Author's Inspiration – Samantha Wilcoxson #Plantagenet #Tudors @ Carpe_Librum

It is with the greatest of pleasures that I welcome Historical Fiction author, Samantha Wilcoxson, onto the blog today to talk about her inspirations behind her series of books set in the Plantagenet / Tudor era.

Faithful Traitor  

Margaret Pole is no stranger to fortune's wheel. From her childhood as firstborn of the heir apparent of England, she was brought low as the daughter of a traitor. After years of turmoil as the Tudor dynasty made its roots, Margaret finds favor with her cousin, King Henry VIII.

Will the remnant of the York dynasty thrive under this tempestuous king or will Margaret discover that there is a price to pay for having an excess of royal blood?

***

Author’s Inspiration

 

How I became inspired to write about Margaret Pole goes a bit further back than the writing of my last novel. My adventure into Plantagenet Embers began with Elizabeth of York. Hoping to illuminate the life of this much overshadowed Plantagenet princess, I set out to write her story.


Before I had completed Elizabeth’s story in which peace prevails after the Wars of the Roses, I knew that I would have to continue with her cousin Margaret’s journey. Though their fathers were brothers, these women lived much different lives, Elizabeth as Henry Tudor’s queen and Margaret as both victim and beneficiary of fortune’s wheel. Elizabeth had a quiet strength that enabled her to submit to Henry’s rule and partner with him for the good of their kingdom. Margaret, left alone with young children, was forced to carefully make a name for herself without appearing to be a threat to the Tudor king’s reign.

 

Elizabeth of York

 

Most people remember Margaret Pole’s name either for her grisly execution or that of her father. I wanted people to know that there was much more to this woman who raised sons with Plantagenet blood during the reign of the tempestuous Tudor king, Henry VIII. She was also more than a mother, claiming the title of Countess of Salisbury that had been last held by her grandfather, ‘Kingmaker’ Richard Neville. She steadfastly stood by her friends and her faith, even as the cost of that loyalty rose shockingly high.

Margaret Pole

Though her life did eventually end in tragedy, Margaret lived life to the fullest, serving as governess to Princess Mary and defending her faith in the Catholic Church when the king insisted that he was the Head of the Church of England rather than the Pope. Margaret was forced to constantly balance her faithfulness to her God and her king, but Henry VIII did not like to share. His temper increased with his age and health problems, leaving Margaret and her family vulnerable to his wrathful whim.

Margaret’s life is an inspiring blend of triumphs, heartache, and the strength of character that brought her through both. She deserves to be remembered as more than the daughter of a traitor or an old woman who was grievously murdered. As Countess of Salisbury, Margaret took on ambitious building projects and had her intricate coat of arms etched into the windows of her home. Advantageous marriages were arranged for each of her children, except for the one who went on to almost become Pope. (Cardinal Reginald Pole will also play an important part in my next book.) She counted Queen Katherine of Aragon as a close friend and served Princess Mary with the same love and dedication that she showed her own children.

I hope that each person who reads Faithful Traitor is touched by the plans made, battles fought, and moments enjoyed by this strong Plantagenet daughter. Even as her dynasty was turning to ashes, she made her own way in a Tudor world.
Margaret Pole lived from 1473 to 1541, an amazing and volatile era in England. The medieval world was passing away and the renaissance taking its place. The Plantagenet dynasty that Margaret was a member of had ruled for more than three centuries, but the short lived Tudor dynasty would work to overshadow it with scandal and drama that is crazier than fiction. Through all this, one woman, Margaret Pole, found and lost love, fortune, and life. It was a privilege to write her story.

Links for Purchase 

(UK customers grab your Kindle copy of the Plantagenet Princes Tudor Queen for only 0.99p ~ Bargain!)

 Plantagenet Princess Tudor Queen ~ Amazon

Faithful Traitor ~ Amazon

About the author

Samantha Wilcoxson is a writer, hopeless bibliophile, and history enthusiast. Living with her husband on a small lake in Michigan with three kids, two cats, and two dogs, she has plenty of writing inspiration.

The Plantagenet Embers series debuted with Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen: The Story of Elizabeth of York. It has been selected as an Editors' Choice by the Historical Novel Society and long-listed for the 2016 HNS Indie Award.

Faithful Traitor: The Story of Margaret Pole is the second novel in the trilogy, continuing the story of the Plantagenet remnant in Tudor times. The final installment in Plantagenet Embers, Queen of Martyrs, will feature Queen Mary I and is scheduled for release in 2017.

My blog – http://SamanthaWilcoxson.blogspot.com
 

Melrose Abbey and the Scottish Borders #Scotland

 
I have a bucket list of historical buildings that I want to visit ~ No jumping out of aeroplanes for me ~ I would much rather explore the remains of ancient castles, battlefields, and abbeys. During my trip to Scotland, I managed to cross off a fair few number of buildings on my list, but there was one in particular that I have wanted to go to for as long as I can remember.

Melrose Abbey

(St Mary's Abbey, Melrose)

Why Melrose Abbey? To be fair, I have no idea. I do have a bit of a thing for ruined Abbeys, always have. Maybe, in this case, it has something to do with Robert the Bruce ~ his heart is buried at Melrose. Or perhaps, it is because when asked to name an Abbey in Scotland, Melrose is the first one I think of. Whatever the reason, it was on my must see list.

We spent two nights in the Scottish Borders and boy did we pack a lot in. But I was determined that one of those days was going to be reserved for Melrose.

We woke up bright and early on the day we had planned to visit Melrose. The weather was fine, a little bit on the chilly side, but at least it wasn’t raining. We packed the kids in the car, put Melrose in the Sat-Nav and off we went. But the thing is with Scotland, you can't drive 100m up the road without a sign pointing to yet another historical site, and I am afraid, we did get rather distracted. But it was so worth it for views such as this...

Our first stop of the day turned out to be an unplanned visit to Hermitage Castle. Hermitage Castle has a rather sinister feel to it ~ it certainly has a rather gruesome history...there was that whole witchcraft incident in the 14th Century, which saw the Lord of Hermitage, William De Soulis, boiled in lead by the locals ( or so the legend goes).

  Hermitage Castle
(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia ~ My photos were a little blurry!)

Once we had explored Hermitage Castle we were back on the road heading for Melrose ~ but then we saw a sign to Jedburgh Abbey ~ so of course, we had to visit that as well.

 Jedburgh Abbey

And then while we were there we visited Mary Queen of Scots House ~ it would have been rude not to. When I say Mary’s House, it wasn’t actually hers. She just so happened to visit a sick friend there once.

So much for taking the day to explore Melrose!

We finally arrived in Melrose in the middle of the afternoon. Melrose is a small town but the amount of traffic was staggering, and there didn’t seem to be an awful amount of parking, but as luck would have it, we finally managed to find a parking spot. For a moment I didn’t think we were going to.

Melrose Abbey was stunning. As soon as I entered the property I had a stupid grin on my face ~ I had finally made it here! My husband, bless him, knew how much I was looking forward to visiting Melrose, told me he would take care of the children while I took the audio tour. So while he and the kids went on a hunt for the bagpipe-playing Pig and other such notes of interest as pointed out by the children’s quiz, I took my time and explored the Abbey.  The audio tour brought the Abbey back to life for me, and I learnt a lot about the Cistercian monks and lay brothers that once lived there. I am sure this new knowledge will make its way into a book one day! 

We spent just over 3 hours at Melrose and I enjoyed every single minute of it. I could have spent longer there, but the road was calling us as our next stop over was in Ayr and that was a good three hours away.

#bookreview ~ The Severaine by K.J. Simmill #fantasy @SimmillKj

The Severaine

(The Forgotten Legacies Series Book 2)

By

K.J. Simmill

Sequel to the Award winning book, Darrienia.

Civilisations rise and fall leaving only dust and legend in their wake. Kingdoms were lost, and races forgotten. Across the countless span of time one threat rises, heralding the end of man’s rule, and laying to waste those who defiled its mistress. It is known as the Severaine, a power that in vengeance could bring even the Gods themselves to their knees. Each era overcame this peril so a new world could rise from the ashes of old. Lost within such wisdom could be the answers our heroes seek, a means to stop the threat before a new cycle is born.

But legends can lie and history can be mistaken.

There is another tale, a fable on the lips of few, it speaks of the means to force this power into submission, and there are those who would seek to bend this devastating might to their will.

Creatures rise, guardians wake, and sometimes even the meddling hands of man can turn divine plans awry. The prophesies of old were reforged by death and whisper now a chilling truth. If this path continues unobstructed there is only one conclusion. The end of man and god alike.

But there are some secrets that should never be uncovered and paths which mortals must fear to tread.

When revenge knows no boundaries there are some bonds even death cannot destroy.

***

Links to Purchase

Amazon US

Amazon UK

***

What did I think of the book?

I have read my fair share of fantasy books, but The Severaine is in a class of its own. With elegant prose and descriptive texts, Simmill has brought this dystopian world alive for her readers. The attention to detail is exquisite. It was so easy to visualize this world and as for the storyline, the word "epic," does not do this book justice. I haven't read such a fantastic fantasy since J. R. R. Tolkien  ~ The Lord Of The Rings.

With a cast of believable and likeable characters ~ who struggle with their own personal demons, and a world that is foreign yet strangely familiar, this is a compelling tale of good vs. evil. Each page turn brought new horrors, new struggles but above all else, it showed the strength and spirit of those who would fight for freedom and justice. I really took to the character of Daniel. He is a tortured soul who battles with grief and guilt, as well as a raging desire for revenge. I actually found myself crying while I read about him~ I could feel his pain.

I love how Simmill  has cleverly weaved the tales of the ancient Greek Gods, into this unforgettable story. A must read for any fans of mythological fiction.

This is the kind of book where you can snuggle down under a warm blanket, and allow yourself to get lost in the world Simmill has created. I did not want to put this book down, as each turn of the page brought new adventures, new adversaries, as well as a chance to learn more about these unforgettable protagonists.

The Severaine may be part of The Forgotten Series, but I guarantee, you will not forget this book in a hurry! I Highly Recommend.

***

About the author

K.J. Simmill is a British author with books released in both the fantasy and non-fiction genres. It is her intention to ensure each book she writes will donate a percentage of her royalties to a good cause.

She is a qualified Usui Reiki master, with certifications in various fields of holistic therapy. inclusive of aromatherapy, crystal healing, colour therapy, ethereal Reiki, Indian head massage, shaman power Reiki, sound therapy, and massage therapy. She has also spent many years researching various practices of magic and herbal medicine. She is also currently working towards a herbal practitioner qualification.

When she is not writing, she is an avid reader and a passionate gamer.

It is K.J's aim for each one of her titles to donate a percentage of the author royalties to a different charity. Herbal Lore is donating 15% to The St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) and Darrienia is donating 10% to the University Hospital of North Midlands (UHNM) charity directed towards the Neonatal intensive care unit.

"Bloody. Brutal. Bannockburn." An adventure not to be missed @BattleofBannock

  "O Flower of Scotland,

When will we see

Your like again,

That fought and died for,

Your wee bit Hill and Glen..."

There is one word that sums up The Scottish War Of Independence

 and that word is ...

 

Bannockburn

I asked my children, when we got home, what was their favourite historic site that they visited in Scotland. They all said the same thing,"Bannockburn." I shall tell you why in a minute.

It has been over 16 years since I last visited Bannockburn and I was looking forward to showing my children the statue of Robert The Bruce on his horse, but as we pulled up in the car park, I realised that 16 years was a long time. They had built a new visitor center and I couldn't wait to get inside!

When we bought our tickets, we were asked if we would like to go on the museum tour and of course, we said yes. She then produced some 3D glasses. "You'll need these." Interesting, I thought.

It was twenty minutes until the next tour, so we decided to head outside and go and see that famous monument.

The Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre isn't quiet on the battlefield, but is built in what was the Scottish Camp. There really isn't a better place for a monument for those Scottish hero's who fell. Bannockburn was the ultimate Scottish victory against King Edward II. They did, after all stand…

"...against him,

Proud Edward's Army,

And sent him homeward,

Tae think again."

The monument was beautiful and peaceful ~ peaceful, yes, I think that is the word I am looking for. It was a place to reflect and to remember all those who died that day.

We wondered back inside in time for the tour.

When I woke up in the morning, I wasn't expecting to find myself in the middle of The Battle of Bannockburn, with arrows whizzing over my head, horses charging right at me and people dying to my left and my right. I mean nobody expects that? Right? But this is what you get at Bannockburn. Bannockburn has invested in state of the art, 3D technology so you experience, safely, what the battle was like. Wow! It was amazing. A little gruesome, but not so scary that it is unsuitable for children. It was truly incredible. I have been to some of the best visitor centers in Britain, but this one...this is something else. Oh, my days! It was ~ I'm sorry, I am running out of adjectives to describe it! And that wasn't all....

The tour continued...we got to - in their own words

"Walk the battleground, guide your own army of medieval soldiers through the 3D simulation and visit the all important Bannockburn; a stretch of water that proved the turning point in the battle."

If you have ever played Rome Total War, it was the same principle, but on a bigger scale. How awesome is that?

The wonderful guide split us into teams, and we stood around this huge map of the terrain while he showed us how the battle of Bannockburn played out and then it was our turn. We were going to make the decisions. We were going to fight. We were going to watch the battle unfold on the map in front of us. My youngest, who is 6, was crowned King Robert of Scotland, and it was a role he took very seriously, although he seemed to be slightly more concerned with killing his brother who was an English knight than victory over the English army - talk about family loyalty! It went out the window.

There were a lot of nervous faces when the guide asked for instructions.

"Where do you want your knights? Speak up, I can't hear you."

"You want to put them against the schiltron? Did you wake up suicidal?"

and so it went on!

It wasn't the most predictable of battles, but it was certainly entertaining. The Black Douglas turned tail and ran back to Stirling ~ I'm not too sure what he would have made of that if he were still alive! But King Robert - my son - was much more decisive and he led his troops to victory over the English Queen ~ yes I did say Queen ~ it is pretend ~ Robert the Bruce wasn't really 6 when he fought the English at Bannockburn! The Scots were victorious although victory wasn’t actually decided at Bannockburn but Stirling. History was rewritten! The result was the same, and that is the main thing! I think…

 My youngest, ready for battle ~ although he couldn't see where he was going!!

Talk about bringing history to life.  You couldn't get any better than this.

When asked about Scotland this is the first thing my children want to talk about, followed secondly by something else that happened at Gretna Green ~ but that my friends, is for another day!

Author’s Inspiration ~ Corinda Pitts Marsh #histfic @CorindaMarsh

Please give a warm welcome to historical fiction author, Corinda Pitts Marsh. Corinda is going to share with us her inspiration behind her book…

Behind the Tupelo Tree

Two strong Southern women, one a slave and the other a slave owner, forge a family dynasty with the men they love. These women must brave turbulent times and decide right and wrong in a hostile world too often based on color and gender. They from an alliance that lasts for generations. Pivotal in the lives of these women, big Earl loves and protects them, risking his own life. Coming to them from the block in New Orleans with heavy iron chains on his ankles, Earl changes their lives forever. Later he does the same for a third woman from another world. His legacy carries him into the next century as his son stands behind the Tupelo tree watching helplessly as an innocent man is lynched. The intertwining of these lives tells the story Behind the Tupelo Tree. This edition includes the stories of  A Civil War and The Ghost of Blackwater Creek as well as the story of Yemaya, the mother of the Ghost. The stories take the reader from the Antebellum South through the Civil War and the troubled times of the early 20^th century.

***

Selma, Alabama, is the site of one of the most publicized Civil Rights demonstrations of the 1960’s. For some white Southerners, it represents a memory they wish to forget. For many black Southerners, it represents a time of horror that led to freedom, freedom to use restrooms formerly reserved for whites, freedom to drink from a water fountain in a city park, freedom to sit in any vacant seat on a bus or at a lunch counter when they are hungry. Selma, however, is rooted much deeper in history than many Americans realize. It was the first capital of Alabama, and it was the site of a critical and final battle in the American Civil War. Selma’s foundries made most of the Confederacy’s munitions and built some of the ships used in naval battles.

Selma was also the site of Castle Morgan, a prison housing captured Union soldiers between 1863 and 1865. Prisoners who survived its horrors of overcrowding and flooding were released at the end of the war and loaded onto the steamboat Sultana to return to their homes. Unfortunately, one of the boilers on the Sultana exploded, killing 1800 of the 2400 men aboard shortly before they reached Memphis, Tennessee.

I knew nothing about the Sultana or the Civil War battle at Selma, nor was I familiar with the horrors of Castle Morgan. These and so many other facts are Secrets of the South. They became my novel, Behind the Tupelo Tree, but they didn’t come to me on their own. The ideas came from Olafur Gunnarsson, my friend and mentor for the past twenty years. He is an Icelandic author, who reveres history. When I was struggling for inspiration, he said, “Look for a historical event that interests you and put yourself into a character totally different from yourself, preferably a male character of a different heritage, then write, write, and write.” Hands down, the best advice I ever received. From those words, the Secrets of the South stories were born. Inspiration is often as close as a good friend.

After that conversation, I researched Civil War battles. The closest one to my home occurred in Selma. When I began to dig, secrets crawled out of their crevices. The first capital of Alabama was eight miles outside Selma in a settlement called Cahawba. Fortunately, Cahawba is only a four-hour drive from my home, so my husband and I visited the Old Cahawba Archaeological Park (www.cahawba.com). We walked among the ruins and stood beside the fireplace in the prison enclosure.

Although the prison was known as Castle Morgan, it was anything but a castle. It was a 15,000 square foot cotton warehouse hastily converted in 1863 into a prison with 432 bed spaces. By March 1865, one month before the war ended, more than 3,000 men were incarcerated within its walls. That is five square feet for each man—less space than it takes for one man to lie down. In February 1865, the town experienced a devastating flood. It was bitterly cold, and the men were standing waist deep in muddy contaminated water, so prison officials allowed some of the men to leave the compound to search for logs or other objects they could stand on to get them out of the water. Miraculously, the death rate at Castle Morgan was only two percent, the lowest of any Civil War prison. This was mainly due to the kindness of one of the two men in charge of the prison, H. A. M. Henderson, a Methodist minister. Of course, one of the good guys in my novel winds up in this prison.

Research uncovered bits and pieces of history that kept me busy for the three years it took to write the novel. No Civil War novel would be complete without comments about Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy, and Robert E. Lee, its most famous general. Davis and some of his friends got into a bit of mischief at West Point Military Academy. During Christmas break, Davis and his buddies left campus to reconnoiter a stash of eggnog, a Southern Christmas drink containing varying amounts of alcohol. The young men proceeded to get thoroughly inebriated. Jefferson Davis was one of the revelers who got caught, and the self-righteous Robert E. Lee ratted on his comrades.

Davis was never one to shrink from a challenge. While serving in the U.S. Cavalry under the future president of the United States, Zachery Taylor, he fell in love with Taylor’s daughter. However, Taylor refused to allow Davis to marry his daughter, so Davis resigned from the Cavalry and married her anyway. The couple went to Louisiana on their honeymoon where both of them contracted malaria. Davis survived but the love of his life did not. They had been married only three months when she died. Davis went back to his farm in Mississippi where he remained in seclusion for several years. When he returned to the Cavalry, he served admirably causing Taylor to comment that apparently his daughter was a better judge of character than he.

Tupelo Tree carries two families, one of slaves and the other their owners, through the war and into post-war conflicts and adjustments. After the war, the story moves from Castle Morgan and Cahawba to Campbelton, Florida. The inspiration for this part of the story came from a random comment my husband made about a lynching that occurred sixty miles from our home in 1934. My husband’s employer had seen the lynching when he was a child. What I found out about that lynching was the most horrific thing I had ever read.

Claude Neal was lynched in Marianna, Florida, in 1934. He was accused of rape, but no significant evidence was ever found: he was dead before evidence could be investigated. The details of this lynching became a chapter in my story. These facts disgust some readers, but others see the reason for their inclusion. Only when we know our history do we have any chance to make our world better.

When I realized the impact my story was having on readers, I understood why I write. I used to tell my students I  had only two goals for each literature class: 1) The class should teach you how to live your life better, and 2) it should make you want to read more good literature. Now I try to do that through my books. Olafur Gunnarsson and my husband gave me the inspiration for my writing, but it is my readers who keep me writing. Inspiration is all around us. We only have to open our eyes and ears to see and hear inspiration for our stories.

 

Links for Purchase

Amazon

About the author

I am first a grandmother then a Southern writer, raised and steeped in the traditions of the deep South. I returned to college at the age of 44, a challenge which certainly changed my life. I fell in love with words and will never recover from that addiction. My favorite authors are Thomas Wolfe, Ernest Hemingway, Albert Camus, and Friedrich Nietzsche. I enjoy study of the paranormal and deep human emotions. Writing for me is a way of knowing. My doctorate is in 20^th Century American Literature, but my interests range far and wide. Taking the lead from T.S. Eliot, I steal from those who have come before. Plato and Milton as well as many others are often my literary playmates. I had an imaginary friend when I was four years old, so perhaps I never recovered. I once heard a professor say that for every book one writes, he or she must read 1000 others. This holds true for me. The writers we study become a part of who we are if we are paying attention, and I hope my antennas are tuned to the proper channels. When I’m not reading or writing, I enjoy growing orchids, watching birds, and cooking for my family.

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Our adventure at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum @RobertBurnsNTS

There is nothing worse than being on holiday when you hear those dreaded words coming from your children...

"Please Mum, not another castle..."

They will appreciate it one day I am sure!

Thankfully, they didn't moan ~ because I had cunningly prepared them and made the whole idea sound like an adventure. I had pretty much covered the Scottish War of Independence with them before we went, so they knew who everyone was and why we were going to these places. I did a little bit about the Jacobite rising as well, so that I had as many bases covered as I could. I also quickly added a dash of Robert Burns into the equation. We listened to a collection of his great works, including "Address to the Haggis."

My youngest watched this YouTube video with great interest. Afterwards, he said..."I couldn't understand a word he said, but if that is what they eat in Scotland then I am not going!"

 Address tae the haggis

Needless to say, I assured him that there would be no haggis on the menu, unless he wanted to try it, and I "translated" the poem, to which he shook his head and said... "Why? Why would you write a poem about a haggis? He must have been really, really, hungry, because I would have to be really, really, hungry to eat that!"

Anyway, to cut a long story short, we found ourselves in Burns Country and my children were looking forward to it. I guess I may get a little bit over-excited about such things, and it must rub off on the younger ones, but my teen was, despite a little bit of eye rolling, looking forward to it as well!

 Robert Burns by Alexanfer Nasmuth

Firstly, we stopped off at The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum ~ talk about child-friendly. There was so much for them to do, my boys had a wonderful time, and even my teen found it interesting. Burn's life was set out in a fascinatingly refreshing way, and I learnt a lot myself ~ what a character he was! I had no idea.

We then went on to the house in which he was born ~ it is a few minutes walk away from the museum. This tiny three-bedroom house was not only home to the family, but to their animals as well. My children didn't take to that idea to kindly, no one wanted to share their home with a cow ~ I can’t say I blame them on that one!!

The property is owned by TheNational Trust for Scotland, and as we are member's of The National Trust, it meant we got in for free...Bonus!

They have a lovely cafe at the Burn's Museum and beautiful gardens. It is well worth a visit, especially if you have children, they definitely will not be bored. I Highly Recommend you check it out sometime.

Scottish History…it’s a little bit complicated #Scotland #history

It has been a little bit quiet around here in the last week and no, I didn't run out of things to say - as if that would ever happen - I was in fact on vacation. I know, what a terrible excuse. A writer is always writing...right? I was certainly inspired. But that's Scotland for you...she does that.

This is my third time visiting Scotland, and it won't be the last. Scotland has this terrible habit of getting under your skin. I have spoken to folk who have never even been there - but have this unexplainable longing in their heart to go home. To go home to a place that they have never been. To a place that only their heart seems to know. Strange...isn't it? Or maybe it isn't, perhaps there is some scientifically rational explanation to this indisputable tug towards a particular place. Or let's be romantic and say it is our ancestors calling us home.

"A Scot is a Scot even unto a hundred generations."

 Melrose Abbey ~ On the Scottish Borders

Even if it is just my fanciful imagination, I like to think that Scotland is, shall we say, in the blood. My ancestors certainly came from there. They were an integral part of Scottish History, just as my ancestors were to English History. But as I stood at the monument at Bannockburn, I felt an almost overwhelming sense of the past got through me. Voices, shadows, hopes, fears, kind eyes, cruel ones, exhaustion and relief - no joy, just relief that it was over. A writer's paradise if you like. I can close my eyes and hear the music, and I am not the only one. The past is alive, if only you will take the time to listen, Scotland will tell you her story.

 The Robert the Bruce Monument, Bannockburn ~ Stirling

 

Today, our obsession with Scotland can be blamed on films like Braveheart or the majestic story telling of Diana Gabaldon, Outlander series. Scotland is in vogue, so to speak. And although the Scots call Braveheart "that comedy," it has romanticised their country for them. Everyone knows who William Wallace is - thanks to Braveheart. I had certainly not heard of him, until then.

 The Wallace Monument ~ Stirling

I was taking a guided tour at Hopetoun House in Edinburgh. Hopetoun House was used on location for Outlander. The tour guide said that since Outlander, they have a least one visit per day from tourists who come to the house because of the Outlander connection. He said they have a lot to thank Outlander for, and then he laughed and said, "of course, it wasn't really like that. Outlander only tells the one side of events. It wasn't the Jacobite's ( Scotland) against the might of the English Army. It was a little more complicated than that.

 Hopetoun House ~ Edinburgh

And that is Scottish history for you...it is a little bit complicated.

I am going to look at some of the places I visited in future posts. But for now, I'll just leave you with this...

On the way to Hermitage Castle ~ the Scottish Borders