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Glencoe, Highland Romance, highlanders, His Judas Bride, Location, Location in writing, Scottish, The Deivl's Staircase, The Hidden Valley Glencoe, The Lochan Glencoe
Shey – Yup. Indeed I’ve been meaning to blog it and show off a few pics of that weekend….ages ago now.
Shey….including the moveable summit there above. I say that cos mountains in Glencoe are a bit like writing books that way. You think you’re there when you’re not. Indeed you could say that about this whole biz.
But location? Yep. Kate Furnivall said something last post about it being another character in a book and for me that says it all. It may not have goal, motivation or conflict BUT you ignore it at your peril if you want to bring your book to life. So I always look to choose a location, or invest a place, a house for example, with characteristics that will hopefully do that.
Glencoe has been a special place for me, for many years. And when it came to thinking of what I could
blog about this book, well, it’s a place of savage grandeur , I thought given I’ve a lot of different readers now, so why not the places that found their way into the book?
Besides I got Christmas baking to do and get in the freezer.
In writing His Judas Bride, I wanted to write about the Highlands as I know them. And the clans as history tells us. That’s with a lot of bloodshed and savagery, oh and double crossing.
So…. Location one that found its way into the book–
One -The Devil’s Staircase.
The most obvious way to stop her from leaving Lochalpin—and it was written in his blood, he damn well would—was to station men at the top of the pass. He’d done that. Hell. Four days now. He’d done everything.
Seen above there in the snow….. which used to cut the Highlands off in the winter months often as not. So yeah, there’s a ton of snow in this story. There’s also the Staircase.
In 1692, the path was the approach route for the (apparently delayed) troops coming from Kinlochleven to provide reinforcements for the Massacre of Glencoe in which 38 people died at the hands of billeted soldiers, who had come as ‘guests’ – the only Trojan hamster…oops… horse way in to the glen at that time. I may have renamed Glencoe, Lochalpin, but the Trojan horse principle is the core of the book.
Famously? In personal terms? Well the scene of a turn back off the range behind it in June, covered in ice, in Arctic conditions.
TWO – The Hidden Valley
Not once in the last hour, as she’d edged along that treacherous gully, expecting to pepper the rocks hundreds of feet below, with her bones at any moment, had she any idea anyone was following
Famously, the scene of one incident where our party handed out hotel towels– be prepared is my mountain motto, specially with things taken from everyone else, sure the hotel was delighted NOT–and formed a chain across a raging burn to rescue a stranded party, as you do in Glencoe….
‘And the Macdonalds hid their stolen cows here?’ I asked the first time I was ever here. I mean the coos must have had quite a climb, how they got along the rake with their big cloppers, never mind the one slip and that’s it bit, I couldn’t tell you. But ideal for giving Kara second thoughts about getting out the place again once things start to fall apart. Oh, and maybe taking you dudes to, next time I visit……
Location three
The Lochan –
Knew it, didn’t he—what a stunning specimen he was. More stunning in fact than the plate-glass loch, the iced mountains that rose like sentinels around it.
All right…man made under the most romantic circumstances by Lord Strathcona, https://shehannemoore.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/she-had-seduced-him/ so here doubling as the lovely loch of Lochalpin. Naturally in the story it has a castle out on the loch, and the Black Wolf and his bunch of bandits live in underground caves on the shore…so let’s not hang about here either…..
Famously- okay, ‘fessing up here.. our party once got rid a large half tree trunk here that had been cluttering our boot.
And lastly
Four – Eilean Munde…….
‘“Has no one told you about the Isle of the Saints, then?”
“The w-what?” But perhaps that was because she’d always been more acquainted with the Isle of the Sinners.
No not a person. A place. The burial island once used by the Stewarts of Ballachulish, the MacDonalds of Glencoe and the Camerons of Callart. The clans shared the island and the maintenance of the graves, even when they were responsible for putting one another in them. Also the site of a chapel built by St. Fintan Mundus…naturally chapel and island doubles for the Island of the Saints, a place Kara rather unwillingly becomes acquainted with. Famously in my own book of life, near the spot where we wrecked the local cafe’s grass when our car sunk into it…..
That’s good dudes, cos see that island. Next time that’s where you’re going. And since you can’t swim it’s where you’ll be staying too. Now I am gonna to open the voddie and do the cossack dance…….
To love, honor, and betray…
To get back her son, she will stop at nothing…
Dire circumstances have forced Kara McGurkie to forget she’s a woman. Dire circumstances force her to swear to love and honor, to help destroy a clan, when it means getting back her son. But when dire circumstances force her to seduce her fiancé’s brother on the eve of the wedding, will the dark secrets she holds and her greatest desire be enough to save her from his powerful allure?
To save his people, neither will he…
Since his wife’s murder, Callm McDunnagh, the Black Wolf of Lochalpin, ruthlessly guards heart and glen from dangerous intruders. But from the moment he first sees Kara he knows he must possess her, even though surrendering to his passion may prove the most dangerous risk of all.
She has nothing left to fear except love itself…
Now only Kara can decide what passion can save or destroy, and who will finally learn the truth of the words… Till death do us part.
Nice picture 😊
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Wow! What an excerpt… I like this “nothing left to fear except love itself…” it’s all powerful…. ! Love it. Shey, having the place setting be as a character makes a lot of sense. Places are very enchanting, especially ones you know so well…as you do, Glencoe. That part about the graves and maintaining them on both sides got me a bit choked up, but I don’t want to end up with the hamsters!
Aw Ka, you are a gem. I do love Glencoe. You would NOT want to end with the dudes on that island. I would need a boat to rescue you my darling. Mind you we could maroon them xxxxxxxx
Absolutely breathtaking scenery. I really need another visit to Scotland that does NOT include golf courses. You do location very well. I have difficulty describing setting.
I never think I am very good at describing things–you are way too kind — but I try to squirrel places I know and use them. Obvi I know Glencoe backwards, but the cave that the Wolf lives in is based on a cave in Spetses, an underground one, called the Cave of the Bekiris, fascinating place. You do need to come here. Leave Studly at the golf and see the scenery. That last time we were in Glencoe we did the right way up meal Mor… the thing with the hills there is that you can so easily mes up on the wrong one making the directions fit till you can’t, or just making a mess on the right one…anyway this time round, having done it right, we ended up in a bit we had never been before and the scenery was jaw dropping in every direction, We sat and had our packed lunch in the most amazing bit.
You’d need to be my guide! I’d still be wandering about lost! Or dead!
Oh happily and I swear to only take you where it’s safe x
Beautiful. Just the thing to see on a cold dark morning xxxxx
Magnificent scenery, as always, Shey. No wonder it inspired a setting for your book – and you certainly always give location a strong role in your stories, especially here in the mountains you know and love so well. Very special. And talking of locations, please tell Bobby B that I am gutted we didn’t get our candlelit dinner at the top of the tower in Berlin. Next time!
After him ironing is lederhosen he is gutted and I think war may be declared here between him and the other dudes. He did got to war many years back at this time of year to with the General… It was not a good idea. xxxxx
Oh no! I recall that war with a shiver of horror. Christmas is coming …. peace …. goodwill ….
OMG. Great minds obvi! I was just thinking there just now that that year was the last year they were nice to one another and I will insist that they be friends (this will be good) this Christmas. They must give one another presents I think…
Great to see His Judas Bride out again. Glencoe really is majestic. Breathtaking scenery and you capture it so well, Shey. As for the dudes…are you sure they can be nice to each other this Christmas? I mean, once Bobby Bob has been at the Advocaat it’s every hamster for himself!
I am sure they can rewrite the George Michael song…to Last Christmas I gave u my heart..though I do think their actions–forget their words might be– the very next day you tore it apart., or even I them there did….. But I live in nothing if not hope. I rather feel their Christmas theme will be peace and goodwill. NOT. But we will watch this space. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for all your support. Glencoe is quite a place x
Excellent. I do thinks all the best stories are based inside a place that the reader can see, touch and even breathe its smell. Basing a tale in an actual location not only allows the author to communicate their own vibrant feelings about the place but allows the book’s groupies (like what I am -self confessed) to also participate in the atmosphere of the place, it becomes sacramental and blows your mind. Pxx
I think places can touch your heart and you can see stories unfold in them. You may change a name or two but that’s as far as it goes xxxx
That is so true Shey. I also think a real location can keep you action grounded too as you think of the characters moving agains the limitations of the physical andscape. Pxx
The landscape in this book means that basically you guard the pass, you guard the glen. It’s the only way in. But then there’s huge problems for Kara, in terms of the weather, the terrain, that lead to her making choice upon choice.SO yeah. Abso agree.
Sounds to me like Bobby Bub needs a little vacation, maybe you should treat him?
Spectacular photos my Lovely and the excerpt was riveting! ❤ xxx
Bobby Bub is gutted that he never got to Berlin. Here’s to the next blog cos they are being told to be nice to one another. Glencoe is quite a place. .Hard to get abagd piccie there. Lovely to see you xxxxx
Lol, I’ll keep my eye out for the behavior in the next blog. 🙂 xxxx
She put us on that island. She said it is where we still stay unless we learn peace and goodwill to all hamsters,,,,
Wow! The locations are great. Did you take the pics?
The setting is a large part of setting the emotion as well as setting the scene. I think.
Anyway, I don’t know what book you’ll be on next update post I do, but will include one. Will you be writing another London Jewel Thieves instalment? xo
Resa, you are so good to me truly. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for your kindness. I am going to be putting the backlist book out after Christmas and my new book O’Roarke’s Destiny, THEN I will finish the Time Mutants and fully intend writing the next books in the Jewel Thieves. I have always had the ideas for these stories but my then of these books publisher had to have first shout and I was done there. also they sat on Splendor for over a year having taken it. But I so want to see that series the way I always planned. SO yeah look out for Diamond, Jade and Emerald coming up. Maybe even Ruby’s story. You never know. xxxxxxxxx
PS> I took the pics of Glencoe and the pics on the Lochan and the staircase bits. I do have hidden valley pics but I didn’t have time to find them xxxxxxxxx
Beautiful scenery
It is a beautiful place Luisa xxxxx
❤
wow, Glencoe. A magical place where romance and bloodshed walk hand in hand. Where ghosts stop to pass the time of day. I love Glencoe and all the history behind it, except the massacre of the MacDonalds. Dudes it’s a beautiful place and don’t worry Shey won’t leave you on the funeral island. xxx
She just did..sob..sob… She said we have to give a written undertaking to be nice to each other sob sob…
Love
The poor, poor, friendly and kindly dudes
Oh no wee bairns, you be nice to one another. ❤
Shey ses…we must stay here or give each other christmas pressies….
Oh we are there a lot. Had many an adventure too. And yes romance and bloodshed do walk hand in hand x
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
Shehanne Moore allows The Hamster Dudes to wax lyrical.. whilst she explains the importance of location in our books…. she illustrates this with some excerpts from her novels set in the highlands, which is a wild and fascinating place. As always the hamsters are adorable and the post informative and entertaining.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sally. I did reply but it looks like it got chewed. GRRRR these dudes…
I tell you what Shey, next time you are off on holiday, send them over to me in Ireland and I will introduce them to my Lerpersians… and then stand back….. xxxxxxx
LOL!!! Oh next post they will be in their place. Count on it x
blessings of the season dear Smexy!! I’m not always here and never all there as I’ve been told. oh thank you for your pics of Glencoe- and I love the history. I”m hoping to be more a presence in the new year!! This last has been full of surprises. you are an inspiration!
PS I’m in the middle of the Writer and the Rake. Forgive me for taking so long but I had some recurring Attention Deficit problems over the last year!! I’m finding all kinds of unfinished projects that I”m sure the hamsters could make worse but I’m improving lol!!
I know you had a time this year my special Cybele, and I am hoping next year will be totally different that way for you. Dinnae wory re the book. I am just glad anyone reads even a page of my work. Glencoe is quite a place all told. We’ve put it to bed for this year but have booked for enxt xxxx
Many hugs and blessings of the season!!
To you too x
I like this sound of this — and also the breathtaking beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Having a sense of place is so important to a story and what an amazing natural beauty you have to draw from, you lucky Lady.
And so, I have finished The Eyes of Grace O’Malley and The Writer and the Rake and I think, if you are so inclined, I could send you some interview questions for both the Mr. and the Mrs. and then feature both books on my blog. Does that sound like something you’d be interested in? It’s not often that both a husband and wife are so creative, you know, and it’s something to definitely tell the folks about. ;0) oxo
‘If you are so inclined’ ? Do I live in Scotland and love Glencoe?? That would be wonderful Pam. Truly. Truly. The Mr. would be more than happy. Very very kind of you. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Glencoe is a special place and yes, I do think a sense of place is important to a story. Look at how much places feature in our lives. Our characters shouldn’t be any different that way. xxxxxxxxxx
Okay then, it’s settled. I’ll be sending you Q’s by the end of the weekend. Enjoy the wandering mountains in the meantime!
Oh we won’t be back for another few months. Sob sob x
Every time you write about Glencoe, I can’t help but sigh and wish myself to walk into your photos. No surprise you find inspiration here for so many stories. 🙂 xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ah it is a special place. Indeed, xxx
Beautiful and magic Glencoe, perfect settings for the novels with the strong and passionate heroines xxx
Aw Inese xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I do love it there x
Location in books is very important – it’s like another character of the novel! Great topic for your post, Shey xx Sorry for being behind here! Holiday hugs coming your way xo
It is indeed like another character, one who speaks in a different way. Please do not apologise for anything. You can’t imagine how happy I am to see you so happy xxxxxx
Amazing description and lovely Nature clicks! Beautiful! Loved the cover page too! Great great work dear 💛
Ravindra xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. We go there a lot. Got a wee tip planned for April when the weather is better–well sort of better. It is soul food in every direction there, every where you look. You just fall out of bed and onto a mountain basically. Thank you so much for the lovely comment. Thrilled you like the cover page. I wanted the relationship that is the core of this story centre stage. have a great day xxxxxxx
Most welcome 🎄🎶🎄 loved the set up and great mountains and beautiful time! Nice clicks! Cheers 💐 Have a wonderful and great day, cheers🌹
Oh the mountains are pretty amazing. And that last time we found our way to a bit we’d never been in before. Absolutely stunning wherever we looked.Your blog often has lovely photographs. I loved the ‘nature’ ones. You can tell I do like the outdoors. Have a great Tuesday when it comes x
Muchas gracias. ?Como puedo iniciar sesion?