Do you have a favorite place you meet friends over coffee or dinner? My husband, Ron, and I recently returned from a trip to Scotland. We found the Scottish people very friendly, and we were lucky enough to enjoy several of their favorite gathering places: a cafe bookstore and several local pubs. The Waterstone’s Café is a three story bookstore in Glasgow with a cozy café on the second floor. It was always a buzz with people reading and enjoying a cup of tea or coffee with a good book.  In the evening, we mingled with the locals in a pub such as Mac Sorley’s and Deacon Brodies Tavern. After a long day at work, the Scots love to unwind with a “pint” and a “blather” with their friends and neighbors. As a writer, I loved watching the locals laugh and engage in conversations with their friends, sometimes breaking out in song together. J.K Rowling wrote her first book in the Harry Potter series in Edinburgh, Scotland. The names she used for several characters came from the tombstones in Greyfriars Cemetery. She found inspiration among the streets and local landmarks.
As the author’s of the Custer’s Mill Mystery series, we found our gathering place at the Village Library in Broadway, Virginia. Surrounded by shelves of books, friendly volunteers, and local residents, we brainstorms ideas for our first book and found inspiration for our beloved characters.
So where is your gathering place, and how does it enrich your life and friendships. We’d love for your to share that with us.