When you travel–even close to home–do you ever see things that inspire you? Whether it be someone’s landscaping, or their garden, or home decor ideas?
That’s sure true for writers. Wherever we go, we tend to see places that spark the imagination. People who might be perfect as heroes, heroines or secondary characters. Bits of inadvertently overheard snippets of dialogue. Houses or shops or towns that seem like a perfect location for a story to take place.
To that end, actually being able to travel somewhere to do research, and then writing a novel using personal observation, is wonderful.
I’ve set a lot of stories in the mountains of the American West or in the ranch country of Wyoming, Montana and Colorado….and in the scenic, forested areas of northern Wisconsin or Minnesota. All of them are places I have visited often, and love very much.
I write contemporary inspirational and sweet romance, all set in the USA, and never thought about using foreign settings…until we started to travel 
a bit farther afield. And what an inspiration that has been!
Trips to Scotland and Ireland led to two Indie novellas: A Scottish Christmas, and An Irish Christmas Blessing. I just had to use the experiences of being there, and it was so much fun to do so! And England…well, setting a story there is up next.
Is anyone here a Downton addict like me? Visiting Highclere Castle was a dream come true. The photos are all from the grounds (the last is the back of the castle, which you never see on the TV show!) though photos indoors 
were not allowed. Everything– indoors and out– made me think of all of the wonderful story possibilities there could be in a setting like this one.
In the old days, an author had to buy research books, have personal experience with a situation and setting, or have the right people to contact in order to achieve a realistic story.
Now, we have the world at our fingertips through the Internet and we can 
gather information instantly. But still….whenever possible, it’s wonderful to see things first hand.
What are your favorite settings in the novels you read? Which ones do you long to see more often?
Best wishes to you all for wonderful books to read, and lots of time to enjoy them!
Blessings to you all, Roxanne Rustand
USA Today bestselling author Roxanne Rustand is the author of over thirty-five traditionally published novels, and four indie novels. Prior to 2007 she wrote for the secular market, but since then has been happily focused on inspirational fiction and sweet romance. A Golden Heart winner in 1995, she has received two RT Bookclub Magazine Reviewers' Choice Awards, and has been nominated for an RT Bookclub Magazine Career Achievement Award. She is currently writing for Harlequin's Love Inspired line, and is continuing with self publishing. She and her husband live in the country with three horses, two goofy rescue dogs, and a half-dozen barn cats.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos, Roxanne. I’m probably the only person left who hasn’t seen Downton Abbey. I can’t seem to ever squeeze in TV time. As for settings, I love the ocean and the mountains.
Inspiring photos. I am another person, who has not seen Downtown Abbey. I enjoy stories with a Midwest, especially Michigan setting. Being born in Berlin, I enjoy reading stories with a German(European) setting. i have traveled from coast to coast in the US and to nine foreign countries (Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Netherlands, France, Great Britain, and Japan). Travel opens the mind to embrace different cultures and traditions. Thanks for sharing your travels.
I’ve never watched Downton Abbey, either. But I love the photos — I’d love to do more overseas travel. I have written a novella set in Ireland and loved digging through my scrapbook from our trip while I was doing so.
Thanks for sharing your pictures!
Our state public television station website has all of the episodes available free, so if you’re ever interested in seeing the series, definitely start from the beginning. It’s been a wonderful period drama, and seeing the evolution of dress and the expectations of women has been fascinating. I agree on TV time—I watch several shows on public TV on Thursday and Sunday evenings, but that’s it!
Hi Renate, so enjoyed your comment. You have traveled so much more than I have! Interesting–I’ve never thought about setting a book in Michigan, though it’s such a beautiful state. Hmmm…..the wheels are turning in my mind, now! :)
I love the Southwest and have travelled and lived their extensively. I find now if I think back to a place or time,I can go to the Internet to get updates to refresh my memory.
I love the Internet.
I have started writing and find myself going back their frequently, especially to NM and AZ, some othe most beautiful places I have ever seen.
Thank you, Elizabeth. Ireland is beautiful, isn’t it? And the people are so friendly. The driving scared me at first, though. Especially the narrow roads with stone walls and/or trees right up against the asphalt on BOTH sides—and oncoming trucks. Also, the round-abouts at busy intersections with multiple lanes. Though Ireland was good preparation for England, where the round-abouts were much more hectic! :)
I love the Southwest also, though I’ve written only one novel set in NM or AZ. It was set in the Enchanted Circle area on NW.
I loved hiking in the desert around Tucson during the spring, and seeing the blooming cacti.
Best wishes with your writing!
I watched three episodes of DA, just enough to know what everyone was talking about, but it didn’t call me back. I watch very very little TV. Still, I wouldn’t say no to visiting castles! You’ve got some great photos, and I can believe the wheels are turning for stories set there! I’ll have to look up your two foreign-set stories.
A lot of the clothes from Downtown Abbey were on display at the BILTMORE Mansion, Ashville, NC in May 2015.
There are several Michifgan cozy mystery writers, whose mysteries are set in Michigan. My favorite is Hope Callighan and her Garden Girls Mystery series.
Jill, I’m right there with you. I watch very little TV, so I didn’t even know about the series until it was well into its fourth season, and with deadlines, I didn’t even consider watching it. One of these days, I’ll do a Downton Abbey marathon and watch every season.
Roxanne, I love unusual settings instead of the same ones over and over again. I’ve visited all fifty states and love to travel. There is something special about each state. My hubby and I have traveled to Europe numerous times, too. This summer we are going to the Netherlands, Belgium and taking a cruise to see the fjords in Norway. I’m excited just thinking about it.
Beautiful photographs. Thank you for sharing. I love to read about mountain settings, farm settings, beach settings and more. :-) If the story is a good one, the setting fits. :-)
It is so cool that you were able to visit the castle. I’ve enjoyed the series as well. It’s hard to believe it’s coming to and end. Your topic made me smile because just yesterday I was considering writing a blog post on the settings that inspire me. :)
I’ve never watched one episode of Downton Abby either. Though I’ve read those types of stories in books & I think I enjoy that more because we don’t watch much TV either. Books to me, bring about more visual imagination than TV sometimes :-) You can really let your imagination take flight!
Seems the settings I like most are old Western ones. I love historical fiction and have been reading more of these types of books….think LIH (Love Inspired Historical). I like to be taken back in time before the West was civilized and people were traveling out that way to try to find better land & way of life. I don’t know why they capture my attention more than others, there’s just something about them!
I also enjoy stories centered around small towns. I live in one & it’s kind of a love/hate relationship with them. You know everyone & oftentimes run into people you know in the store….the flip side is everyone knows your business….lol! I’ve found people to be much more friendly in small towns, more apt to be helpful & happy in general. I get lost in a bigger city and sometimes feel a coldness in people. Like when I go visit my sis-in-law who lives in a much bigger city, I go into a McD’s or something, and me being a naturally friendly person, tend to want to say at least hi to the people around me. It’s as if I’ve come from a foreign land or even a different planet…lol! They give me some of the strangest looks. But I just keep on being me, I can’t help it really!
I enjoyed the pictures you’ve shared here. I can just see myself walking those beautiful grounds and gardens. And imagine myself being a lady in that grand house :-)
Edith wore the most gorgeous three piece outfit in last week’s episode. I think it was dark blue, but with lots of colorful embroidery in sort of an art deco pattern on the wide lapels. Did you go to that show, and did you see it?
I bought the DVDs, and plan to have my own little marathon from time to time. I will so miss this series.
I;m writing down her name so I can try some of her books! Thanks!
We went to Italy last year, and it was so fascinating. Our history in the US doesn’t go back all that far. But in Europe, the architecture and art just take my breath away!
Merrillee–can I come along? :) Your upcoming travels sound wonderful. We’ve just been to Scotland, Ireland, England and Italy, but this fall we are taking the Viking River Cruises 15 day trip through four countries. I am so grateful, because once my hubby retires, we’ll be lucky to make it as far as the post office. LOL!
Thank you, Melissa. It’s always fun to hear about the types of locations people enjoy most!
Hi Kimberly, yes—it was the most wonderful experience. After we’d booked our trip, I suddenly realized that hey–maybe we might be close to Highclere at some point, and we were! Not only that, but the months for tours (at least that year) were very limited, yet we were going to be there in time. ALL of the tickets were sold out but I emailed and asked if there was any chance at all….thenwe showed up at the gate as instructed, and they let us in. That’s me in front of the main door, and you can’t see it but I’ve never had a bigger smile, and I was shaking with excitement. It’s a beautiful, beautiful place. Just fascinating!
I really enjoyed reading your comments!
We live in the country on an acreage, around six miles from town. This is a larger town, but almost every time I go, I see someone I know. Especially if I didn’t put make-up on or dress a little better!
Jill you’re not the only one, I’ve never seen Downton Abbey mainly because all my free time I spend reading instead of watching TV. I love books that take place in England particularly in the Gothic era, but also books in eastern states or Northern States. I live in Southern California but it’s the last place I want to be.
Downton Abbey is one of the few shows I watch but I wouldn’t bother if we didn’t have DVR or Netflix. The days of watching the time to catch a favorite show are long gone for me, I usually can’t even keep track of what day it is! Books are best ;)
I Am A Downton Abbey Snob! Love, love, love the show. I am so upset that this is the end ofbit. And if your book is along the same line. Then I am so there.
Roxanne, fun post :) I only watched the first few seasons of DA but I’d love to visit the setting. I love travelling and reading books set in unusual and exotic locations.
I have never seen DA but have heard of it. I get inspiration from the mountains I live in and the swamps I was raised in. Both are filled with hard working people.