Have you ever read a book that made you want to jump on a plane and head straight for the location? I definitely have. I’ve also traveled around the world and visited places I never wanted to leave. In my latest novel, Rarer Than Rubies, I had the pleasure to revisit one of my favorite places, Thailand, in my writing, and hopefully I’ve included enough details about the sights, sounds, scents and excitement of the country to make you love it without a visit. I wrote about some of the great food I ate there—particularly some delicious street food: duck with ginger and anise, and I was craving it long after I finished writing that scene. But if I’ve done my job well, you’ll be ready to grab your passport or at least head for the nearest Thai restaurant.
Where would you like to visit based on a book you’ve read? How did the author make the place come alive for you?
I’ll share one of mine: when I was a kid I loved horses. Probably this sounds familiar to some of you, right? I read every horse-related book I could, including all of Marguerite Henry’s books. One of them was The Wildest Horse Race in the World about the Palio in Siena, Italy. The race has been going on for hundreds of years and it pits different neighborhoods against each other, so much so that married couples from different parts of town split up for the week of the race! It took a long time, but I eventually made it to Italy to watch the Palio. In fact, it’s featured in one of the books I’m working on right now. If you visit my website or personal blog you can keep up with details on when that will be released.
That dream vacation was based on a novel, but I’ve read some great travel writing. I spent a year traveling around Europe and Asia on my own and I read plenty of books to prepare. One of my favorite authors is Paul Theroux. If you want to take an adventure without leaving the house, be sure to check out The Great Railway Bazaar. I read it before I visited many of the places in the book and re-read it after riding on a hundred different trains throughout Europe and Asia. Theroux travels by rail from London to Tokyo as long as there was a train. If not, he flew, but he rode a hell of lot of trains and talked to everyone along the way. His observations about food, culture, plumbing, scenery, and those of his travel companions are priceless. I absolutely love train travel, and wish we had better trains here in the US. It brings you back to a different age and time when getting there was part of the excitement and lure of travel, and when people weren’t in such a damn hurry. Now we rush here and rush there and have lost the joy of getting from place to place and the people we meet along the way.
Have you made it to one of the places you’ve longed to visit? Tell us all about it!
–EM Lynley
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EM Lynley works in finance, though she’d rather be writing hot, sexy man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.http://www.emlynley.com | http://emlynley.livejournal.com | http://facebook.com/emlynley
Heidi Cullinan
Evaine
Marie Sexton
Shawny
Another good choice for travel writing is Bill Bryson. His “In a Sunburned Country” was a fascinating look at Australia, and he has the ability to make a car tour around the Midwest as fascinating and entertaining as more exotic places.
One of these days I’m going to set a story in Spain; I’ve been there once and would love to return when I have more than three days to spend there!!
I’ve always been an avid traveller. I just need to go go go and I’m not going back twice, usually.
I’m not sure a specific book triggered something. Maybe some of Ally Blue’s books set in Asheville. I did go there two years ago and totally fell in love with it. Would I have driven that far south if not for the books? Maybe not. Was it worth it? Definitely.
Perhaps you could count Greece as well. I studied Greek art and archeology for a few years, loved Greek myths and Homer and Greek plays. And about 14 years ago I went to Athens and it was great. I’d love to go back to some islands, Troy, Mycennae, yeah. *gazes off wistfully into space*
Hi Rowan! I’ll check out Bill Bryson. I visited Australia but just Sydney and the countryside nearby. So did that make you want to go to Australia and did you get there?
But I love Spain, too. I do hope you set a book there! I spent two weeks there after I finished grad school and it was fantastic. We had a car for part of the time and drove around the south and central area, then ditched the car when we got to Madrid and took the train to Barcelona. I think Sevilla was my favorite city even though it was about 100F when we were there. But Toledo and Barcelona are way up there too. Now I want to go back!
Hi Tam!
Oh, that is great that Ally’s books encouraged you to visit Asheville. I can certainly understand the urge to see something you read about! And I’m so glad it was worth it. I haven’t spent much time in the south but I know I’d love to visit Savannah after reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I think I need to plan a trip there soon!
How about Hawaii after reading LA Witt’s Getting off the ground/infinity pools. Of course, I wanted to go to Hawaii even before that, but her writing was so evocative I felt like I was really there. And her descriptions of the some of the off the beaten path places made me want to find those remote beaches and trails.
Hi jayhjay! Thanks for reading and commenting! Sign me up for Hawaii, too. Now I’ve got to check that book out! I set part of a novel (Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells) in Hawaii, based on research, but I’ve never been and damn did that research make me want to go even more. Next time I get the urge I’ll pick up LA WItt’s book!
It is actually two books and they were great. My favorite so far of hers. getting off the ground is a novella that sets up the relationship and takes place as the men meet when they are stuck in the airport on the way to Hawaii and then Infinity pools is the second part set in Hawaii when they get there. You can probably read that as a standalone but I think you’d miss a lot of the build up of their relationship and where they are in their lives. But they are so good it is worth getting both!