Welcome to my entry in the Classic Romance Revival Blog Carnival. The theme is SETTINGS - SIMPLY SCENIC OR SPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT. I'm very excited to be part of this wonderful event.
If you've read my post on Monday at Classic Romance Revival, you'll know that the settings for both my novel Starquest, and the sequel Children Of The Mist were very important for both books. It was the same with my story in the Wild Rose Press's series 'Song Of The Muses'. For me, the setting is as important as the characters themselves. It's where the heroes and heroines live, breathe - and fall in love.
Although 'Dancing With Fate' begins (logically enough) in Ancient Greece, it swiftly moves on to 5th Century Wales. It's natural I suppose, that I should be so inspired by Wales, where I grew up and lived most of my life. Its mountains and lakes are beautiful and mysterious, and the country is full of its own myths and legends which add their own atmosphere to the landscape.
Much of the land is still wild and uspoiled and it was easy to picture it as it might have been sixteen hundred years ago. Why this time period? Well, I love the idea of living close to nature, without the hustle and bustle of modern living. There was another reason too - King Arthur was born around this time and some of the Arthurian legend is woven into my story. Many parts of Wales are named after him and his knights - for instance the name of the 3,000 ft mountain in Snowdonia, Cadair Idris is translated as The seat of Idris. or 'Arthur' As well as lakes and mountains, of course, Wales is full of spectacular waterfalls. A certain waterfall plays a very important part in 'Dancing With Fate'. The muses were, after all, water nymphs, and Terpsichore, the muse of dance, is no exception. In fact, she takes every opportunity to bathe in one, regardless of who might be watching!
Wales has inspired nearly everything I've written and for me, settings are vital not only to ignite the spark to write but to set the stage for my characters to act out their lives.
The festival is giving away prizes. I've contributed a PDF copy of ‘Dancing With Fate'. For all the other blogs in the carnival, and for more information about how to qualify for the prizes, see the
Thanks everyone - I hope you'll take part in the Carnival and enjoy visiting all the Blogs!
PLEASE NOTE:
This is a Classic Romance Revival GROUP event. You MUST have commented on EACH and EVERY blog in order to qualify for a prize.
Visit each of the blogs and leave your comment.
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OHHHHHH MY GOSH, THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF WALES! I still can't believe you didn't take me! :) Loved your blog today!
ReplyDeleteVal
lastnerve2000@gmail.com
Fascinating blog, Hywela, especially with the Arthur connections. Wales is such a compelling landscape and such a rich heritage I'm not surprised it inspires you.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your kind comments Val and Lindsay. So glad you enjoyed the post and the pics!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to go to Wales. What a fascinating place! The photos you posted are gorgeous. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jacqui, so glad you enjoyed the post and the pictures.
ReplyDeleteYou come from a very beautiful part of the world. It must be great inspiration for your writing.
ReplyDeleteMaggi
We must be kindred spirits. One of my novels DAUGHTERS oF THE MOOON was set in ancient Greece, and my current two books - CYNTHIA AND CONSTANTINE and BRAEDEN AND
ReplyDeleteJANE both have the Aurthia legend woven into their plots.
I have also been to Iceland on research becasue my next urban fantasy has one of my Protectors based there. It is a beautiful and mysterious country.
Landscapes are indeed inpsiring
Hi Maggi thanks so much for visiting and your kind words, There are some beautiful places in the world - but for me, the landscape of Wales is amazing.
ReplyDeleteKathye - yes, we do seem to share a love of weaving myths and legends into our stories don't we. I wish I could visit Iceland, unfortunately most of my research has to be done on the net. One day ...!
This picture reminds me very much of the hills of Donegal where my father is from and a place I have visited many tims.. I have only been to Wales breifly getting of the ferry on my through to Scotland. It was the long way to travel, but I had to take the shortest ferry crossing.. I love King Arthur he is one of my fav heros. I will look forward to reading your books.
ReplyDeleteI love when I see a picture that touches me. I had no idea Wales was so beautiful. Now I get it.What historically made people gravitate there. Amazing scenery, like the lower part of heaven.
ReplyDeleteSomeday when I win the lottery, I'm gonna visit places like this, that just take your breath away. And I'll stop by on my way to say hi to you too.
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting, Kathleen and Mary.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think Wales is a bit like Ireland, Kathleen. The Arhturian legends are wonderful aren't they! Actually King Arthur isn't yet born in my story, but Merlin plays a big part. (Legend says he was born in Carmarthen and I saw what was left of 'Merlin's Oak, before the Council removed it as being potentially dangerous!)
Mary, I'm so glad you liked the pictures, yes, Wales is very beautiful, although I know I'm biased.I'll post some pictures here, in a week or so, of my sister's place when I visited recently. Of course the more industrial areas of South Wales are like most developed towns and cities, but rural west and North Wales are truly beautiful, wild and untamed.
I love it when I'm entertained AND educated at the same time. Great post! Love the pics. Looking forward to a wonderful read.
ReplyDeleteThe last few blogs I have read from you have really made me hunger to learn more about Wales. It is through my paternal line-the land of my ancestors. Writing, even in fiction, can be such a great teacher. I look forward to picking up one of your books.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan and Danielle - thank you both so much for your kind comments and I'm glad you liked the pictures and the post. The next book I'm going to work on is a futuristic, but I also have another 'muse' story on the 'back burner' and that will be set in modern rural Wales. Interesting about your connections with Wales, Danielle. Of course, many of the early settlers in the US were Welsh, Scots and Irish - we're all Celts at heart!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos! It is easy seeing those photos why you can set your stories in olden times. The area looks so untouched and seems much like it would have been at King Arthur's time.
ReplyDeleteHi 'She' Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
ReplyDeleteYes, much of Wales is still wild and unspoilt, especially the mountains, wonderful to just wander through with a horse or dog and let ones imagination run wild!
What beautiful pictures. Wales looks like a gorgeous place.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Linda - and thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteGREAT pictures Hywela! I didn't realize you grew up in Wales. Why does Wales seem to have almost a mystic sense to it? I've always loved King Arthur too. Great place to pattern settings! I imagine it is easier to create a setting based on a area you are familiar with than to create a totally fictional place. mesreads[at]gmail[dot]com
ReplyDeleteHi Martha E - yes, I spent most of my life in Wales and 'Hywela' is an ancient Welsh name. I really miss Wales and visit the family there whenever I can. I hope to be able to return there to live again eventually.
ReplyDeleteYes, the legends seem to radiate from the very hills and lakes, and
while creating a completely imaginary world can be fun, as you say, it's easier when you've actually lived there and know the sights and smells intimately.
Wow what gorgeous pictures!
ReplyDeleteWales is so beautiful, I would love to go to one the places in the pictures and just sit and soak up the essence.
Settings are a big part of a story, and with the right setting characters in a story can definitely bloom to their full potential.
Thanks Hywela and everyone else who posted on the Carnival blog,
It was great to meet all of the authors and their take on the importance of settings in books.
It Was A Blast!
~Afshan
Afshan522@aol.com
Hi Hywela from Australia, where we don't see so much greenery and water! How about you sometime combine the lovely Welsh countryside and the the beautiful starscapes in one story? That would be a winner.
ReplyDeleteI know, I know, I'm a writer too (Wild Rose Press as well) and we always have more ideas than we have time to write them down.
Happy writing!
I enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeleteThe photos you have to go with it are so breathtaking! Wales is such a beatiful land. I have had family members bring back photos from their travels there.
Nature and landscapes are always inspiring to me.
Pam S
pams00@aol.com
zHi Afdshan, thanks so much, I'm glad you've enjoyed the posts in teh 'Carnival.' Hi Monya, always great to hear from another Wild Rose Author. LOL, most of the landscapes on my 'imaginary' worlds in space are actually based on Wales, so we're both on the same track! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Pam. Yes, landsapes and nature are wonderfully inspiring!
Beautiful photographs! Scenery like that is definitely inspiring. Thanks for giving your insight into settings! It's always great to see what other authors have to say.
ReplyDeleteThanks EA, and thanks to everyone who's taken part in the 'Carnival'. The winners are up on the main Classic Romance Revival Blog.
ReplyDelete