Jasper & Clayton: Falling in Love in Los Angeles
Jasper and Clayton’s young romance blossoms in the city of golden sunsets, ocean waves, and amidst the valley’s prominent orange trees. Telling the story of these two characters was a reflection of falling in love with my husband and our adventures of getting to know one another so many years ago.
The valley is Jasper’s anchor. Throughout the story we see him coming and going from his Sherman Oaks apartment, entering the door to his favorite cafe on Ventura Boulevard, and meeting Clayton in Glendale at his friend's art gallery.
Having their initial meeting take place in Glendale was an ode to one of my first dates with my husband. While we didn’t meet at an art gallery, we did have the opportunity to walk around the city beneath the moonlight during a cool spring night. There isn’t anywhere else I would have chosen to set Jasper and Clayton’s romance into action than this city— and once the two move in together, we see their romance propel during night walks around The Americana and indulging in a newfound level of comfort within Clayton’s apartment.
From the valley, Jasper and Clayton adventure over the mountain to places such as Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Malibu. These places continue to offer a glimpse into what it was like when I fell in love. My husband and I would take blankets out to the beach where we’d talk for hours and eventually fall asleep cuddled in one another’s arms. We’d explore different restaurants throughout Los Angeles, then set off to an arcade, stroll along the Santa Monica Pier at 2 in the morning, or sit at a bonfire with friends and a bottle of wine.
Our early days of romance didn’t include any dates to Malibu. In our return to LA after being away for 6 years, Malibu transformed into a sacred place for escape and serenity. Integrating this location in The Art Gallery allowed me to speak to our present romance and preserve a new moment in time where our love continues to grow.
Los Angeles will always hold a special spot in my heart for what it offered us. It’s a phenomenal place and one that inspired my debut novel. But as you enter part III of The Art Gallery, we see the two characters venture off to London, England; you see my chapter in Los Angeles close and a new one begins.
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Explore more of what makes Glendale unique in Freda Nkrumah’s blog.
