As a writer,
there’s something fascinating about seeing the places where other writers
write. I love it when authors share photos of their workspaces and I can
see the actual place where their books were created. (By the way, no one has
ever seen a photo of my workspace—it’s way too messy!
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| First editions of her books on display at Agatha Christie's summer house, Greenway |
I grew up loving
the mystery novels of Agatha Christie. In July this year, I was fortunate
enough while in the UK to visit the beautiful house (well, mansion really!)
where Agatha Christie spent her summers. “Greenway” is on the River Dart in
Devon, one of the loveliest parts of England.
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| The house had scaffolding on it for repair work when we visited but was no less imposing |
The elegant
Georgian house and the magnificent gardens that surround it are open to the
public by The National Trust. When a friend asked would I like to visit it with
her I jumped to say “yes”. Agatha Christie is reputed to be the best-selling
novelist of all time—of course I would love to see where she lived and wrote!
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| Interesting boats on the harbour at Dartmouth as we took the ferry to Greenway |
We took the ferry
from the quaint town of Dartmouth along the River Dart to reach Greenway—that
was an experience in itself. Then we climbed up through the gardens to the
house itself.
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| The gardens were magnificent |
Agatha Christie
and her family were collectors. The house is packed with treasures from several
generations of the family, some of them very valuable. Yet the house is set up
as the family home where Dame Agatha and her second husband, archaeologist Max
Mallowan, enjoyed their summer holidays.
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| Views to the River Dart |
My friend and I
lingered in every room, listening to talks by the very knowledgeable National
Trust volunteer guides. In several of the rooms, we listened to recordings of
Agatha Christie in her very posh English accent talking about her writing
process—fascinating stuff!
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| Agatha Christie's working notes for her play Witness for the Prosecution were on display |
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| Apparently Agatha Christie was quite the shopaholic and brought home finds from all over the world like this inlaid chest of drawers in her bedroom |
Many of Christie’s novels are set in country
houses like Greenaway—some of the television series Poirot episodes were shot
there—and visiting the house really helps bring them to life.
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| What a marvelous place for a writer to relax and find inspiration! |
Is there an
author’s house you would like to visit—or have already visited? Have you read
Agatha Christie’s books or enjoyed the TV shows and movies based on them? Did
you have a memorable visit somewhere this year?
I’d love to hear
your thoughts! I’m giving away a signed copy of my July 2014 release for
Harlequin Romance, The Tycoon and The Wedding Planner. If you’d like to be in the draw, please include your email address in
your comment.
Kandy’s third Dolphin Bay story for Harlequin Romance, A
Diamond in Her Stocking, goes on sale on December 1, 2014 and is
available for pre-order now.
Kandy Shepherd is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and
women’s fiction. She lives on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney,
Australia, with her family and a menagerie of four-legged friends.
Visit Kandy at her website
For more information on Greenway visit:
