Most contemporary Christian romance publishers
stay as far away as possible from a book set in a foreign locale. I love to travel;
it’s one of my favorite things in life! I was blessed to have done quite a bit
B.C. (in this case, “before children”). When I learned the publisher
for my Christmas novellas, Pelican Book Group/White Rose Publishing, was
launching a new line called Passport to
Romance (romances set in foreign locations), I jumped on-board immediately. Echoes of Edinburgh released in late
September (while I was attending the ACFW in St. Louis, as it so happens!).
I’ve always said the best part of my college experience at Ball State was
the quarter I spent studying abroad in London instead of on the main campus.
Earning a 4.0 for studying art at The Tate Gallery, attending productions at
the Royal Globe (Shakespeare) Theatre, the opera, the ballet and listening to
the London Symphony Orchestra—I ask you, what
could be a better learning experience for a relatively sheltered 19-year-old
girl from southern Indiana? What a blessing! My time in London opened my eyes
to other cultures, customs, languages and proved one of the most fabulous times of my life. I also credit
my London Centre semester for helping me become more independent and
adventurous.
During
my ten weeks in London (followed by a three-week tour of the Continent), I
embarked on a fun weekend jaunt with two roommates on the high-speed train from
London to Glasgow, Scotland, and then traveled from there to Edinburgh.
Although my time in Scotland was short, I fell in love with the beautiful
countryside, in particular, and with the city’s rich history. The book is
dedicated in part to my cousins, Terry and Lyntha Eiler, who have gone to
Edinburgh for 30 years with photojournalism students from Ohio University.
Terry and Lyntha were invaluable resources of viewing Edinburgh through the
eyes of Americans abroad. They provided the type of “insider” tips only
observed by those who’ve been to Auld
Reekie and Athens of the North
multiple times. While many aspects of the city have not changed, others have
transitioned through the years, as represented by the recent vote by Scotland
as to whether to secede from the UK (voted down).
Without wanting to sound like a
travelogue of Edinburgh, I tried to incorporate a number of notable tourist
sights in the capital city of Scotland as seen from the perspective of
Americans—my heroine, Shelby Harmon, and her hero, Harrison (“Harry”) Reed—with
a sense of humor, adventure and romance. Many of my readers may never
personally experience Edinburgh, so I wanted to give them an idea of how
fabulous it is! I’ll confess the one thing I didn’t love about Edinburgh was the food, which I incorporate with
well-intentioned humor in Echoes of
Edinburgh. As Harrison tells Shelby, the Scots have two favorite meals:
breakfast and tea. I will confess that Shelby is more adventurous than I am when
it comes to tasting the dishes indigenous to Scotland!
I
also needed a place for my characters to attend a worship service. Imagine my
delight in my research when I discovered Carrubbers Christian
Centre, a non-denominational, evangelical church located on Edinburgh’s famous
Royal Mile. Perfect! Carrubbers started as a mission in an
alley in 1858 with the purpose of introducing children to Christ’s teachings.
D.L. Moody helped raise money to build the church, and he preached at the
laying of the foundation stone. It’s one of the original buildings on
Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile still used for its original purpose. Whenever I
make it back to Edinburgh, I’m definitely going to pay Carfubbers a visit!
Let me tell you a bit more about Echoes of Edinburgh. Here’s the back
copy blurb:
To honor her dying father’s wish, Chicago
stockbroker Shelby Harmon promises to hand deliver an envelope addressed to
“Robert Nichols, Personal & Confidential.” Her quest to find Robert leads
her to a most unlikely place—the Castlehill Gardens outside Scotland’s
Edinburgh Castle. Who is this fiercely private man and what is his connection
to Harmony Lane, her family’s horse farm in Lexington, Kentucky?
Harrison Reed cautions Shelby against
dredging up hurtful memories for his close friend, Robert. As they explore the
city together, Shelby and Harrison find themselves increasingly drawn to one
another. When the contents of the mysterious envelope are revealed, the answer
gives her hope for the future of Harmony Lane. Is the time spent in Edinburgh
with Harrison destined to be nothing more than a beautiful memory? Did Shelby
lose her heart in Edinburgh...or find her way home again?
One of the predominant themes in all my
books is finding our true purpose, finding “home in our
heart,” and seeking God’s will for our life. Echoes of Edinburgh addresses this issue from both the perspective
of my hero and heroine and told with (what I hope is) a good dose of humor
and heart. I hope you might take the opportunity to read it sometime!
Blessings,
~JoAnn
Matthew 5:16
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment