Historical Tourism

Thanks to the huge popularity of Downton Abbey, tourism in England is up, according to this CNN article. Specifically, tourists are moving away from London and exploring the riches the countryside has to offer. If you've ever been interested in historical tourism, now is the time to try it out for yourself. I have a few of my own suggestions for your next trip.

1. Go Downton Abbey

The house we know of as Downton Abbey is really called Highclere Castle, and it is the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. Besides the filming of the hugely popular show (with over 11 million viewers in the UK and now shown in over 100 countries around the world--go Downton Abbey!), they have also opened their grand house to tourists. Evidently, this year the house is booked until the end of the year for tour groups. But individuals can still get tickets, which will be available online starting next month.

For the big spender who wants to experience a real Downton Abbey day, you can dine with the Earl and Countess, have a private tour of the house and the estate, and enjoy tea with them in the Countess' morning room. This opportunity to rub elbows with aristocracy will only cost you $12,300! I won’t be signing up for that one any time soon, but I bet somebody does.

2. Go Jane Austen

For the Jane Austen fan, there's no place like the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, which will be held this year from September 14-22. It begins with a promenade, where hundreds of Janeites from all over the world dress in Regency attire and parade through the cobblestone streets of Bath. During the course of the week one may enjoy small soirees, theatre, concerts, walking tours, food, talks, DANCING, and of course, one may wear Regency attire all week long.

3. Go Bronte Sisters

Are the Bronte sisters more to your liking? If so, you'll want to head north, to the country around Yorkshire. In Haworth you can visit the parsonage the sisters grew up in, which is now a museum. Then don your good walking shoes and set off through the heather-filled moors. You'll want to stop at North Lees Hall, the private manor that inspired Thornhill in Jane Eyre.

What do you think about historical tourism? Which of these sites would you pick if you could only pick one?

Fans of Downton Abbey

How many of you are watching Downton Abbey? I somehow missed it when it aired last year, but I found it on Netflix last month, promptly fell in love, and caught up with the first season. I would have caught up much more quickly if I hadn’t had to wait for my husband, Fred, who loves it too. (Although not to the same degree that I love it. Still, he loves it with me, and I love that about him.)

Watching Downton Abbey does several things for me. First, it makes me want to grow about five inches taller. It makes me want to wear styles from the early 1900s. And it makes me even more interested in the changes of World War I on English society.

If you are interested in this time period, you should read Eva Ibbotson, in particular her novel A Countess Below Stairs, which is set right after the end of World War I and focuses on the changes to society due to the war.

You should also consider watching "Secrets of the Manor House" this Sunday on PBS. It explores the upstairs and downstairs life of great manor houses in England. I think we romanticize the great manor houses we read about and I for one never think about the poor house maid who gets up before dawn, works 17-hour days, and earns the equivalent of $15 per year. Those were hard-working girls keeping Mr. Darcy's house running smoothly.

And you should definitely watch Downton Abbey. You can catch up on Season 1 and watch Season 2 online here.

If you have been watching Downton Abbey, what do you love about it? Who is your favorite character? Which character do you loathe the most? (O'Brian? Thomas? How do you choose between them?)

An Updated Cover and Some Praise

My cover has a little bit of a new look. The orchard is greener, and the "Proper Romance" seal is at the top with some more color to make it stand out. What do you think?

I also got the go-ahead from my publisher to share some praise for Edenbrooke. These quotes will appear on the back cover of the book.

“A heart-pounding love story. I couldn’t stop turning the pages until I finished it. A must-read for all romantics!”

—Mary Mull, wife of New York Times bestselling author Brandon Mull

“Edenbrooke is so much more than a page-turning tale of love and intrigue. It’s the kind of book you read time and time again and recommend to everyone.”

—Kodi Wright, wife of New York Times bestselling author Jason F. Wright

“Edenbrooke combines charming characters and a lovely setting for a delightful read. It was hard to put down!”

—Lynette Dashner, wife of New York Times bestselling author James Dashner

Some people have asked why my publisher asked the wives of NYTimes Bestsellers to give quotes--why not authors themselves? Well, this is clearly a book written for women, and the fact is, Shadow Mountain does not have any female bestselling authors on its list. I'm excited that they grouped me with their bestsellers, and I am dreaming big that I will someday make it on that list myself.

In other news, the release date for Edenbrooke has been bumped up from April to the beginning of March. So we're down to about seven weeks until it hits the shelves! I simply can't wait. As we get closer to the release, I'll be announcing stuff like a launch party and book signings and I will also show you the amazing book trailer for it. Should we make a paper chain and count down together? I don't know if I can stand it--I'm just so excited!!

So here's my question for you: what day of the week would be the best evening for a launch party?

England Part 2

My big Christmas present to myself was a ticket to England.

That's right. You heard me. I'm going to England!!

I bought my ticket right before Christmas for a killer deal. It's impossible to find now. But if you're interested, Tuesday is the cheapest day to buy a flight. Anyway, I'm leaving at the end of March and I will be touring the English countryside for a week.

Some of you may be wondering why the end of March. Isn't it rather cold and unpleasant in England in March?

Well, so I've heard. But I am going to do research for my next book, and I do not want the idyllic, Garden of Eden kind of England that I enjoyed on my last tour. My next story will be set in the north, among the peaks and moors. I need windswept landscape, grey skies, and a troubled sea to fit the mood of my story.

I'll be traveling with a good friend of mine. We were college roommates and have stayed close over the years. This is like a dream come true for us to go on an adventure together across the pond. I am hoping she will be willing to drive me around. She is such a good friend, I feel I might get away with asking her for this big favor. I will feed her yummy treats as payment for her services, and I will promise not to scream at oncoming traffic.

The last time I went to England, I was so terrified just getting out of London that I had nightmares about driving every night I was there. If I hadn't had a friend along, I would have never gotten in the car each morning. I would have just camped out at the first hotel I found and tried to find something interesting to walk to. Hopefully I'll be able to take the passenger seat this time. If not, I will brave it out and come home with more harrowing stories to tell.

I have a few ideas of some places I would like to see. Like these:

Who else has been to England? What did you love seeing? Any recommendations??

Book Review: The Winter Sea

I spent the free hours of the holiday season savoring The Winter Sea, by Susanna Kearsley. Here's the back cover blurb:

"History has all but forgotten...In the spring of 1708, an invading Jacobite fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown. Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors and starts to write. But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory, making her the only living person who knows the truth--the ultimate betrayal--that happened all those years ago, and that knowledge comes very close to destroying her..."

What I liked: It's very well-written. I felt shivery and wind-blown while reading it, and I have a real ache to see Scotland for myself now. It gives history buffs lots of good stuff to dig into. I didn't know anything about the Jacobite invasion of 1708 before I picked this up. And now I know a lot. The romance is clean but moving. These are no flings you're reading about, but loves of a lifetime. 

What I didn't like: Personally, I both liked and disliked the alternating narratives. The book is set up so that you get a chapter of Carrie the writer and her romance in modern-day Scotland. Then after a chapter or so, you switch to Sophia, the main character she's writing about, in old Scotland, with her own romance. I liked both stories, but I spent most of the book frustrated that I couldn't get more of one--either one. 

Over all, I thought reading The Winter Sea was a great way to spend a wintery day.