Scotland, Setting, and Story
We are just back from an amazing trip to Scotland and so our heads and hearts are full of all of those experiences. We were there two weeks and still didn’t get to see everything that we wanted to, but we certainly hit most of the high points.
We started in Edinburgh, traveled north to Loch Ness and Inverness, then farther north to Ullapool, the Isle of Skye and the Isle of Lewis. And finally, we headed back south to Loch Lomond, Glasgow and then back to Edinburgh to fly home.
So many fantastic new experiences, so many breathtaking views, so much history.
One of the things that becomes clear when you travel to landscapes that are unlike those you’re used to, is that where we live is all a part of our story. It’s not just where we live. It’s who we are. And that’s very much true in the stories we write as well.
Understanding the place a story is set and how that place plays a part in the mood, the characters, and sometimes even the conflict, is important. And we can certainly see why writers who have chosen Scotland for their setting have been drawn to that atmospheric element of the Scottish landscape.
Are there particular settings in books that speak to you? Are there places that you especially enjoy reading about?
As you already know, we usually tend to write stories set near lovely sunny beaches. But don’t be surprised if sometime in the future a wee bit of Scotland creeps into a Sparkle Abbey story.
Sparkle Abbey is actually two people, Mary Lee Ashford and Anita Carter, who write the national best-selling Pampered Pets cozy mystery series. They are friends as well as neighbors so they often get together and plot ways to commit murder. (But don’t tell the other neighbors.)
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Scotland is beautiful and full of interesting places. Have fun weaving it into your writing, Mary Lee!
Gay, thanks! It was so beautiful and there was so much history!
I love Scotland. First visited it as a high school graduation present….saw sun rises, sunsets, waterfalls, sheep, craggy land, and fell in love with it. Can’t wait for you to include some of these setting themes into your stories.
Debra, this was our first actual trip to Scotland. We’d been to the UK when our youngest was in school at Lancaster but just barely dipped our toes across the line into Scotland. This was just an amazing trip. I can see why you fell in love with it!
I have dear ones who live in Edinburgh, and who were married in St. Andrews. Their wedding was on Thanksgiving in America (Thursday in Scotland). We had such a great time there! Looking forward to reading your beautiful setting descriptions!
Saralyn, how fun! We could have spent a week in Edinburgh alone. So much to see! We have family who live on the Isle of Lewis and so traveled north to spend some time there.
I’d love to have you set a story in Scotland. Glad you enjoyed the trip so much. When you set a novel there, you must travel back to get all the details right!!!
Kathryn, exactly! It’s a given we’d need to visit again just to make sure we get those details right!