When I was plotting my latest Silhouette Desire, WEDDING AT KING’S CONVENIENCE, I decided to set it in one of my favorite places in the world. Ireland.
The first time I went to Ireland, I was 18 and I went with my best friend, Patti. We had saved our money for a year to make that trip and no trip since, no matter how fabulous, has had the same sense of excitement and adventure! I fell in love with Ireland the moment I saw it from the plane. And when I stepped outside and was slapped with that cold, Irish wind…my first thought was, I’m home.
Odd, right? I thought so too, at the time. But there was something in my soul that responded to that country instantly. My great-great-however many great grandparents had emigrated to the US from Ireland many years before, but I felt as though I, personally, had been there before. We drove down a narrow road inhabited mostly by sheep and when we took a curve and came out on top of a hill staring down into a valley, I knew that place.I’ve been back many times since that first trip—including dragging my Sicillian husband around—and every time, Ireland welcomes me back.
So what better place to set WEDDING AT KING’S CONVENIENCE? I even set my heroine Maura’s farm in the place where we last stayed. In Shanvallyard, Tourmakeday in County Mayo. These pictures will show you why! And if you’re planning a trip to Ireland, you can’t do better than staying at Maura Staunton’s cottage.
Maura and Jefferson have a rough road for awhile as they meet, come together, separate and eventually wind their way back together. And I hope you enjoy their story! A few other King men will be making an appearance in this story and then next March, Jericho King will get his book!I really hope you’re enjoying the King men as much as I am writing them. There’s nothing like a rich, powerful man brought to his knees by love, is there?
Now, tell me. Have you ever visited a place that your soul recognized? One of today’s commenters will receive a signed book!
Happy Reading!
Maureen
34 comments:
I haven't gotten there yet, but I have always wanted to visit Scotland. I am of Scottish-British descent, and I have long felt the lure of Bonnie Scotland. I live in a part of my home state known as "the Highlands". I would love to visit the Scottish Highlands. I am already born and raised a Highlander!
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
Nope, it never happened to me... YET ! I love the US and try to visit a different part everytime I get a chance to. I've never been to Ireland either. I'd love to go. After reading ll those Nora Roberts' book, who wouldn't ??
I'm very excited about all those King books you're writing. I'm among those who LOVED the first three and have been hoping for more ever since. Granted !!
Congrats on your new release !
What a wonderful post! My husband and I want to go to Ireland after we retire and kick the kids out (it's going to be a long wait!).
I've not had the experience you did but hope I will one day. I love that you used a place you've actually been to as your setting; that's pretty cool.
I would love to go to Ireland. It's always been on my list of places I would love to visit. I did have a deja vu moment once when I was a kid. My aunt and uncle were driving through the Ozarks in Arkansas and it is very hilly and a lot of curves in the road. We came to this one spot and before we came around the curve I knew what was going to be around the bend. It was like I had been there before, but I hadn't. It didn't freak me out to much at the time because I was about 7 or 8 but as I got older I remembered it and thought about how strange that was. It's never happened since.
Playa Blaca, Mexico. That jungle tropical feel, sultry and humid and in the background the lapping waves of the ocean. It just called out to me.
I loved your post, and someday I would love to visit Scotland.
armiefox at yahoo dot com
Hi Maureen! What a lovely post! You really made your Ireland adventure come alive, and those photos make me want to jump on a plane!
I haven't yet visited Ireland, only because, whenever I can plan a trip, I keep going back to Scotland. I love Edinburgh and the West Coast and the Highlands and every town (and pub!) in between. I guess you could say my heart recognizes it as the place I belong.
PS, I love your KINGS!!
Virginia.....
Oooh, I haven't been to the Highlands. But I HAVE been to Scotland. Fell absolutely in love with that place. I still think about this village called Crail--it sits overlooking the wildest ocean I've ever seen.... You MUST go!!
Emmanuelle....I've told you before, I LOVE that name!!
There are so many places in the US that I haven't seen, either! I'm already planning a road trip. If I can just trick my dh into the car somehow....
Patti....
Oh, save the money....even twenty a week if you can afford it...stick it in a trip account, PLEAD with your family to watch your kids, then you had hubby GO! It's so worth it....
Harder to go when the kids are older! We didn't tell ours until a few days before we went the last time....to cut down on the opportunity to plan a big PARENTS ARE GONE LET'S HAVE A PARTY night!!
Linda, VERY cool. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Do we remember more as children because we're still fairly close to our previous lives? Then as we get older, we get too busy to remember??
Armenia....Lovely description!! Amazing how different places call to different people, isn't it??
Kate! Hi! I'm right there with you on Scotland... LOVE Edinburgh castle. Just staring up at it gives me chills!
But you're going to have to give Ireland a try one of these days or I'll nag...=)
Thank you Maureen !! I'll pass the compliment to my Mom ;-)
Maureen, I love your connection with Ireland! I would love to go to Scotland (I'm part Scot) and then to Ireland!
I can't wait to get my hands on WEDDING AT KING'S CONVENIENCE! I love the King men!
Hi Maureen, Yes it has happen to me. in 1985 I went to London England and as soon as I got out of the airport it was so cold I felt like I have come home.I loved it! I get the Sil. desire books every month I'm looking forward to reading yours.
Thanks great blog today.
Penney
Congratulations!
I have yet to go on a trip and feel in my heart as if I've come home. That would be awesome to experience it.
The closest I've come is in the US in Montana where there is farming, cattle, ranching etc.
yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
Hmmmm. I guess not, but I do feel "at one with God" moreso than usual when I visit Banff National Park in Alberta. The mountains are just SOOOOO calming.
Thanks for sharing re Ireland. I've never been there and doubt I ever will be. Whenever we have a few extra dollars, we inevitably spend it to be with family "far away" instead. I get my "faraway info" from all the books I read!
Emmanuelle, good! All moms love to hear compliments!!
Jen, wouldn't it be fun to have an all girl trip over there?? Kate could take us to all the good pubs!!
Penney.....Oh!! Don't you LOVE London?? And isn't that the strangest feeling ever?? The sense of Deja Vu for a place you've never been before???
Robyn, that's the fun thing! You never know when it's going to hit!
A friend of mine was in Stone Mountain a few years ago, took a tour of their museum, saw a picture of a woman working in the 1800's and couldn't catch her breath. My friend SWORE that was her in the picture!
Laney, another good reason to love books!! I too "see" a lot of the world that way!
I often used to feel a strong sense of daja vu in places I visit, although it hasn't happened for a while. I enjoy it when it does happen, though I know there are scientific explanations that try to make sense of it.
I love Ireland. It is my favorite place to be and dream about. My youngest daughter loves it also. I am irish so guess that doesn't help much. I haven't read your books but I will be getting them now. Its hard to find a good book with Ireland a big part of it.
thanks
Heidi
Alison, well now, scientists are always trying to take the magic out of life! But they never succeed completely, do they?
Hi Heidi!
Well, thanks for giving my book a try! I also wrote a Silhouette Nocturne called VANISHED that was set pretty much in the same spot in Ireland, and dedicated to Maura Staunton and her family...It's a fun book, hope you give it a try!
I've always wanted to visit the Greek Islands: Santorini, Eos, Mykanos etc... The water color is so amazing! The vistas! The food!
The setting of the wedding chapel on the cliff side in the musical Mama Mia. AHHH!! It takes my breath away!!
I've always wanted to travel to Ireland, Scotland and England but haven't made it yet. Love your King books! I'm looking forward to "visiting" Ireland through your new story.
The place my heart recognizes is Italy, specifically Tuscany. I don't have any Italian ancestors (to my knowledge) but when I first visited Florence, at the age of 16, I was drawn to it like no place I had ever been before. It took me 37 years to get back there but as my plane approached Florence and I caught my first glimpse of her ancient towers, I swear, I could hear my soul sigh.
I've been doing a lot of genealogy researching lately. I was lucky enough to take my mom and go to an area in Illinois where the last 8 generations of our family was from before my grandparents'. It sounds weird, I know, but it was like coming home. I felt so calm and just a sense of homecoming that I'll never forget it.
Isn't Ireland just gorgeous?? Never been but it pictures are so pretty and green.
rachie2004 @ yahoo (d0t) com
I'm a huge fan and can't wait to read your next book. I haven't been to many places so no, I don't think I've been to a place that really hit me that way.
me8acat at yahoo dot com
I haven't been there yet but I want to go. I'm in the process of getting my passport now but I'm waiting to find that place that will sing to my heart and soul :)
Maureen's winner is Emmanuelle! Emmanuelle, if you could please email Maureen at maureenchildbooks@gmail.com with your mailing address, she'll get the prize in the mail to you. :)
Thanks to everyone else who left a comment!
Congratulations Emmanuelle!
Penney
Post a Comment