The well is filled ...

A common refrain within the writing community, one of those things we should (I dislike that word) do on a regular basis, is refill the creative well. How one goes about that can be as varied as the people reading this blog post. Everything from a walk in the park, to in-depth research at the public library, to a long journey in foreign climes. 

With just such a goal in mind (along with visiting good friends), I embarked on an adventure from which I’ve recently returned. Three weeks in England! How the time flew! 

Week one was spent in London. We rented a tiny flat to save on food costs. Calling it a one-bedroom flat was rather optimistic as the “bedroom” was a loft area reached by a ladder and in which anyone over 3 feet tall couldn’t stand upright. Good thing we’re still fairly nimble! But the location near our favourite bakery and close to a tube station could not be beat. 

We strolled through Covent Garden, bought a few books in various bookstores, road a boat up the Thames to Hampton Court Palace, visited Kew Gardens, explored Highgate Cemetery, and enjoyed a chamber music concert followed by a delicious lunch of authentic steak frites, nom nom nom. 

We greatly enjoyed a day in Bath – the setting for so many Regency romances, to say nothing of the source of inspiration for Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and many others. But also, a city steeped in Roman history. 

We spent week two in York, again choosing to rent a flat, this one a studio in a former cocoa factory. Situated on the River Foss and just inside the city walls, we were able to walk to the town centre within 10 minutes. Another area steeped in ancient history all the way back to the age of the Vikings. We strolled atop the wall, explored The Shambles, were entertained at the Jorvik Centre, wandered in awe within the walls of York Minster, and were spooked by a ghost walk. 

Also treated to a lively display of Morris Dancing.

And then the real adventure began as we embarked on our five-day hike along the Herriot Way through the picturesque Yorkshire Dales. Every little town or village quainter than the last, friendly, helpful and interesting people, comfortable B&Bs with delightful (and quirky) hosts, and delicious food. A full-English to begin the day, and a pub at the end. And sheep. Lots and lots of sheep. The walking wasn’t easy, and my feet were sore, but the grassy fields separated by walls or hedgerows, the lazily flowing rivers and streams, the mysterious woodlands, and the abundance of interesting wildlife made the blister on my big toe well worth it. 

Would I do it again? Heck, yeah!

Was my creative well filled? Overflowing.

Luanna Stewart has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. She spends her days writing many flavours of romance. When not torturing her characters, she’s in her kitchen baking something delicious. She lives in Nova Scotia with her patient husband.

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Google your Way to Genuineness by Eleri Grace

Setting plays an important role in my novels, but I mostly make do with experiencing the setting from afar. Much as I would love to travel and do first-hand research, some of my settings are simply too far-flung or currently dangerous for that to be a viable option! For those novels, Google has become my best friend, and I'm grateful to have so many resources at my fingertips. It's hard for me to imagine how I might have created the level of detail that I do in my novels without the internet and all its fabulous resources. 

Restored control tower and base of 100th Bomber Group, Thorpe Abbotts, England (2016)

For my first novel, set primarily on a US bomber base in southeastern England, it was easy to draw on my experiences from having lived in that very area while studying abroad in 1989 and from a more recent research trip led by the National WWII Museum. That tour allowed me the opportunity to not only visit two of the restored air bases but also to chat with some of the locals who were children during the war and have vivid memories of those years with all the American airmen who served there. While we did not visit the base that I had already chosen as the focal setting for Courage to be Counted, it was still incredibly helpful to see these bases and imagine how similar they were to what my characters experienced at Chelveston. 

Historical re-enactors: 95th Bomber Group, Horham, England (2016)

St Andrews Church, Quidenham, England, stained glass window in honor of USAAF 96th Bomber Group

Red Cross Girls doing laundry in a river in New Guinea, circa 1943

My second novel Carry a Crusading Spirit followed my heroine from Australia (that would have been a great trip if I could have managed it!) to New Guinea and then to Tinian Island in the Northern Marianas. Time and finances didn't allow me to visit these places in person (and New Guinea is not particulary safe either), but I made great use of online sources. Google Earth is an extraordinary resource for authors looking to get a better feel for the topography, and I used it often for my hero's New Guinea flight scenes. In addition to photos, maps, and Google Earth, I have had great luck with videos -- not only current ones that show a general idea of the lay of the land, but many historical videos are available online. 

My latest novel in progress is set in India and Burma (now Myanmar). Obviously Myanmar is not a safe destination at the moment. I found quite a few travel blogs -- most of which relate to trips taken prior to the last couple of years -- with great photos and details. One travel blogger drove the old Ledo Road, and he included some incredible photos that show how arduous the construction must have been. Speaking of video research, just this past weekend, I found myself wondering if it was possible to kill a tiger with a bow and arrow, and lo and behold if I don't find a video (circa 1963 no less) that literally shows a skilled archer bringing down a tiger in India. 

Red Cross Girl in India, circa 1944

So even though I don't have personal photos in my collection from these Asian locales, I've been intrepid enough to locate some pretty amazing sources that have added depth and variety in bringing the settings of my novels to life. 

You can buy my books on Amazon, learn more about me and my writing on my website, and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.