Thursday, August 27, 2020

What We're Writing @LucyBurdette

Tobermory by Colin, Wikipedia Commons

LUCY BURDETTE: I am stampeding up to the deadline for Key West mystery #11, still a book with no name. This book is very different from the other ten in that most of it takes place in Scotland rather than Key West. The great thing about this is that I've been able to relive our trip last summer, and take the characters to the most astonishing places. And the simple act of being somewhere else in my head has helped me to keep from melting down altogether during these dreary, unending pandemic times.


Glencoe, photo by Steve Callahan
The bad thing is this book makes me feel terribly homesick for Scotland, even though I was only there for a two week visit. The more I write, and read about the places we visited, the more I want to go back. Here's a map of the stunning little island called Iona, on which we only scratched the surface.


Photo by Jeff Chanton
Here's a snippet from Chapter Twenty-Six:

Vera led us on a path running south along the water until we reached a fork. We took the right turn that would cross the island. On either side were fenced-in areas of grass populated by grazing sheep. I stopped short, watching one sheep move across the grass on her front knees. Almost as if she was praying. The wonders of Scotland just kept coming. I took a short video in case Miss Gloria didn’t get to see this on the way to the abbey.
“This grassy plain topography is called a machair,” William told us. “It’s a low-lying area as you can see, and so in danger of flooding and erosion by sea level rise. If you keep going along the water, you’d reach the bay where St. Columba arrived in his coracle from Ireland to bring Christianity to the Scottish heathens.” He laughed. “Isn’t there always someone attempting to convert the heathens?”
“Coracle?” Nathan asked.
“A round boat made of wicker and bound with leather,” William told him. “He would have needed God on his side to make it across St. George’s channel.”
We trudged up a short hill, and then down the path to a stunning beach made entirely of pebbles. Before the beach on a grassy area, someone had built a labyrinth made of pinkish rocks. I paused to take a deep breath and freeze the moment in my mind, so I’d remember this astonishing view, and the feeling of sacred peace on the island. I didn’t seem to have the knack for tingling in thin places, but this island was special.
The four of us sat on the beach, sorting through the tumble of stones, and looking out across the water. Hard to imagine that thousands of miles away, these same waves lapped ashore on the Smathers and Higgs and Fort Zachary Taylor beaches in Key West. The same water and environmental threats and human foibles connected us from island to island across all that distance. A gust of wind whipped across the bay, and I leaned in to Nathan, as always appreciating his warm bulk. He helped me feel safe and grounded in so many ways.
Vera was making a small stack of smooth stones. “Sometimes you get lucky here and find pieces of green Iona marble,” she said.

“We should never have let you go on this trip by yourselves,” said William, after a period of silence. “I don’t know if I will ever forgive myself for putting you in danger. I knew something was wrong with this project, but I let you go without me anyway.”



And finally I'll leave you with the stunning cinnamon scones that I'm craving--I may need to step away from the computer and make a batch this afternoon. 

Where are you longing to be, these days when we are still mostly tethered close to home?

And ps, I'm absolutely certain that you know THE KEY LIME CRIME is in bookstores everywhere...and I am thrilled about the sales so far!


Screenshot of bestseller banner at Barnes and Noble!
I had a few truly priceless events, the first with my sister Susan Cerulean (I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED THE SINGLE BIRD), moderated by our own fabulous Hallie Ephron. You can watch that here...

And if you missed all of the Reds with Barbara Peters at the Poisoned Pen Bookstore, you can watch that here...

61 comments:

  1. I am so excited about Haley and Nathan and Miss Gloria going to Scotland. You know I love Key West, Lucy/Roberta, and is quite evident in my review, I loved The Key Lime Crime, but Scotland is somewhere I long to visit that I haven’t yet. With your talent of making the reader feel the setting, I’m sure I’ll be even more eager to visit there. The excerpt is a wonderful teaser, and I can’t wait to read it all.

    Where am I longing to be? As far as big trips go, England with a side of Scotland would be perfect.

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    1. thanks for the kind words Kathy! England with a side of Scotland sounds heavenly...

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  2. Scotland really comes alive for the reader in this excerpt, Lucy . . . and what lovely pictures. I can’t wait to read the rest of the story!

    And those cinnamon scones look delicious . . . I’d love to have the recipe . . . .

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    1. thanks Joan. I haven't made the scones yet but I will as soon as I turn this book in because I'm hoping that will be one of the recipes in the back...

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  3. Oh, Lucy, what a great excerpt. Can't wait to read the finished product. Scotland looks like quite the place for Haley and friends.

    Did you know the computer screen rebels if you try to munch those scones. Like Joan, I'd love to make them at home. Will you be sharing the recipe in Haley 11?

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  4. Great excerpt - now for the rest, please! And the scones? It's cool enough today to bake...

    I'd like to be visiting my uncle in SF, my son in Puerto Rico, anywhere in Scotland and Ireland, just anywhere.

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    1. anywhere Edith, anywhere! I was supposed to be leaving for Paris and Ireland in two weeks.

      However, I know I should focus on what I do have. So worried about the folks in the path of Laura--with Covid on top. It's awful

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    2. It is awful. The world is awful. And there's no escaping it. Now diving back into my writing - that's the "anywhere" I hide out in.

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    3. Yes, me, too, Edith. Thank goodness for books, whether writing them or reading them.

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  5. Great excerpt, Lucy. You've got me wanting more. And the scones do look delicious. Tell me, in Scotland, does "scone" rhyme with "cone?" Or "one?"

    I know I may be swimming against the tide, but I'm really loving this unexpected time at home. I love being with my critters, and taking naps when I need them. As always, in August, I fantasize about being anywhere "cooler than Texas," with Maine being my top candidate. Scotland would be good, too, but I don't have the finances to travel this year, so I travel in my imagination. Right now I'm in Boston during a snowy March, thanks to Hank's hard-to-put-down "The First to Lie." That's fine travel for me, in a year of pandemic. I won't have to pay the dog sitter.

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    1. I think cone. And you have such a great attitude! I keep my spirits up in waves:). Lottie says hi to your gang.

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    2. My gang is busy barking at the neighbor's yard guys, but I'm sure they'd enjoy having Lottie as a "guest hound" to bark with them.

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  6. I'm with Gigi, traveling to all the places in my reading. Presently I'm in Sweden in 1793 -- not a pleasant place to be.

    Scotland has been on my bucket list, but now I wonder if I'll ever take another international flight. Or any flight. My grandson and his wife, who are expecting Griffin Alexander in December, say they will load up the new baby and come to see all the grandparents in the spring, including me. I won't hold my breath. I can barely face taking Sergeant Pepper for an hour's ride in the car. They have no idea what it will be like to travel with a baby person!

    But it's something to look forward to anyway.

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    1. Yes that's wonderful to look forward to! and I love the name Griffin. I have just been visiting Northumberland with Ann Cleeve's Vera, and now I'm in Cornwall with Rhys!

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    2. Ooh, there's a new Vera coming in September, I think.

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    3. There's a virtual afternoon tea with Ann Cleeves on the 13th of September. We are "going", tickets are five bucks, go to some good cause I think, even if it's to Ann. She's a great cause.

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  7. My kids are trying to sort out Thanksgiving and Christmas, traveling by car. Lots of logistics. As we enter our seventh month, it would be nice to see everybody.

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    1. I hope you can get that figured out. It's all discouraging for now...

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  8. Roberta, I just love this excerpt! We were in Scotland on a nature and hiking tour around the same time that you were there last year. It was one of Irwin's and my favorite trips. Scotland is a truly gorgeous country to visit and there are so many, many tours and trips that one can take. It may be time to sit back and read some travel brochures and dream.

    Key Lime Crime was perfect. How many of your devoted readers needed to know more about Nathan? His strong, handsome, mostly silent presence had an air of unapproachability. Hayley is so the opposite, getting in close, making friends all over. Bringing in his mom was the ideal way to give us some more background on the detective Hayley loves. So, thank you for that. Hayley is an endearing character and she deserves a really loving man.

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    1. thank you Judy, your comments mean so much! I agree about Scotland. I read recently about a walking/music tour far up north that sounds amazing...

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  9. Mmm, cinnamon scones. Too bad you can't ship me some.

    Not sure I have anywhere I want to be right now. It's more I'd like to have the *ability* to go should the urge arise.

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  10. Oh Lucy, I am so looking forward to this book! It will probably be the only way I'll ever get to Scotland so thank you for that. Your pictures are more than wonderful!

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    1. thanks Judi! it was easy to get a good photo--so many gorgeous places!

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  11. Love the pictures and the excerpt Lucy. Scotland was my first trip to Europe and , like a first love, I particularly cherish it and I'm always happy to read books taking place there.
    Presently, I'm not craving a particular destination and I can't see myself travelling other than in books. I'm currently reading a book about travelling that could be translated : what remains of our travels ? Reflections on many aspects of travelling and what it brings to us, very interesting.

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    1. that's such a perfect way to describe it--your trip is like your first love. that would be me and Paris

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  12. Lucy, I love the photos of Scotland. I'm glad you can use your memories (and photos) of the trip to mentally escape the pandemic for a while. What fun this book is going to be!

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  13. I'd like to be anywhere! Everywhere! We dodged the bullet with Laura. So fortunate. Waiting to hear from a number of Frank's cousins in Louisiana.
    I'd love to return to Scotland and explore more. St Columba must have gotten around as we saw his well in a town on the south end of Loch Ness I think.

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    1. Oh my gosh, hoping your relatives are ok. Laura was a terrifying storm...

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    2. So glad to know you are okay, Pat!! I was really worried about Houston.

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  14. This looks absolutely great. So brilliant of you to make this work! Love love love it, truly, this is a terrific idea.

    You know, being somewhere else is too scary, Here is fine. I do think about places, like Paris, and Nevis, and wonder if we’ll ever be there again.

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    1. I insist on thinking I will be going Hank, helps me stay in place now.

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  15. Good Morning- If my passport was current and restrictions didn't exist, I'd be on a plane to Sterling, Scotland in a heartbeat. I was fortunate to visit it briefly years ago and it has stayed with me ever since.

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  16. Lucy, your excerpt reminded me of one of my favorite movies--Local Hero. Between books and movies, I've been lots of places since the pandemic. Right now I've been immersed in Louisiana's bayous, thanks to Ellen Byron's series. Next up, revisiting Key West! My favorite place? Middle Earth. Never get tired of LOTR (extended version). And Lucy, my library will soon be a proud owner of I Have Been Assigned the Single Bird. Can't wait to share it with staff and patrons.

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    1. that's so cool about Single Bird Flora! I'm thrilled and I know my sister will be as well.

      I should go back to LOTR--I can barely remember any of it.

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    2. I reread LOTR every few years. I'm about due for another go.

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    1. I love Local Hero, too. Such an interesting movies, and good score.

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  18. The photos are so enticing, Roberta! All that green is just soothing to the soul, isn't it?

    We were planning to visit the British Isles this year, pairing a visit to my stepsis in Wales with a good look at the highlights of that area. Alas, we are cocooning at home instead. Luckily, there's still Scotch at the liquor store. LOL

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  19. Good luck coming up with a name. I'm bad at names, so I can't help you with that, unfortunately.

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    1. thanks Mark, I have sent a good list of options to my agent and publisher, now we'll see what they like. Hopefully not too silly...

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  20. Lucy, you are killing me with the Scotland photos!! I have been missing Scotland so much lately. I've just introduced a new character in the book-in-progress who is Scottish, from Perthshire (next door to Stirlingshire, Lyda.) Maybe one of these days I'll come up with a way to set another book in Scotland. Can't wait to be inspired by yours...

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    1. Oh you are so smart Debs to introduce a Scottish character--we wouldn't mind going back with Gemma and Duncan, not at all!

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  21. Lucy, Sorry I am late to the party. I just woke up and now that I have had coffee, I can function.

    I love this introduction to your next book. Love Scotland. It's among my favorite places to visit. Is Nathan's sister Vera? Is William the husband of Vera?

    Perhaps you can try for a title with Oat Scone or Shortbread or Haggis or Bannoch or Porridge in it?

    Love your titles like Key Lime Crime.

    Diana

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    1. Diana thank you, it didn't even occur to me to introduce Nathan's family. So rude! I love your words and will add them to the list...

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    2. Lucy, I am honoured! Thank you!

      Diana

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  22. Scotland, oh Scotland! Such a beautiful country. If I can't get there myself, taking myself there via your book is the next best thing. Thank you for taking Hayley there, Lucy!

    As for my trip: I'd love to get on a plane to visit my mum in Edmonton. As soon as her seniors residence permits overnight guests, I'll be on my way. However, I'm not holding my breath...

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    1. Hope you get there soon Amanda--it's so hard to be separated from our peeps!

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  23. Scotland! Love the place. Love the food! And all that water!! So it so makes sense that's what Hayley Snow's next stop would be.

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    1. I've talked myself into returning. Now we just need a vaccine and John to agree:)

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    2. You can travel without John. Just sayin'.

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  24. I'm so looking forward to reading to this, Lucy. Everything you've shared with us so far he has been tantalizing! Also, I confess I can't wait to see how you and your editor combine a Key West pun with something Scottish.

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  25. I think there's a definite island connection happening. I loved Hayley's reflection about the two shores being connected by a large body of water. You're reeling me in, Lucy! Also, I desperately want that cinnamon and date scone!!!

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  26. Longing to be near family and seeing sunrises from Deerfield Beach FL.

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  27. Lucy, will enjoy being in Scotland with Miss Gloria, especially, and all the rest. Thank you for writing so tha I can go on reading.:-)

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