Tuesday, July 19, 2016

The Magic of Time Travel


I’m one of those lucky (truly, no sarcasm here) kids whose parents moved every couple of years. I attended 5 elementary schools, 2 junior high/middle schools, 1 high school, and 2 universities. I remember Michigan, Florida, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Texas, and California. If I had the awesome opportunity to live in another time or place, I’d choose the TIME option.

My reasons are simple:
1.  I’m enamored of all things pertaining to history of the American West,
2.  …because I write Sweet Victorian Romance set in the American West…
3.  …which means I’m constantly studying, researching, learning all about it.
4.  Wouldn’t it be cool to LIVE the Old West, rather than simply read about it?

 

Reading fiction set in my favorite historical time period in history is the best kind of time machine. I don’t need to leave my climate-controlled home, give up fresh produce in the middle of winter or an Internet connection…and I can escape at will into my favorite era and location. To me, reading fiction is a captivating distraction from anything or everything; when stressed I “hide in fiction”. I fall in, the world disappears, and my mind and soul is fully occupied in another place and another time. Best. Therapy. Ever.


When writing my soon-to-be-released novella, Courting Miss Cartwright (included in Cowboys & Calico, a 5-author novella collection coming 7-30-16 to Amazon), I spent weeks immersed in 1879 Colorado. I enjoyed researching the status of gold and silver mining in Colorado, including the big strike in Leadville, and the impact upon my characters and nearby fictitious town of Mountain Home, Colorado. Given the summer of 1879 is indelibly branded upon my brain this July, I’d set the dial on my time machine for then and there…as long as a return trip to here and now is guaranteed.

Image Courtesy of Hotel Paris Museum.org via Pinterest
 
Exclusively for kindle, only 99 cents!

Kristin Holt, USA Today Bestselling Author writes Sweet Victorian Romance set in the American West. She writes frequent articles about the nineteenth century American west--every subject of possible interest to readers and amateur historians. She contributes monthly to Sweet Americana Sweethearts (first Friday of each month) and Romancing the Genres (third Tuesday of each month).





4 comments:

Judith Ashley said...

Interesting post, Kristin! And, I also disappear into a book when I need a break from Life. Books are magical, maybe not the only magic but romance novels certainly have the ability to change the world because of the messages of love, hope, forgiveness, transformation, second chances, etc. etc. etc.

Kristin Holt said...

Thank you, Judith--
I do believe you're right...probably not the only magic. =)
I love your list of reasons why romance novels have the ability to change the world. I agree!
Thanks!
Kristin

HurricaneReads said...

Books are an awesome escape. I love reading a well written book. When I read I become a part of the book I see feel hear everything the characters do. I think that's why I like the movie the NeverEnding Story so much because that is actually what happens to me.

HurricaneReads said...

Books are an awesome escape. I love reading a well written book. When I read I become a part of the book I see feel hear everything the characters do. I think that's why I like the movie the NeverEnding Story so much because that is actually what happens to me.