Please welcome today's guest blogger, Sandra Leesmith, to The Roses of Prose.
One thing about the month of August is it is a great month to travel on vacation. Traveling is a wonderful opportunity to do research for writing that next novel swirling around in my head.
One thing about the month of August is it is a great month to travel on vacation. Traveling is a wonderful opportunity to do research for writing that next novel swirling around in my head.
In fact it was during a trip in Monument Valley, Arizona
that I began writing novels. That summer, my university professor at Arizona
State University assigned us to write a novel.
We were training for a program designed to improve student-writing
skills and as teachers were told if we were going to teach writing—we better
know writing. When we asked what we should write about the professor said,
“Write what you know.”
So here I was in “color country” surrounded by Native
American culture, history and ruins. It was a great opportunity to research my
first novel. Writing that romantic suspense novel was so much fun, I proceeded
to write several more and eventually became published. DREAM SONG was my first book written, but my third published. (I had to do a lot of revising-chuckle) In
fact I plan to republish that book since I have the rights back from Warner
Publishers, but I have more revisions to make.
Writing styles have changed a lot
Other books I’ve written involved research while traveling
as well. My husband and I won a trip to
New Orleans and while there we took a ten-day cruise up the Mississippi on a
river steamboat. Being a writer, I just had to interview the crew. And that is how I came up with the
information for CURRENT OF LOVE.
Readers tell me that they felt like they had been on the cruise after reading
this light and sweet romance.
Every August in the early eighties, the Coors Classic
bicycle race would pass by my mother’s house at Lake Tahoe. Watching the racers
pedal past stirred my storytelling juices and PRICE OF VICTORY evolved. My
husband joined a bicycle club that raced so I could get in on all the
pre-racing action. I met several women cyclists who helped me authenticate the
facts in this fun and sweet romance.
My next traveling adventure will happen this October. I know
it won’t include a hot August night, but Southern Spain can be like warm in
October. I am going specifically to research the latest novel swirling
around. My characters are from Spain and
are insisting I go there and see what their childhoods were like. Can’t refuse an offer like that.
So let me know what August vacations have inspired you to do
and your name will be put in for a drawing to Amazon. I also write children’s books using my
maiden name Sandy Wardman. You can choose one of those instead. Find the titles
on www.childrensbooksbysandy.com.
Bio: Sandra Leesmith writes romance designed
to warm the heart and make you smile. She has published with Harlequin, Warner,
Avalon and currently with Montlake Romance of Amazon Publishing. Sandra loves
to hike, read, bicycle and write. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two
dogs, a Labrador retriever and a toy poodle. During the hot summers she
and her husband travel throughout the United States in their motorhome where
she enjoys
14 comments:
Sounds like some terrific settings! I have to admit I set most of my books in California because I live here and know it well. If you're back in Tahoe, contact me. It's always nice to meet a fellow author!
What a great opportunity to travel as you write. We just purchased a big travel trailer and I plan to do just that. Thanks for blazing a trail.
Seeing so much of the world is why I love to travel. Thanks for sharing.
HI Janine, Oh I would love to meet up with you. I have a manuscript set in Tahoe. Maybe we can get together.
I think California has some great settings and history.
Hi Margo, You will love traveling and writing in your RV. My hubby points the window toward the lake or the beach or the mountain meadow and says "Okay honey, here is your lakeside office" or "here is your beach office" or hear is your mountain office." He is so supportive. I think he likes me writing so I don't write him a honey do list. chuckle
Hi Barbara, Traveling is fun. Most of my travels are North America in Canada, US and Mexico. I have traveled Central and South America also. Spain will be my first venture into Europe.
Where do you travel?
One thing about traveling, you are at the mercy of whatever Internet service is around. Sorry I was gone for a bit. Had Internet difficulties. sigh.
Anyone ever done Internet while traveling in Europe? I'm looking for advice. One friends said she uses her phone. I bought a Kindle Fire for that purpose, but am having doubts as it isn't that easy to use.
What do you folks use?
Hi Sandra,
We've cruised the Caribbean and up to Canada on the ST Lawrence. Mostly we RV the US. We've been to the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone and plan to drive to Alaska next Spring.
Hi Barbara, Are you going to Alaska in your RV? We did that twice. Gorgeous drive but the roads are ....what can I say..... interesting.
don't let that deter you though. You'll absolutely love the trip.
Thanks for inviting me to join you today. I hope you all find ways to stay cool on these hot August nights. smile
How fun to find story inspiration during your travels, Sandra! I especially enjoyed Cruising for Love--almost like being on a real river cruise! Hoping I get the chance to experience one someday.
LOVE your books, Sandra -- have read every single one, even the kid's books!!
Cannot WAIT for Dream Song!!
Hugs,
Julie
Sandra, I think it's really cool how your travels have given you stories to write! I think you'll have a wonderful time in Spain!
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