeking fame and a fresh start, she finds a new stage in Branson, Missouri…only to risk being replaced by a manipulative rival. If Gloria can’t be the star, who is she?

Jack-of-all-trades Nick Sherwood is just one leaf on a vast family tree that includes a restaurant chef, hotel owners, and even the headline act at a family-owned theater. He’s seen how fame can blind a person with jealousy and is more than content to stay in the background thank you very much. If only he wasn’t so fascinated--and irritated--by the newest addition to the staff.

After a disaster of a first impression and financial difficulties land Gloria in the humblest of jobs—with Nick as her boss—it might be time for her to learn to sing a new song.

If you like strong families, country music, and redeemed villains, then you’ll love this next chapter in The Wardrobe series by Candee Fick.