The Milwaukee Intermodal Station was featured in a scene in EDGEWOOD, so one day, several months ago, my husband and I headed down to check it out. We parked across the street, just the way they did in the book.
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| The station is to my left. An actual Greyhound bus is right behind me. |
The Milwaukee Intermodal Station houses both the Amtrak station and bus terminals, and it's kind of cool looking too. All that glass is a bold architectural choice for a Wisconsin locale.
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| A shot of the exterior. |
Below is a shot of the interior. The sign right about the vending machine says Welcome to Milwaukee! Actual trees grow inside the station. Real trees. I checked.
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| A real tree! |
Greg and I walked around. He took some photos and I took notes. And then we came upon a group that was setting up a display for a miniature train show. I could have walked on by, but my husband was inexplicably enthralled and we had to stop to watch. What's up with guys and their interest in all things transportation? I don't get it, but to each his own.
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| Older gentlemen who love model trains were busily setting things up. |
The Amtrak area is shown below. For some reason, we don't have a shot of the Greyhound counter even though that was the one featured in the book.
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| Want to take a train out of Milwaukee? This is the counter for you! |
And this is the exit leading to the busses. I had to usher Greg out of there before he joined the model train association or whatever it was called. He did take a brochure, so there may be model trains in my future yet.
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| Exit from the station. Quick! Before you get recruited by the model train group. |
And that is how low-level research is done, my friends!
Many thanks to everyone who's bought and read EDGEWOOD so far. I've had an overwhelmingly positive response to the book, and for that I'm extremely grateful.
To see an example of a truly awesome review, check out what author and book reviewer Tiffany Lovering had to say about the book. (Thanks, Tiffany!)
I'm currently working hard on Book Two in the series, and expect to see it published in February.
5 comments:
I think it's awesome that you actually go to the places you put in your books. Not all authors take the time to do that.
Good luck with the possibility of model trains in your future. Alli's father had one that went around the top of the wall of our living room (like the scene in Casper). It was cute....the first day anyway!
I'm so glad you left a comment, Tiffany, because I meant to put a link to your review! I'll add it now.
Greg has actually talked about doing the kind of thing you mentioned--the train track that goes around the top of a wall. I'm hoping he's kidding.
I love this post, Karen - and the pics you included! Now I ... I feel like I've been inside the Milwaukee Intermodal Station! I appreciate your doing the research, since you can add so many more details to a story when you personally experience part of it. I think if I had the means I'd do the opposite -- rather than do research for a story, I'd do kind of a continuous road trip (OK, it would be more like a vacation!), and then create a story from the experiences (& inevitable foibles) along the way. Maybe On The Road sans the personal quest for meaning and belonging. But somehow interesting anyway ... or not! ツ
Seriously, for some reason this post made my day (not in a Dirty Harry way), and I appreciate your taking the time to put it together! Happy Autumn to the McQs!
Christina - xristya@rock.com - Thanks so much for posting this, because I had wanted to go see it but never got there - I used to take the Amtrak from the old station. Now I've seen it through your photos!
I'm glad I could help, Christina! It's a building with a purpose, but it's also very aesthetically pleasing.
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