Bridges (Get the e-book FREE today only!)

My novel, Bridges, set in the little town of Winterset, Iowa, home of the covered bridges of Madison County, is free for today only. Ken and I first visited the iconic bridges on a trip to visit our youngest son when he attended college in Iowa. That’s where the idea for this book was first sparked, and we visited several times after that so I could research the area and the bridges. You might remember that Ken and I traveled back to Winterset the autumn after my book was published in January 2021.

The charming town that inspired the bestselling novel The Bridges of Madison County was also the inspiration for my novel, but Robert Waller’s book “inspired” my own novel in a little different way than you might imagine. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so you’ll have to read Bridges to find out what I mean by that.

You’re no longer allowed to drive across the covered bridges, but it was fun parking our camper in such a way that it looked like we did!

While the covered bridges are the stars of Winterset and Madison County, one of my favorite scenes in the book took place at Clark Tower, where Ken and I have hiked up to several times. The views from the top of the tower are breathtaking, especially in the fall!

Ken noticed this patch of chicory growing near Holliwell Bridge. I loved the juxtaposition of the inspiration for both my Chicory Inn Novels series and Bridges, so had to snap a pic from this perspective:

Our entry into Winterset was the same as my hero, J.W. McRae’s, in Bridges. Here’s the first paragraph of the book and the exact spot where it takes place in real life:

J.W. McRae braked at the stop sign where St. Charles dead-ended at Clark Tower Road. He shifted his pickup into Park and rested his forearms atop the steering wheel, his chest constricting. If he didn’t know better he’d think he was having a heart attack.

Those of you who’ve already read Bridges know that there’s a special reason that the bridge pictured on the cover of my novel is NOT one of the Bridges of Madison County. But I love how this interior of Holliwell Bridge echoes the cover Ken designed for my book:

Don’t forget today’s special offer! And remember, the e-book for Bridges is only free if you grab your copy TODAY! Click on the image below to get this special deal:

To see how I envisioned my characters and setting, check out my Pinterest board HERE.

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Deborah Raney

DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb’s writing career. Forty books later, she's still creating stories that touch hearts and lives. Her novels have won RWA's RITA Award, the ACFW Carol Award, the National Readers Choice Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She is also a three-time Christy Award finalist. Deb is on faculty for several national writers’ conferences and served on the executive board of the 2,500-member American Christian Fiction Writers organization for 18 years before retiring in 2022. She is a recent transplant to Missouri, having moved with her husband, Ken Raney, from their native Kansas to be closer to kids and grandkids. They love road trips, e-biking, Friday garage sale dates, and breakfast on the screened porch overlooking their wooded backyard.

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