Hello Everyone. Happy New Year. I apologize for the length of time in between updates, I have been very busy and sometimes life gets in the way of doing what we really want. I promise to have more frequent updates as the next story begins to come together. Since my last update I have continued my research for The Ruins of Saint Vincent, and I am realizing how difficult it can be putting my ideas into a story and making sense of it. I guess, I am experiencing my first foray into the dreaded Writer’s Block. I have told many people that my writing is like a road map, I come up with several plot themes which I call the cities. The roads connecting those cities, making the whole trip worthwhile, is the difficult part. Many times, I have gotten lost on these roads and have to find my way back. That is the essence of writing for me, it is allowing myself to go off course a bit, because when I have what I want, I know it, and when I don’t, I really know it.

Earlier this year, I went to England to visit some locations for the story. I rented a car and drove west from Heathrow Airport through the English countryside to an area known as The Cotswolds. Driving on the other side of the road, or “wrong side” as we call it, was a bit of a challenge. As you get farther away from the highways on to these sleepy country roads, you realize the road is starting to become narrower and narrower. There is barely enough room for two cars to pass each other. Every few miles I would encounter a roundabout, or traffic circle. They love their roundabouts in England. Other than a few curbs, I managed to not hit anyone or anything on the journey, a pleasant surprise. The Cotswolds region is a beautiful setting which brings you back hundreds of years to a time when roads were cobblestone, the pubs were old, churches dominated the center square of each town and horse drawn carriages were the only mode of transportation. Most of the buildings look like they did in the 1800s and the fields of sheep grazing make for a very serene landscape. Traveling from Burford to Lower Slaughter to Chipping Campden, I pictured Mason and Collette sneaking around these small villages during The Blitz in 1941. Taking lots of pictures and lots of notes, I was already starting to map out the story. I love when an area that I envision turns out to be beyond perfect for a story idea.

After a few days in The Cotswolds, I bid a fond farewell to the locals, the pubs and the sheep and headed back toward civilization. Before reaching London, my next stop was Cliveden House, a historic mansion, now a hotel, but once the country home of a very prominent British family. Wandering the grounds in the rain I tried to picture what it would have been like attending a party at this historic mansion during the war. These weekend parties were an escape for the rich and powerful and removed them from the food rationing and the dangers of nightly bombings in London. The lavish parties welcomed the elite in their formal attire for dinner and conversation. The atmosphere provided no shortage of viewpoints concerning Nazi Germany, both for and against the way the British command was waging war. Many attendees were not shy about sharing their views and they became known as the Cliveden Set, a group of British citizens with considerable influence, secretly meeting to discuss the future of England. The basis for the story of The Ruins grew from these gatherings, so to be able to visit the home where these gatherings took place was a powerful experience. Since it was a holiday weekend, the hotel was off limits to anyone not staying there, so I stuck to the grounds and could feel the ghosts of the past and hear their voices as I walked the back terrace overlooking the gardens. I think it is time for Mason and Collette to join the party.

Lastly, I spent a few days in London, to visit the Crown Jewels. The jewels are currently stored in a massive vault in the Tower of London under twenty-four-hour Yeoman Warder guard behind a two-foot-thick steel door. Some of the jewels had been removed in order to prepare for King Charles’ Coronation, but the remaining valuables were incredibly impressive. I was pretty mesmerized by the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross featuring the world’s largest cut diamond, The Cullinan 1. These jewels were hidden during the war in various locations always under the threat of war and theft. The story of the Jewels during the war is pretty fascinating, I’m excited for Mason to share a bit of it in the Ruins.

So, the research trip was everything I needed it to be. The locations, the stories of these towns and the buildings, the characters throughout the history of The Cotswolds all make for a fascinating backdrop to The Ruins of Saint Vincent. Now, all I have left to do is connect the cities with the storylines, a process which has been a bit of a challenge as I find myself with little time to write, that pesky work thing always getting in the way of life. I am getting back to it and, as usual, I feel that once I dedicate time every day to the story, I can transport myself back in time and wander through 1941 England, watching Mason and Collette on their next adventure. The Ruins takes place during The Blitz and the basis of the story is a country trying to navigate their way through the seemingly insurmountable task of fending off Nazi Germany while dealing with enemies inside their own walls. As usual, Mason and Collette will do their part for the war effort joined by new friends and old. I am excited about taking everyone on this new adventure, we will try not to hit anything along the way. Cheers!!