posted on August 23, 2017 by Deb Marlowe

Location Love?

So, have you ever fallen in love with the setting of a book?  Reveled in the descriptions, longed to travel and see it, experience it for yourself?

*Raising my hand!*

I started early, too.  🙂  When I was a young reader, I knew I couldn’t travel to Pern or Prydain or Neverland, but I’d always been a big fan of Marquerite Henry’s horse books.  The Misty of Chincoteague books were some of my favorites and I desperately wanted to go to Chincoteague!  This was a real spot!  I begged my mom to take us to the island for Pony Penning Day.  Unfortunately, no one else in the family shared my enthusiasm.  🙂

Skip to my teen years, and I was one of millions of girls sighing over The Thorn Birds.  I read the book multiple times.  Watched the mini-series.  All I wanted was to go to Australia!  Still on my bucket list, btw!

A few more years, and I was reading Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion and devouring Georgette Heyer and Marion Chesney books and falling in love with Regency England.  I fell even harder as I started researching the period and writing my own books.  And this time I got to do it!  I traveled to England and practically wallowed in museums and country houses and what’s left of Mayfair.  Sigh.  One dream accomplished—although once was not enough.  🙂

So, fast forward to last year and I was asked to write a novella for a series of books set in a haunted castle in Cornwall.  I agreed, on the condition that I was allowed to use Cornish Pixies as my ‘haunt.’  And thus a new passion was born!  We found a spot for our castle and I drooled over pictures of the gorgeous Cornish coast.  My Pixies possess nature-based magic, so that meant I got to research plants and animals and beautiful forest glens in Cornwall.  Oh, boy.  Now I have to go to Cornwall!  I must see all the beauty and mystery for myself!

The story that came of that particular obsession has just released on it’s own.  You can get Lady Tamsyn and the Pixie’s Curse now!

Her father inherited an earldom and a castle. Has Lady Tamsyn inherited a curse?

It’s what it feels like when she discovers that she can see the truth behind the lies that men tell. All she wanted on arrival at Castle Keyvnor was to avoid Mr. Gryffyn Cardew, but in a sea of lies, he is the one who always tells her the truth.

Together they find that her curse might just be a gift–and their love the key to preventing a tragedy.

Even better, the Haunting of Castle Keyvnor was such a success that we are going back to the castle!  This time it’s for a double wedding at Christmas.  You know what that means?  I got to research Christmas traditions in Cornwall!  And they are so interesting and different from other places in England.  I’ve had a blast going back to my Pixies and the other characters at Keyvnor—and it has only fueled my desire to get there.  I will!

Lord Locryn and the Pixie’s Kiss is included in the book, Charmed at Christmas, and is available on pre-order now.

So, tell me—am I alone in this?  Have you ever longed to travel to a beloved book’s setting?  Have you actually done it?  Share your story and I’ll pick a randomly chosen commenter to win a copy of Bedeviled, from the Haunting of Castle Keyvnor series.

 

Lady Tamsyn and the Pixie’s Curse

   

Charmed at Christmas

   

 

Deb Marlowe

Deb Marlowe

Deb Marlowe loves History, England and Men in Boots. Clearly she was meant to write Regency Historical Romance! Deb grew up in Pennsylvania with her nose in a book. Luckily, she'd read enough romances to recognize the true modern hero she met at a college Halloween party---even though he wore a tuxedo t-shirt instead of breeches and tall boots. They married, settled in North Carolina and produced two handsome, intelligent and genuinely amusing boys. Though she spends much of her time with her nose in her laptop, for the sake of her family she does occasionally abandon her inner world for the domestic adventure of laundry, dinner and carpool. Despite her sacrifice, not one of the men in her family is yet willing to don breeches or tall boots. She's working on it. Deb loves to hear from readers! You can contact her at [email protected].

https://www.debmarlowe.com

Deb Marlowe Contest

Deb Marlowe is giving away a digital copy of NOTHING BUT A RAKEHELL, part of A Series of Unconventional Courtships, to one winner!

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12 thoughts on “Location Love?”

  1. Caren Helms says:

    Deb, I will go to Cornwall with you! I fell in love with Cornwall because of Rosamunde Pilcher’s many books that are set there. Every time the train got to the Truro ridge, I felt like I was heading home! It was always so quirky and the people so unique and sometimes irascible. 😀 I have to say, watching Doc Martin only solidified my love of Cornwall. I’ll be ready to go whenever you are!

    1. I’m ready when you are, Caren! Let’s do it !

  2. Lore Apted says:

    Gone With the Wind is my favorite movie and they had a sequel called Scarlett on TV. It was set mainly in Ireland and I so wanted to go to Ireland after that. Also, after watching Under the Tuscan Sun I wanted to go to Tuscany!

    1. Ireland is on my list too, Lore! And I had a similar urge to visit Italy after watching all the scenes of Florence in The Medici. 🙂

  3. Norah Gibbons says:

    I’ve always wanted to go to Chicago … because SEP .. even booked a bus trip there but it was cancelled and we ended up going to Boston instead… so Lobster yay 😊

    1. Lobster–yay! But I hope you get the chance to see the land of SEP’s Chicago Stars! 🙂

  4. Patricia Addison says:

    After reading so many historical romances set in Scotland and England, I would love to visit both countries.

    1. I’ve yet to go to Scotland, Patricia, but I will soon! My next Half Moon House book is set in Edinburgh, and I fell in love once again. 🙂

  5. Cathy S says:

    One of the first romance novels I ever read was set in Italy. I think it was Venice. It was years and years ago now. I just remember they were hiding because someone put her name in the lion’s mouth. I still want to go to Stonehenge. Maybe get sent back in time.

    1. Sounds like a plan that millions of Outlander fans will share with you, Cathy! 🙂 What time period would you choose?

      1. Cathy S says:

        I’ve always loved the regency period.

        1. 🙂 One of the many reasons I love you! 🙂

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