Research Trip to England
I’ve had many fun
experiences as an author, but taking a research trip through England was one
of the most enjoyable. My plan was three-pronged: to see Regency settings in
London, the streets where Jack the Ripper prowled (for a future book idea), and
the moors of Dartmoor.
My research on
Dartmoor would lead to my first major self-published book, Escape with a Rogue. (The gorgeous cover is by Croco Designs.)
Here's the blurb
for Escape with a Rogue:
Can a gently
bred young lady prove that a notorious gaming hell owner who escaped from
prison is innocent of murder? Wrongfully convicted, Jack Travers has spent two
years in jail, first on a dismal prison hulk, then in isolated Dartmoor Prison.
Can Lady Madeline Ashby heal his wounded heart and troubled soul?
In
the story, Lady Madeline is determined to prove Jack’s innocence and she helps
him escape Dartmoor Prison. At that time, local farmers brought in their goods
for market days, a fact that allows Madeline a chance to sneak in.
Above
is the entry gate to the prison. I stayed in a lovely inn that was the former
prison governor’s house. I was able to walk in my character’s shoes—even
following a track across the moors that I use for their escape route. All went
well until I found a fork in the trail. Desperate, I even asked the sheep for
directions and they weren’t impressed. In the end, I made a choice—fortunately
it was the right one.
The
moors are still remarkably desolate. There are many dangerous
bogs.
Back
in London, I toured Mayfair and even went up to the front steps of White’s
Gentlemen’s Club on St. James’s Street, a setting I have used in many Regency
England-set romances. A friend and I took our pictures there (though the
doorman came out and told us it was for members only).
It
was a dream trip. I took hundreds of photographs to have for reference
(including the ones here). And the research came in handy for my latest book, The Worthington Wife, set in the 1920s
in England.
Thanks so much for
having me here.
Sharon
About the Author
Sharon Page is a New York Times and USA
Today Bestseller of historical romance. She has also penned two romantic
women’s fiction titles, An American Duchess and The Worthington Wife.
A mother of two, she lives in Canada.
See all of Sharon's novels on her website www.SharonPage.com.
Subscribe to Sharon's newsletter for announcements, special excerpts, book tidbits, and giveaways!
