Rain is Good: A Photo Tour

I promised readers that at the end of the blog tour for Kisses in the Rain I would post a photo tour of some of the settings in the story. I love the Pacific Northwest. I know it rains a lot, but look at what rain does? And really, that's what the story offers:
Rain is good.

We'll begin our tour at Deception Pass. This image doesn't quite capture the height you feel as you walk on that bridge. Isn't it gorgeous, though?

This is Jace's view from his duplex. Pretty sweet. It's about the only thing he loves about his living arrangements.

Camano Island waterfront homes like Faye and Tru's. No wonder Georgie comes here to heal.

Pines, ferns, blackberry bushes on a Camano Island road. I can totally picture Jace on his motorcycle.

As we leave Camano we are greeted by snow geese on the fields. Thousands migrate through Skagit Valley every year.

Jace and Georgie visit the daffodil fields in the morning mist on their quest for good food.

Swinomish Channel-front dining in La Conner, Washington, and Rainbow Bridge, where Jace answers another one of Georgie's many questions.

Sunset over La Conner with Mt. Baker backdrop. Romantic.

Finally, we end our tour with the damp, ethereal tulip fields of Skagit Valley. *sigh*

I was told that a presenter at a recent writers conference was teaching that putting romance in a rainy setting was ridiculous, because it's cold and shivery and wet. But I would offer that if you can take such a setting and make it buzz, make it tense or breathless, despite the cold and wet, then you've done your job. 

Dave Farland teaches that you choose your setting, any setting, and make it sexy.

Look at this. I didn't have to try too hard. 

And I loved writing this story for you. Every raindrop.

I hope you've enjoyed our photo tour of Kisses in the Rain. Kind of makes you want to visit, huh? 

Thank you so much for coming!

Artistic Transportation

"Writers are just people who have a whole lot on the inside that they need to get to the outside, with pen and paper as their preferred method of transport.  Same with dancers, artists, and singers - all the same urges with differing transportation."  ~Graycie Harmon

In my search for an image to post with the teaser for Remnant, here, I came across this painting. I was struck. Not only was this Limhi, a main character in my story, but the title of the painting is, "The One Who Remembers", as is Limhi. I wouldn't have to change a thing in the book to match who I see here. Is it crazy that reassurance came with this? That I feel joy that my character is real enough that he exists for someone else as well? I stared at it for quite a while in wonder. I had only searched "American Indian Paintings" but, after glancing at the titles of some of the other works, I was thrilled. "Teancum" "Lamanite Woman". This artist was LDS! I sent an email asking permission to post it on my blog.

Then, I explored the rest of the artist's site, here. Maria Hathaway Spencer works primarily in Prismacolor (colored pencil) and Watercolor. As an Art Major, these were my two favorite forms of "transportation", so I can appreciate what she has done with these tools of creation. Simply gazing at her other pieces, I found myself wondering about the stories, imagining character and conflict and triumph. It was a wonderful exercise.

I began to think about other times imagery has inspired my writing. Certainly, the Orchard, The Inn, and The Lake are all situated in some of the most picturesque places I know and love. Bringing my characters (and readers) to those places was an act of love, of sharing. 

In my second novel, The Inn, I kept writing a character, Ryan, as Derick, a character from the first book. It drove me nuts, because these men were very different. I just kept lapsing. Finally, I searched online and found Ryan. I posted his image on my bulletin board and glanced at it often as I wrote him. It worked!

So, here is my question:

Have you been inspired by an image, a painting, a place, a photograph? Was it before, during, or after your work?

Enjoy exploring Ria's beautiful site. Her fairies are ethereal. She has a fantastic playlist, too! You can also find her work on display at DeZion Art Gallery and these other places.

Thank you for the imagery, Maria. Your method of transportation is inspiring.