41 Comments
Leave a Comment
Share:
Please welcome Jaunty Guest Helen Brenna, whose book, The Moon that Night has been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best
Superromance of 2010. Congratulations, Helen!
* * * * * * * * * *
Ever since taking my first trip on an airplane when I was thirteen, I’ve loved to travel. My husband and I did some traveling before kids, but once the little ones came along even going out to dinner seemed complicated. Heading out on an airplane always seemed to me a monumental task.
The kids, though, have grown up, making travel easier. Unfortunately, the cost of airfare, hotel, restaurants, not to mention dog sitters all add up, so I still can’t afford to make it far from home very often. So what’s a girl to do? Travel in her mind, of course. At least, that’s what I do when I write.
I don’t just pull a country out of a hat. The location I choose for a book is usually tied in somehow to the plot, but I have to admit that my own desire to visit a country may play a role in the ultimate decision on setting.
My first book for Harlequin Superromance was a treasure hunt for a 400 year old sunken Spanish galleon in The Bahamas. My second, the search for a lost Inca city in the Peruvian rainforest. The third, a revenge plot set in Greece. And my November release, THE MOON THAT NIGHT, is a race against the clock to steal several ancient statues. Kate and Riley travel from Rome to Athens to Moscow and, finally, Istanbul.
I haven’t been to any of those countries, but I certainly enjoyed the research. I pour over travel guides and Internet sites for information on food, architecture, geography, flora and fauna, language, history, fashion, home life, and even the economy. Interviewing people who have either lived in my setting or have traveled there always gets me excited.
I used to worry that all this travel in my head to a location might take away my desire to visit a place in reality. But not so! It might take me a long while, but some day, I swear, I’m going to every country I’ve ever used for the setting in a book!
Do you like to travel? Have a favorite vacation destination? What’s one place in the world you’ve never been, but would like to visit?
To celebrate the release this week of THE MOON THAT NIGHT I’m giving away three copies of its prequel, FINDING MR RIGHT.
A BIG thank you to Margo and all the Jaunty ladies for having me here today!
Helen HelenBrenna.com
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Nov 10th
2010
6:24 am
Fran Said:
Hi! I think that travelling through books is a great way to “experience” a lot of different things. I love to travel but I don’t get the chance often. One of my fondest travel memories is about Prague (CZ). I would really like to visit Ireland
Maybe I’ll buy a book that takes place there…
-
Nov 10th
2010
8:22 am
Laurie G Said:
I’d love to visit two countries: Scotland’s Highlands and Greece and it’s many islands.
As for travel I’ve enjoyed several trips out West camping at Olympic, Glacier, Yellowstone, and Rocky Mt National Parks. I still want to go to Yosemite.
We travel down to Florida every winter. I’d like to head East to Boston and hit Maine, Vermont, upstate New York and New Hampshire. I’ve heard that the color is breathtaking every fall.
-
Nov 10th
2010
9:46 am
Stacey Joy Netzel Said:
I have a book set in Italy, but I was lucky enough to spend 10 days there. With my brother and sister, who drove off and left me standing on the side of Lake Como. Took them 10min to realize I wasn’t in the car and another 20 min to figure out how to get back to me. Yeah, it’s in the book. LOL
Congrats on book 10, Helen! Here’s to MANY more!
-
Nov 10th
2010
9:47 am
Kirsten Said:
I never travel due to health issues but I LOVE “traveling” trough books. Reading about many different places is a lot of fun. There is no jetlag or waiting in line for hours, I just sit on my comfy chair and dream away. If I could go somewhere it would be Scotland to visit gorgeous castles or Florence, Italy. Such a romantic city.
-
Nov 10th
2010
9:55 am
helenbrenna Said:
First off, thanks again to Margo and all the Jaunty chicks for having me here today!
Fran, I’ve heard Prague is beautiful. Would love to see it, and I’m going to have to come up with a reason to write a book in Ireland. I’m Irish and have long wanted to visit the country.
Oh, and there it is in the sidebar – THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF IRISH ROMANCE! lol
-
Nov 10th
2010
9:56 am
helenbrenna Said:
Laurie, Scotland’s another country on my list. I’ve been to Yellowstone and Yosemite, but it’s been a long while. Yosemite was breathtaking – you must go!
-
Nov 10th
2010
9:59 am
helenbrenna Said:
Hi Stacy! Fun to see you here. I have to believe getting left behind at Lake Como would’ve been soooo worth it if George Clooney had happened on by! Right? lol
-
Nov 10th
2010
10:01 am
helenbrenna Said:
Kirsten, you’re right, traveling is physically demanding. A lot of standing, lugging suitcases around. Books are much more convenient. But Italy’s on my list, too. I have a feeling one could make several trips there and still not have seen everything.
-
Nov 10th
2010
10:25 am
CrystalGB Said:
Hi Helen. I love books. I am not much of a traveler. I have a hard time sleeping away from home. But, my dream is to go to Australia someday.
-
Nov 10th
2010
10:32 am
greenduckie13 Said:
I don’t travel. I’ve always wanted to visit Australia to see the opera house and the outback.
-
Nov 10th
2010
10:37 am
Carol Jo Said:
Hi Helen,
While I’ve been lucky enough to visit many countries and even to live in England for a year many moons ago, the one place I’ve always wanted to visit is Japan. However, due to health issues, I rather doubt I’ll get there now. But I agree that travel through books is fantastic. In fact, that is what first gave me the “travel bug” when I was young. Congratulations on the new book.
-
Nov 10th
2010
10:39 am
Amy Hahn Said:
My perfect travel always includes some lazy beach time.
I haven’t been anywhere too exotic, but I do dream of taking my kids snorkeling in Maui.
-
Nov 10th
2010
10:48 am
Kathleen Eagle Said:
Hi, Helen, fellow traveler on Riding With The Top Down. I love to travel! Grew up on the road as an Air Force brat, and I’m convinced that traveling is an important part of a person’s education. I wish it were more affordable and less hassle-ful these days.
So many places I’d love to visit or re-visit. I’ve always wanted to see Greece, Egypt and Israel. Love history, and I’m fascinated by ancient history. I would love to go back to Italy. Rome and Florence were amazing experiences for me. Amazing.
I’m headed for Borders with the grandkids this weekend–Build-a-Bear Workshop day–and THE MOON THAT NIGHT is at the top of my shopping list.
-
Nov 10th
2010
10:49 am
eap Said:
I’d like to see Italy
-
Nov 10th
2010
11:01 am
Serenissima Said:
I love to travel! But so far I have traveled in one continent only: Europe. I try to go to Greece once a year, the Greek Islands are fantastic. If I have enough money to second trip, I usually have a “city-holiday” in some European city. Especially I have liked Barcelona, London, Rome and Paris.
I would love to visit US, Egypt and Japan some day.
-
Nov 10th
2010
11:30 am
Shana Said:
Thanks so much for blogging with us today! Lately I’ve been longing to see Paris again…
-
Nov 10th
2010
11:38 am
Nancy Evertz W/A Nan Dixon Said:
Congratulations on the next book Helen! Right now I’m reading Missy story – lovin’ it.
My parents traveled all over the world – and I’ve done quite a bit of traveling – but there are some places on my bucket list. Alaskan cruise – & taking all the kids to England and Ireland. Unfortunately – the more I delay that trip – the more sons-in-laws I seem to acquire.
Congratulations on the new book! (I just bought the new one online for my Nook – but decided to read Missy’s story first.)
-
Nov 10th
2010
11:56 am
Sarah Marshall Said:
I love to travel, but with two little boys our out of country travel is limited to Mexico and Canada. I still get my fix through reading, and can’t wait to get to this book.
-
Nov 10th
2010
12:22 pm
Kristan Higgins Said:
Helen! So nice to see you here! I LOVE your settings…a vacation of the mind, if not the body. I think Venice is first on my list. A friend of mine has a house in Tuscany, and boy, the pictures are incredible. So Italy first. Then Provence, since Nancy Robards Thompson made me yearn to go there. Good luck with the new book! I love the title and can’t wait to read it.
-
Nov 10th
2010
12:34 pm
Maryanne Said:
We’ve been fortunate to have been able to take the kids to Disney world, Mackinac Island and Niagra Falls (hauling the pop up camper behind us), but I’d love to visit Italy someday.
-
Nov 10th
2010
12:37 pm
helenbrenna Said:
Hi Crystal and greenduckie – Oh, I’d love to see Australia, too, but I’m not sure i could deal with what I’m sure feels like an interminably long flight! From MN it would take me something like 20 hours. Course once I was there, I’d have to stay for a really long time and see New Zealand, too! lol
-
Nov 10th
2010
12:39 pm
helenbrenna Said:
Hi Carol Jo! I’m jealous. Living in another country would’ve been amazing. Not likely to ever happen now. Can’t imagine leaving my kids for that long. Don’t have much of an interest in seeing Tokyo, but I’d love to see rural Japan.
-
Nov 10th
2010
12:40 pm
helenbrenna Said:
Amy, you sound like my dh – always have to have a beach! Have never been to Maui, but we’ve snorkeled at Oahu – AMAZING. The kids loved it.
-
Nov 10th
2010
12:43 pm
helenbrenna Said:
Kathy, I think that’s great that you still love to travel. I know a couple military brats that got sick of moving around all the time and don’t like going anywhere now as adults. Hope you like TMTN and have fun with the kids this weekend!
Hi eap and thanks for stopping by!
-
Nov 10th
2010
12:46 pm
helenbrenna Said:
Hi Serenissima! I think if I could pick only one continent for travel it would be Europe. And Barcelona! Yes, there’s another place I’d love to see.
Hi Shana – my daughter is going to Paris over our Thanksgiving holiday and this is her first time to Europe. I’m so, so excited for her!
-
Nov 10th
2010
12:51 pm
helenbrenna Said:
Hi Nancy – glad you’re liking Along Came a Husband – Missy was fun to write. Have you read the other Mirabelle stories, too? Alaska – my best friend from hs lives there, so I’ve been 3 times. That place is so beautiful. Never done the cruise, though. Those big ships scare me!
As for acquiring sons-in-laws … that’s what you get for having so many kids! lol
Hi Sarah – kids do tend to limit travel, but they won’t be little for forever! Hope you like TMTN!
-
Nov 10th
2010
12:53 pm
helenbrenna Said:
Hi Kristan! No fair. I would so love to have a friend who owned a house in Tuscany.
Seems like Italy has been the country mentioned most this morning. Interesting!
-
Nov 10th
2010
12:56 pm
helenbrenna Said:
Hi Maryanne! Mackinac Island – yes, love the place. We went there once and my daughter said the first day there is still one of the best vacation days of her life.
That island was actually part of the inspiration for my Mirabelle Island series – the 4th book, Along Came a Husband, just came out this last June. I’m currently writing 5, 6 and 7. Fun!
-
Nov 10th
2010
1:51 pm
Kathryn in Montreal Said:
Yosemite is gorgeous… anyone who appreciates nature in all her glory should definitely make a trip there. I’d love to visit Australia, Ireland and Greece. One of these days I’ll get there!
-
Nov 10th
2010
1:58 pm
catslady Said:
A similar story – my husband and I married young but waited to have children so we had 15 years to travel as much as our jobs would permit and then with the kids it was just a few close trips. And things are very expensive now. We took one cruise which was one of my favorites. There are so many places I would still like to see (Scotland, Sicily, Japan, Australia, etc. etc. etc. lol). And I very much depend on you wonderful authors to take me where I can’t go.
-
Nov 10th
2010
2:00 pm
Stacey Joy Netzel Said:
George Clooney would’ve been a dream!
-
Nov 10th
2010
2:51 pm
helenbrenna Said:
Kathryn, Montreal is a gorgeous city!
Catslady – Sicily is one place that I don’t think had been mentioned yet. Would love to see it, and there’s another island I read about that sounds fabulous – Salina, I think.
Next time, Stacey! lol
-
Nov 10th
2010
4:17 pm
Linda Henderson Said:
I’ve always wanted to visit Australia. I know it’s never going to happen,but I do travel there through books.
-
Nov 10th
2010
4:21 pm
Minna Said:
Do you like to travel? Yes!
Have a favorite vacation destination? Helsinki in Finland and Vancouver in Canada.
What’s one place in the world you’ve never been, but would like to visit? Hawaii, Italy, Australia…
-
Nov 10th
2010
4:41 pm
Margo Maguire Said:
I think Italy is next on my list – but I’ll combine it with a visit to Paris and London, and maybe Edinburgh. LOVE Edinburgh!
-
Nov 10th
2010
5:14 pm
helenbrenna Said:
Linda, I hear you about Australia – so far away!
Minna, Vancouver is another place I really want to see.
And a couple more for Italy to the tally!
-
Nov 10th
2010
7:23 pm
Rainy Said:
Been to Ireland and Scotland, both were spectacular. When we arrived in Ireland, although we had never been there before, we had the eerie (maybe that should be “eire”) feeling of coming home. Maybe it’s because my husband and I are both Irish and it awoke something inside us. Who knows?
I’m half Italian, too and would love to visit Italy. I think I could lose myself in some good vino and mounds of pasta.
-
Nov 10th
2010
8:31 pm
chey Said:
I like going to Scotland. I’d like to go to Hawaii.
-
Nov 10th
2010
8:40 pm
Emily McKay Said:
Oh, I love to travel! I’ve been to Greece, which is just a fabulous country. We went years ago when a Greek friend of ours was getting married in Athens. So much fun!
But I’ve loved every country I’ve ever visited, but I think Costa Rica is my all time favorite.
-
Nov 11th
2010
8:25 am
helenbrenna Said:
Rainy, Ireland would likely feel like coming home to me, too. Pasta and vino? Yes!
Hi Chey, and thanks for stopping!
Emily, heading to Greece for a friend’s wedding sounds like so much fun. Everyone I know who’s gone to Costa Rica has love it. Must put it on my ever growing list.
-
Nov 11th
2010
8:26 am
helenbrenna Said:
Thanks, everyone, for having me and for celebrating my new release with me!
-