In my first book, The Pictorial Adventure, Percy took Kiska to see her first Pictish artifacts in the National History Museum of Scotland.  It is a massive museum with breathtaking exhibits.  There are so many galleries that it took me two days to explore the place.  But, I have to say the Early People gallery was one of my favorites.  Seeing the Pictish stones and jewelry brings it to life.  It is just hard to imagine that these things were created more than a thousand years ago.   

It is also fascinating how the jewelry was exhibited in such interesting displays

Book Club Talk

This week I visited a book club in Charlotte and talked to them about my books.

I showed them pictures of places in the books

and we we discussed The Pictorial Adventure.

They were a wonderful group of ladies and they asked some great questions!

One lady said she would never allow her daughter to leave without a cell phone and wondered why Kiska did not have one.  Point well taken, but it wouldn't have mattered in this case.  Percy would have taken it away from her just like he took everything else she had with her.   Someone also commented about conflicting opinions about Percy.  Sometimes he acted very likable, but then when he dropped her in the hole he seemed bad.  The truth of the matter is that Percy will do whatever it takes to get the results he wants in a situation.  Think of him as a king who has unlimited power! 

I had a wonderful time with the book club this week.  They are truly an awesome group of ladies and they certainly know how to make a book club meeting fun!

Please pass the word around that I love to speak to book clubs and other groups.  There is nothing better than talking to other people who love to read and discuss books as much as I do, so please contact me if you are interested in discussing any of my books.  

Now that I am doing research for my fourth book in my Highland mystery series, I am looking closely at some of the many places I visited in Scotland.  Although there aren't any Pictish stones at Linlithgow Palace, that I know of, it might have to be one of the settings.  It has a perfect location, not far from Edinburgh, and it is a fabulous place, with lots of great history!

For more pictures and information about my books, please like my Facebook page too.
  Behind the Bookshelf with Alice

Beauty over the Water

You are never very far from water in the Highlands of Scotland.  You may see a loch, a river or the sea, but you will not have any trouble finding it.  But, if you are lucky enough to find a sunny day over the water, it is like seeing every color of blue you can imagine.  It is breathtaking!

For more pictures of Scotland and places in the books, please follow me on my Facebook page:
Behind the Bookshelf with Alice          

This week I am excited about preparing to speak to a book club in Charlotte later this month.  It is always thrilling to be with a book club because I love to read and discuss books.  It is just the icing on the cake that I am speaking about my books this time.  I want to say thank you to the wonderful group of ladies who have invited me.  I look forward to meeting all of you soon.

Behind the bookshelf with Alice

Behind the Bookshelf with Alice is a new page on Facebook that will give you an illustrated glimpse into the pages of my books.  Through it I will give you thoughts about my writing process and tell you things that happened as I did research for the books.  I hope it will give you a vivid look at some of the dramatic settings for the drama in each book.    Behind the Bookshelf with Alice

     I am pleased to announce that my next e-book, Lost in the Ce, is now available on Kindle.  It should be on all other e-readers within the next few days.  It is the third book in my Scottish Highland adventure series.  Kiska and her friends are back for another thrilling journey.  This time the action begins in the first chapter and continues until the last.....   Hold onto your seats!  It is going to be another wild ride!