Palm Trees in Scotland

     You may recall reading about the little village of Plockton, Scotland in Message in the Skye.  Kiska and Gully stopped there to meet an artist.  It is an amazing place, absolutely beautiful!  Yes, they really do have a type of palm tree there.  Located about ten miles from the Isle of Skye, this tiny village is often as much as ten degrees warmer than the island.  Tucked in between the mountains and the water, it is a gem of beautiful scenery in every direction.  It is certainly not surprising that many artists live there.

Mind Your Head!

     For those of you who find it difficult to believe that people were really as short as Kiska thousands of years ago, please go to Scotland and visit some of the ancient structures.  This is a cairn.  From a distance it looks like a pile of rocks, but it is really a structure you can crawl into and stand up in the middle.  It was built thousands of years ago and no one knows for certain how they were used.  I will tell you the openings are very short.
    Most castles have room entrances that are much shorter than people today as well.  I can not tell you how many times my poor husband bumped his head when we visited places.  It got to be a joke between us because I was always telling him to "Mind Your Head!"

Brochs

    If you have read my first two books you might recall reading about brochs.  They were constructed by the Picts in the Highlands of Scotland about two thousand years ago.  To say that they are amazing is an understatement.  These structures were built without concrete or cement.  They are stacked stones with thick walls that were built most likely for defensive purposes.  Although partially in ruin, the main reason for that is that people took them apart to use their stones for other purposes and not because they fell.   While I was in Scotland I explored quite a few of these structures and although they seemed similar in construction, their awesomeness continued to inspire me.   

The Meadow

      If the sun is shining in Edinburgh you will find the meadow at the University of Edinburgh filled with students.  It is a huge social gathering for students.  Just being there on a cool sunny day made me feel good.  But, I also took the time to interview some of the students and find out more about the campus life.
     The University of Edinburgh is truly an amazing school and a beautiful campus.  Steeped in ancient history with a world renowned castle and palace walking distance from campus, there is an unlimited possibility of activities for students.  It is the perfect backdrop for the beginning of the book I am currently writing.  Unfortunately the tranquality of campus life doesn't last long for Kiska.  Hold onto your seats, the next book takes off like a rocket.  But, I am still hard at work writing it, so until it is finished I will be entertaining you with pictures of other places in Scotland where I have been busy researching.

Pictish Treasures

     Sadly much of the Pictish jewelry has been lost over the centuries.  Many pieces were melted down and used in other ways.  There is also speculation that pieces were found, but never reported and that many still remain buried under current structures or pastures.  The pieces that are displayed at the National Museum of Scotland are true treasures.  The workmanship for the time period is amazing.  It was exciting to see them displayed!

Exciting Research in Scotland

     Standing in front of the great Hilton of Cadboll cross-slab in the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh is a humbling experience.  The skill and workmanship that went into this piece of work gave me an even greater appreciation for the Picts.  This stone was made in the 8th century and is truly amazing.
      I traveled throughout the highlands of Scotland researching for my third book and I discovered some spectacular things.  I look forward to sharing them with you as the book progresses.  I will also share with you pictures of some of the places featured in the first two books.

Research Time

     At the end of every book there are the beginning thoughts for the next book.  When I finished Message in the Skye the first thing I wanted to do was to continue the story and keep writing the next book in the series.  I immediately started formulating the storyline in my mind.  But, as the old saying goes, haste makes waste.  So, I am taking the time to do my research and rediscover the history of Scotland.  When I get start writing again there will be amazing adventures to tell and the description will be alive with reality.  I can already tell you that the next book starts out with mystery and action on the first page.  The forces are already in place for Kiska to be in deeper trouble than in either of the previous books.  My imagination had gone into overdrive for this one and I can't wait to get started.