What a sweet time the past two weeks in the UK have been. Starting with Autumn… No, not the season—the writer. I had the great privilege of spending two hours in London at the amazing St. Pancreas Station with fellow Inspy Romance author, Autumn Macarthur, when we landed in the UK on May 3rd. Meeting the author responsible for my journey into indie publishing—a person who has become a very dear friend—was definitely a huge highlight to my British holiday. And of course, we spoke writing for most of the time we were blessed to have together.
But it wasn’t just the “season” that happened to be special. Not only did I meet Autumn, I came across some beautiful spring “blumes”, ones dear to my heart—Magnolia, Rose, Heather, and Holly Blume from my Seven Suitors for Seven Sisters series.
I was thrilled to find them waiting in a box from CreateSpace for me, as well as along our many walks. My niece who lives in London was also super-excited to get her paperback copies this weekend.
Last week, my hubby, sister-in-law, and I took a day-trip to Cambridge. What an amazing city! Beautiful old universities and colleges, and a myriad of bicycles—some parked outside learning institutions or old buildings, others whizzing by so fast you had to make sure you stayed well clear of their designated path. And oh, the college-boy-look punters propelling flat, rectangular boats by thrusting a long pole against the bottom of the canal that borders the universities… Sigh! Definitely plenty of romance-writing fodder there.
Another thing that made me sigh in this city was the Bridge of Sighs…an intriguing enclosed bridge spanning this same canal. Sadly, I don’t have a photograph of the attraction. Despite my initial thoughts that it would be oh-so-romantic and that all one would be able to do when you saw it was to sigh at its beauty, the air expelled was rather in frustration at being unable to see this bridge from anywhere except to take the expensive punt cruise down the canal. Could this be the reason for its name?
Inside Heffers bookstore, I came across two unusual romance-related items. The following games certainly caught this romance author’s eye, and had they not carried a hefty price tag, I would likely have bought them both for myself.
This past Sunday we visited Kirby Hall, an impressive Elizabethan country house dating back to 1570 which fell into ruin in the 19th century. The house was completed by Sir Christopher Hattan, one of Queen Elizabeth I’s favorite courtiers. Rumor has it that he caught the queen’s eye with his excellent dancing. Using new ideas in architecture and design, Kirby Hall was built in the hope that the queen would visit on her annual journey around the UK. Despite her fondness and favor of Hatton, appointing him to prominent positions in the royal household and eventually Lord Chancellor and a Knight of the Garter, she never did. During the early years, these appointments and the valuable grants the Queen showered Hattan with, prompted rumors of him being the Queen’s lover. With Hatton never marrying, one can’t help but wonder if there was any truth to the rumors and whether perhaps he was in love with the Queen.
We hope to visit Levens Hall in the Lake District on Sunday, another Elizabethan 16th century house and storyworld for A Match for Magnolia plus several scenes in my soon to release, A Courtship for Clover. Even A Hero for Heather had a scene or two taking place there. I can’t wait to walk through the gardens and house, imagining my characters’ lives in this spectacular place. Hopefully next time I’ll be able to share this experience with you.
Before I go, I’d love to hear what your favorite storyworld is that an author has transported you to.
USA Today bestselling author, MARION UECKERMANN’s passion for writing was sparked when she moved to Ireland with her family. Her love of travel has influenced her contemporary inspirational romances set in novel places. Marion and her husband again live in South Africa and are setting their sights on retirement when they can join their family in the beautiful Cape.
Welcome home, Marion! I’m so happy you had a nice trip. What a cute photo of you and Autumn. Thanks for sharing all of your photos!
Hi Marion! Glad you are enjoying your vacation (as we say in the USA). Love all your pictures. Enjoy all the blues (no pun intended). Looking forward to your next book release.
This week I have been playing princesses with my 3 year old and 4 month old granddaughters. We have a castle, princess, frog, and magic wand. Along with a knight on horseback. So my favorite story world is the Romantic Road in Germany. The region where the Grimm brothers wrote their fairy tales. Even though I enjoy the legends of King Arthur and Merlin.
Safe travels and keep taking your inspiring photos.
Hi Marion, wow, your holiday sounds awesome! Glad you are having a great time, especially neat you were able to spend time with Autumn:) Have to say, I do love a story set in Europe…with a touch of fantasy/whimsy/mystery to it! Like Renate, I also enjoy the legends of King Arthur and Merlin and enjoy reading novelist/historians takes on the tales.
Thanks for sharing your photos and blessings as your continue your holiday:)
I am glad you are enjoying your trip. I enjoy all the pictures you share and sometimes I think I get transported to all places you’ve been??
What fun it must have been for you and Autumn to meet in person! I’ve been enjoying your jaunt through Europe via Facebook.
Marion, it was such a wonderful blessing to meet you! I’m sure we could have talked books and writing for hours more. I’m loving all the pictures you’re posting – it’s starting to look like you’ve seen more of England than I have! :)
I’ve actually been on the Bridge of Sighs – it’s not easy to get to walk on it, because it’s deep inside one of the medieval colleges as a link to another college across the river, and only visible from the water, as you found. I managed it because at one stage I lectured for one of Cambridge’s very minor, modern colleges, and attended a workshop there. I do wish I’d had a camera with me!
Thanks, Jill. Still on holiday though :) Another week in the UK, and then we’re off to Italy for ten days. I sure am missing my grandsons :)
Thanks for sharing, Renate. Sounds like a place I really need to visit :)
Thanks for sharing your favorite storyworld. We’re off to Italy next … more research for some Italian stories planned for the end of the year. Also hoping to do a story set in Budapest for Christmas–hope you’ll get to read it.
Glad to have you traveling with me, Colleen :)
It was so great to meet, Autumn. Glad you’re tagging along through the UK and Europe :)
Autumn, awesome to meet you in person. I just wish we could have had more time together than we had. So grateful to you and Arthur for taking the trouble to meet up with Noel and me. I think a big problem with seeing the bridge was that the students were in exams so a lot of places were closed for access. Still, the city of Cambridge was awesome.
Sounds like a wonderful trip with even more destinations to come!
I have always loved reading historical books set in England and Scotland, probably because I can imagine some of the characters being my ancestors.
Budapest would be a great setting for a story, I will definitely be looking out for it.
It has been great, Patty. Liz Curtis Higgs wrote my favorite Scottish historical book series.
It sounds like you had such a wonderful trip! I enjoyed your post!
Thanks, Melanie. Yes, it has been wonderful. I am looking forward to the last leg of our trip…Italy.