One of my inspirations for Natural Attraction was a family history written by my aunt. It included details of emigration from the Netherlands, a great-grandpa stealing a mail order bride, and the lost town of Singapore, Michigan, swallowed by dunes following deforestation. I remember visiting the former site of Singapore with my Uncle Vern via a dune schooner ride. In internet-translated Dutch, Clementine’s hometown of Spookstad (sister city of Singapore)  means “ghost town.” Here’s an old family photo, taken after the town of Singapore was lost.

For a fictional version of Singapore and its neighboring town of Spookstad, check out Natural Attraction.