A SENSE OF PLACE: A Guest Post and a Giveaway by Elizabeth Essex
My current release, Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Marry was written as an ode to travel—my hero and heroine, Ewan, Duke of Crieff and Lady Greer Douglas, each embark upon a Grand Tour of the European Continent in search of erudition and enlightenment. Now, I have never made a Grand Tour, but love to travel—my social media posts are full of photos of me and mine wandering about fields, castles, cities and museums. But what I love even more than traveling with the Essex clan is traveling with other writers!
In the fall of 2014, I had the very good fortune to be invited to travel to Scotland as part of a group of seven exceptional women—Deborah Barnhart, Lorraine Heath, Liz LeCoy, Cathy Maxwell, Kerrelyn Sparks, Bonnie Tucker and myself—romance writers all, in a variety of sub-genres and at various stages of our careers, but all with the burning desire to fire our imaginations with every sight and sound we could conjure out of the Scottish Highlands.
We had no fixed itinerary, but decided where we would go and what we would do and see each day depending upon the weather, and upon whatever piqued our imagination at that moment. We toured cities and countryside. We climbed up castle towers and motor sailed up Loch Ness. And then we wrote.
We drove across vast, unfenced moorland dodging sheep, visited distilleries and learned about whisky. We learned to shoot clay pigeons on a grouse moor, visited the Queen’s favorite Scottish church, or kirk. We tasted whisky. And then we wrote.
We searched for crusader graves and the memorial stone dedicated to the memory Queen Victoria’s favorite, John Brown. We danced in stone circles. We learned about plaid. We ate mouthwatering local seafood and produce. We visited friends. We learned some more about whisky. We tasted some more whisky. And then we wrote some more.
We learned about the storied and often bloody history of Scotland and the Scots. And we listened to the voices around us, raised in passionate debate over the Scottish referendum on whether to remain a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or to go independent. Scotland stayed with the Queen and her kingdom, and so did my imagination, spinning out an entire series—the Highland Brides.
I have spent at least part of every day since my return trying to conjure up a special sense of place. Trying to inhabit a particular time and place in Scotland—the period in the 18th and early 19th century known as the the Scottish Enlightenment, characterized by an outpouring of intellectual and scientific accomplishments, when learning and travel were prized. I let Ewan and Greer do and see and read all the things I would have wanted to do and see and read had I been there. So in a way, Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Marry, is the best trip I’ve ever taken, with traveling companions I deeply admire.
What about you?
I’m giving away three copies of MAD, BAD & DANGEROUS TO MARRY to commentators, so tell me your favorite trip you’ve ever taken, or the special trip you’re still waiting to take.
Wishing you all happy reading! EEx
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Elizabeth, I have loved reading this blog of yours and everyone’s comments. Thank you all for the reading pleasure.
My most favorite memory is of the trip my DH and I took a couple of years ago to France. We visited Paris and crossed Loire Valley stopping at some of the famous chateaux there – the stories we heard in Chenonceau would be enough to fill any romantic’s heart with delight. Then we met our children with their significant others in Paris and traveled to Provence where we spent a week visiting places like Saint Paul De Vence and Cap
Antibes, and taking a day trip to Monaco. It was so lovely. Two weeks is not enough… I wish I could be back in France now.
Oh, Raisa,
That sounds like a magical trip!!! Mr. Indispensable Mr. Essex is one for sporty sorts of trips (think skiing in Canada, or camping on a glacier in Iceland, etc.) so I’ve never been able to convince him to tour the more ‘civilized’ places. My last trip to France was as a student and then a working archaeologist, so I’ve never toured such lovely places! But now your descriptions are making me long to go!!! Hope you get back there soon!
Elizabeth, what a marvelous trip! And your experience of traveling with other women very much mirrors my experience in traveling with other women writers—everyone was so supportive of each other, and we made life-long friendships.
But now I really want to visit Patagonia! It has long been on the Indispensable Mr. Essex’s ‘bucket list’ but I think your description will move it toward the top of the list for me!!! Thanks for such a vivid description!
My husband is from Chile and every time we visit we go to the same place – his family’s farm on the shores of Lake Villarrica with a breathtaking view of the volcano on the other side. But I had always wanted to see other parts of the country whose landscapes range from the driest desert in the world, the Atacama, to some of the wettest and windiest landscapes in the south in Tierra del Fuego. So I jumped at the chance to go on a trip to Patagonia, which covers both the south of Chile and Argentina, with seven other women, who were all hikers. I was completely new to hiking and not quite prepared for seven to eight hour hikes up mountains, but I absolutely loved it. Traveling with women I didn’t know turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to build friendships; all of us supported one another through of rain, mud, sore feet, sleeping in tents and sheepherder huts etc. with patience and kindness. And the scenery was some of the most beautiful I had ever seen, from glaciers and streams you could drink out of to altiplano expanses stretching as far as the eye could see to the islands of the archipelago south of Ushuaia, Argentina, where our boat beached and penguins came running up to greet us as we huddled together against the wind and enjoyed their comical amblings. I left a part of me in Patagonia and hope to return again some day to this very wild but stunning and unspoiled part of the world.
I went to Wales years ago. I wish I had more time there–I would love to go back.
Susan, I have only been THROUGH Wales—in the middle of the night, on a bus to take us to Fishguard to make the ferry back to Dublin, Ireland. (Which was a very long time ago, when I was an undergraduate student studying archaeology in Ireland). I long to take a nice long ramble through the countryside there! Mr. Essex is a bird hunter and wants to go there to bag away at pheasants and partridge but I much rather see gardens and castles!!!
We celebrated our youngest graduating from high school by going to Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Oregon coats and the Olympic park!!!!It was heaven!
Oh, I LOVE Vancouver, Camilla. The Indispensable Mr. Essex’s family is from there (and Kelowna, BC) and we are lucky enough to visit them often—although not often enough for my liking! The Pacific Northwest remains a firm favorite!!!
I have been lucky to travel overseas (from the US) many times, and my all-time best trip was to Kenya, especially the safari. One night, we were all sitting at a lovely dinner at Salt Lick, our hotel in the game park, in an open air room. I noticed it had window boxes, but with water lilies. I herd of elephants came RIGHT UP TO THE WINDOW BOXES and their young drank out of them! A hush fell over the room. They were so close you could have petted one from your seat. Later, we watched the animals from the roof as they came to the natural salt lick and drinking hole. You could leave a list of animals that if they came in, the hotel would wake you up so you could come, in your night clothes, to the roof. The next night, in another hotel where we slept in luxurious tents with the sounds of Africa all around us (like in the movies!) and the next morning, when I walked out of the tent, there was much manure in front of all the tents. A worker told me a herd of zebra had come thru the night. It was chilly at night and often, lions would sleep on the deck of the hotel, but I didn’t see that. Lovely, lovely trip and one of the all-time highlights of my life. I would love to go to South Africa for a safari, but probably won’t.
Lynda,
Wow, what a trip! Your safari sounds magical! I am tempted by your descriptions of the elephants. I think they are the most intriguing, empathetic creatures. The closest I have come to some was ‘riding’ an Asian Elephant through the jungle in the Terrai of Nepal, but that was a domesticated animal, and sadly separated from it’s family group. But now you’ve got me thinking of a trip to Africa!!! Thanks!
I am about to go off to Scotland and I extremely excited to poke about Edinburgh. Not quite enough time to explore the rest of Scotland, though we will take the time to head over to Islay to visit distilleries!
Hoping you have a marvelous trip. Kit.
And Edinburgh has MORE than enough to keep you well and happily occupied for quite some time!!! If you’re a Regency fan, do visit the Edinburgh Assemby Rooms—such refined grandeur will conjure up all sorts of balls in your imagination!!!!
Many, many years ago I traveled through Europe as part of a student tour. 45 college undergrads on (mostly) on a bus for 60 days, through 15 countries. One of the most physically grueling but absolutely AMAZING summers I’ve ever spent. Went through Checkpoint Charlie into East Berlin. (They warned us not to wear any digital watches, because they’d be taken). Saw bits of Yugoslavia and spent the night in Prague, Czechoslovakia while still part of the USSR. There were many places I was dying to see that were on that tour but I was so disappointed that it all ended with 5 days in London. Can you believe I wasn’t sure how I was going to manage to pass that much time in one place? LOL! It was the first time I’d seen anything beyond a high school play. I think I managed 6 plays, 3 of them all in one day, and so much more. Good memories . . .
nblibgirl, What a FABULOUS trip! My daughter recently had a semester of museum study in Europe that sounds very much like your trip, except that she got to spend a bit longer in each place (but had so much homework to write that a great deal of time was spend hunched over her laptop). But I, too, remember travel in Europe before the Berlin Wall was taken down, and how different the divide felt.
And I am chuckling with recognition for your thoughts on London! My first trip there was for two days while I was a student living in Dublin, Ireland, and I remember wondering what I was going to do for two whole days….. :) I think I spent the entire time in the British Museum in their ancient civilization exhibits frantically sketching and taking notes (it was the age well before cell phone pictures, and no “Flash Photography” was allowed….)
Good memories, indeed!
My favorite trip so far was a family road trip we took to visit the Mighty Five in Utah back in 2016. We packed up our camper, the three kids and the dog and went traveling for two weeks to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. The landscape was so dramatic and breathtaking. It is beautiful country out there. My dream trip would be to visit South Pacific islands like Fiji, The Cook Islands, Bora bora and then hop over to New Zealand and maybe Australia :)
Gigi,
What a great family trip!!! I’ve been to Utah to mountain bike many years ago, but your description makes me want to pack up for another trip! (Although without the dangerous biking—I now recall a particularly ugly fall & trip to the ER…)
And I am all on board with your to visit the South Pacific!!! I wrote an entire book (A Scandal to Remember) that was a love letter to the South Pacific. Much of that story was based upon my own experiences of setting up research camps on remote islands for nautical archaeology projects in the Caribbean, but the South Pacific has it’s own rhythm and flow that is indeed special. Here’s hoping you make that trip!!!
My upcoming dream of a lifetime is happening in August……I’m going to Ireland……ever since I knew there was a place called Ireland, I’ve wanted to go. And 23 and Me says I’m mostly British and Irish…so even more reason.
Suzanne, How lovely! I adore traveling in Ireland—I’ve lived there as a student, worked there back when I was an archaeologist, and traveled for pleasure with my family, and it was all fabulous! Wishing you Bon Voyage and Sláinte!!!
My favorite trip was a 3 week trip to Great Britain. We spent 2 weeks driving around mostly England but a little over the borders into Wales and Scotland. We spent the 3rd week in London. It was a trip of a lifetime! I loved the countryside and all the historical places. The Brit’s were just delightful!
Oh, Karen—three whole weeks!!! What a fabulous luxury!!! The most I’ve ever had was about 14 days, and even that seemed too short! Most trips I try to stretch to at least 10 days, but what I would give for a month! Or a semester!!! (I did get to live in Dublin for a summer and fall semester when I was in college, and it was HEAVEN!)
And you DROVE! Hats off to you! I will confess that I did a great deal our driving in Scotland, but my companions will tell you that I was NOT the best at it. Poor gals were likely gripping the door handles in terror!!! :)
My favorite trip was my post-BAR exam splurge. I was going to go to work for a well known sweat shop, which wasn’t pushing me to start at a particular time, so I spent two months traveling through Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Paris and England. By the time I got to England, instead of touring, I spent a week at my great aunt’s being pampered. I also enjoyed a business trip to Qatar, largely since there aren’t that many people who can say that they have visited Qatar.
Wow, what a fabulous travel splurge, Patricia! And very well-timed!!! :)
And I love your decision to spend a week with family instead of touring—sometimes, staying put is a glorious luxury. I know I treasure the afternoons I can spend in my own garden all the more after the hustle-bustle of travel.
And Qatar!! Now there is a designation I need to put on my travel map! Thanks for the suggestions!
I have your new book for review and I’m just starting it. Hoping I enjoy it as much as some of your past books.
Thrilled you are getting a chance to read it, Caroline. (Fingers crossed!!! Now I’m as nervous as all get out!)
One of the challenges for all romance writers is: how do you write a book your loyal readers will (hopefully) love, without writing the same books as you have in the past? Readers want the reassurance of the familiar without being bored—so it’s a very fine line to walk, indeed.
This book is very different from my past stories—less adventure—but hopefully with all the emotion and intimacy you’ve come to expect.
Wishing you happy reading!
Ah! The (small) Edradour distillery—I was there in 2014. Loved the scotch and the chocolates with scotch. :)
Best trip so far? Around Oregon. Loved the wilderness there and the vast views. Very different from (oh so very populated) Europe…
Dream trip? I have two:
1) Antarctica. Again, the wilderness appeals to me.
2) Africa savannahs. I think that phrase “I had a farm in Africa” (insert Meryl Streep’s voice) is stuck in my psyche. Wondering if that beautiful landscape is even better in person.
Kass, wasn’t Edradour wonderful!!! Luckily for us, it was very close to ‘home,’ so we visited on more than one occasion!
I haven’t made it to Oregon, except for a short trip to Portland, so now I’m putting that on my trip list!
And I haven’t made it to Antartica either, although I have been to the Arctic—in far northern Canada! (My Indispensable Mr. Essex is Canadian!)
And already the entire soundtrack to “Out of Africa” is playing in my head! Wishing you the best of luck on taking such wonderful trips!
I even brought (with a lot of care, super wrapped) an Edradour scotch’s glass back to Portugal! It was indeed a great place to visit, and I highly recommend it.
If you ever have the change of travelling around Oregon, be sure to include Crater Lake and the Wallowa mountains (though they are not close at all).
Northern Canada is second wish dream trip. I only know the area of Vancouver and wonderful Victoria (which I love).
Best of luck for your future trips too, Ms. Essex. :)
I’d like to travel to Hawaii someday. All the pictures of the island look beautiful.
Oh, Kim, what a wonderful idea! I’ve never been to Hawaii either. :( But I have a former archaeology colleague who lives there and tells me that it’s stunning. Sigh. One day!!!!
How funny. I made a trip with my husband to Inverness and other stops in early September the same year you traveled there. I had already written much of Finding My Highlander but the trip cemented some images as it had been more than 20 years since my previous trip to Scotland. I need to go again. You can’t possibly cover all the interesting off-the-beaten-path locations in one trip. I can’t imagine any romance writer failing to find inspiration in Scotland. Nice remembrance.
Aleigha,
“I can’t imagine any romance writer failing to find inspiration in Scotland!”—I could not agree more! So glad you found inspiration and enrichment there, too, on your trips. One of the reasons Cathy Maxwell organized our stay was that she had found several books worth of inspiration on a previous trip, and wanted to share the riches!
Here’s hoping you have many more chances for trips back to Scotland. As you say, there is still so much to discover. I’m happy to say I’ve got a trip planned for this coming September! Happy travels and happy reading!