Episode 20

Below, you'll find the full transcript of today’s episode, in case you prefer to read or want to reference something we talked about.

She’s lost her future. He’s sacrificed his. Now they have a chance to reclaim it—together.

Wisconsin, 1930—While fleeing for her life, Adaleigh Sirland’s rescue of a child introduces her to a family who provides her safe harbor. But all is not what it seems in the little fishing town. Danger lurks. And, though hiding under an assumed name, Adaleigh offers her ability to draw out confessions, making her a valuable asset to the police.

First mate David Martins is intrigued by the mysterious woman taken in by his grandmother, but knows she wrestles with a troubled past. When his estranged father is arrested for murder, David enlists Adaleigh’s help in proving his innocence. In return, he’s determined to help her find hope once again.

As the truth becomes more knotted, and Adaleigh’s real identity risks revelation, David must put aside his own struggles to discern which secret threatens Adaleigh before it kills them both.

Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.

Danielle Grandinetti writes award-winning 1930s historical romantic mystery and suspense. She is the 2026 Holt Medallion winner and a second-generation Italian-American. Fueled by tea and nature, she crafts hope-filled historical romance novels exploring immigrant heritage, found family, and cozy Midwest traditions. Find her at daniellegrandinetti.com.

Welcome to A Spot of Story. Cozy up with your favorite beverage as we chat about sweet romance, thrilling suspense, and fascinating history. Perhaps you'll find your next read in one of these stories.

On this episode of Echoes of History, we're stepping back into the 1930s to explore the creation of a fictional town. When I first sat down to write Confessions to a Stranger, I originally had the idea of writing a contemporary cozy mystery. It is not the story it turned out to be whatsoever, but the small-town aspect definitely stuck.

When I realized I needed to reset it in the 1930s, I considered where to set it. The hero's job is what prompted me to choose Lake Michigan. In the contemporary draft, the hero, David, was a charter fisherman. I chose charter fishing because I live on Lake Michigan and there is a vibrant charter fishing operation all up and down this section of the coast. I thought it would be really cool to highlight that.

However, I ended up setting the story aside for a while to work on another series that turned into a trilogy: Unexpected Protectors. That series is what prompted me to begin writing in the 1930s. When I came back to the book that is now Confessions to a Stranger, I realized I wanted to set it in the 1930s too, so I started a whole new set of research. What was it like being a fisherman in the 1930s? How could I use my communication background? How would that look? Perhaps another day I will go into that aspect, but a shout-out to the University of Illinois for its pioneering ways in helping women achieve a higher education.

For my hero's background as a fisherman, I learned so much about the history of fishing on Lake Michigan, especially from the Green Bay and Door County area down to Port Washington, just north of Milwaukee. This section of the state has a deep history of fishing. From the Native Americans who lived here to the immigrants who arrived, it very much has a culture of fishing.

By the time the 1930s rolled around, decades of intensive fishing meant the lake was overfished. That was right around the time the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (the Wisconsin DNR) started putting in fishing regulations. Somewhere in the middle of all of that, an invasive species entered Lake Michigan: the sea lamprey. It devastated the fish population and severely hampered the entire ecological system as well as the fishing economy.

All of this was playing out while a drought was happening throughout the state and crop rotation was beginning to take place. Farming was moving wheat out to the Great Plains and replacing it with potatoes. Meanwhile, the immigrant community, specifically German immigrants, had brought dairy farming into being as an actual industry, which peaked in the early 1900s.

By the time my hero is working as a fisherman, they have motors. I did some research on the types of motors they would have had at the time, which was really fun. That is what I find most fascinating about the 1930s—how on one hand, things were very much still rooted in the late 1800s with no electricity or telephones in rural spaces, and yet it was a time of rapid technological change. Engines were being created, electricity was finally reaching out of the cities, and dairy farming was mechanizing. It built up an industry that was much needed during a time of great economic depression.

So, back to my little town. I knew I wanted to set my fictional town on Lake Michigan within a heavily fishing-centric community. I crafted Crow's Nest after certain features within this specific section of coastal Wisconsin. For example, the boardwalk—or the wharf, as it's called depending on whether you're a local or a visitor—is inspired by the boardwalk along the Sheboygan River in Sheboygan.

The quaintness of the town is inspired more by Two Rivers, especially with the ice cream parlor. It is debated, but Two Rivers claims to be the original birthplace of the ice cream sundae. Having an ice cream parlor on the wharf is a bit of a nod to Two Rivers in that way.

I combined these different regional details within Crow's Nest, but I also wanted to create an element of isolation. To do that, I put a river that cuts off the town, creating a community with essentially one way in and one way out. It was incredibly fun to pull from the region while making it its own special place with unique people, bringing Crow's Nest to life almost as if it is its own character. I hope my readers feel that in the story.

The Harbored in Crow's Nest series is now complete at six books, plus some fun spin-off stories. It has definitely become the starting place and the foundation of my story world. Even though this series came after the Unexpected Protectors series, the way it was created felt so alive that it is the place where I recommend all my readers start.

When I wrote His Boss's Little Sister, it allowed me to create a bridge between the Harbored in Crow's Nest series and the Unexpected Protectors series, creating a 10-book epic foundation in my story world. From there, I keep building out. But Crow's Nest really is the heart. I find myself continually referring back to it, having characters drop by, or referencing people from there in other books because of how real the town became to me. I hope it feels that way for my readers as well.

Thank you for tuning in to this journey into the past and how I created the fictional town of Crow's Nest. You can find additional resources and show notes, including where to find the series, on the episode page.

Thank you for listening to A Spot of Story with Danielle Grandinetti. We hope you enjoyed today's conversation. Let us know by leaving a comment below, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Discover more information about today's book by visiting A Spot of Story online at daniellegrandinetti.com/podcast.

Happy reading.

To make this story accessible to everyone, an AI-assisted transcript is provided above. It has been edited for clarity to ensure it captures the heart of our conversation.

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Until next time, may your reading bring both light and encouragement.

Happy reading!
~ Danielle.