Holiday Heart

Holiday Heart...sounds like the title of a sweet romance, doesn't it? Well, not exactly.

We just got back from eight days on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I posted some pictures last week. We had a great time. The weather was hot. We only had a couple mornings with some rain. I walked the beach every day (with my new hat to protect me.) We ate out occasionally, cooked at the camper more often, drank wine every day. Relaxed and just had a great time.

Our last full day there was the Tuesday before Memorial Day. The night before, Monday night, I noticed my heart racing. I could feel it in my chest. I figured I'd had too much sun. I relaxed that evening, but when I laid down to go to bed, my heart was pounding so hard, I couldn't sleep. I started to get worried. Googling "rapid heartbeat" in the middle of the night reassured me that I didn't have any other symptoms of heart problems like shortness of breath, dizziness, or loss of consciousness, so I sat up most of the night, hoping it would get better. It didn't.

So in the morning, my hubby drove me the 25 miles to the nearest urgent care facility. Two seconds after they hooked me up to the EKG machine, people were running around like crazy, giving me aspirin and putting in an IV. My first thought was, "Shit!" I was in "a-fib" - atrial fibrillation, where the top part of the heart gets out of rhythm, beating too fast and irregular. I was asked often if I'd had a lot of alcohol. Well, yeah. I'm on vacation...

Who knew you could have too much sun and too much wine??

Dehydration can bring about a-fib. It wasn't so much the sun and the wine as no water. I was stupid and didn't stay hydrated. Apparently it happens so often in that area, the doctor's have a term for it. Holiday Heart.

I spent my last day of vacation in the ER, nine hours, four bags of fluid, and a drip of meds to bring down my heart rate. Luckily, my heart flipped back to regular rhythm on its own, otherwise I would have needed a procedure called a cardioversion - a shock to the heart to zap it back in line.

I'm following up with a cardiologist at home. And I learned my lesson. I'm drinking lots of water and much less wine. I still hope to get to the beach again before too long. I'll just be walking with a bottle of water as well as my hat.

Take a lesson from my experience. Stay hydrated. As sweet as it sounds, you don't want a case of Holiday Heart.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Tell Me About Yourself

Have you ever been on the other side of a job interview? Recently, I was invited to sit on a committee to interview candidates for a position open in my organization. It was a surprise, but they wanted my input for some bizarre reason. It was an interesting experience, and, of course, I translated it into something related to writing. After the interviews, I kept thinking things like, “What if I interviewed my characters? What would happen then?”

Perhaps I should interview the myriad of fictional creatures who end up carrying my stories. Myabe I should ask them that standard interview question, "Tell me about yourself." As a writer, maybe that’s the best way to determine where they need to be. Sometimes I think the heroes and heroines end up in the wrong places, perhaps even mismatched. Other times, they seem to fit perfectly. Maybe if I did a mock interview, the odds would be in my favor that I’d connect two characters who really wanted to be together.

But what kinds of questions do you ask your characters? For some reason, I keep thinking that no matter what I ask my male characters, I would somehow hire them. A hunk is a hunk, after all. My female characters, however, would have to work for it. I hate a romance with a whiny or TSTL heroine, so I think I’d be biased from the git go. I don’t want a whiny or TSTL hero, either, but usually with the male leads that’s not the problem. The problem is whether the male is an alpha or beta hero. Both have their charms and their place in literature, but if I only need one at the time, it can be tricky to pick between two hunks, regardless of their place in the food chain.

What would you do? Pick a character from a book and think about interviewing him/her for his position in that novel. Would Katniss Everdeen have made the cut in Hunger Games if she’d had to have gone through an interview first? Would Bella or Edward or Jacob been considered for the leads in Twilight if they’d had to sit down one-on-one with the author and tell her about themselves or elaborate on their skills at being a protagonist? What about Harry Potter?

A job interview for characters…hmmm.

Happy Reading!

A Trip to Duart Castle

On the Ferry

The day we visited Isle of Mull and Duart Castle was cloudy and windy. Based on the forecast, we knew the weather would only get worse, so this was our last chance to visit the island. Sure enough, the next day no ferries were running out to the islands at all because of insane winds. We parked in Oban and bought a ticket which included the ferry, bus, and castle tours all in one.

beautiful views from the ferry

I was also very sick by this time. I'd caught a cold soon after arriving in Scotland, but I was determined to not let it stop me. The ferry ride was nice with great views. You can stay outside or go inside where it's warm and have a snack or coffee. The ferry also has a gift shop, restaurant, lounge, and several other things. I sent my husband out to take pictures. :) He took these first three.

You can tell by this picture how cold it was. Everyone was dressed like winter even though it was September.

Lismore Lighthouse in the Sound of Mull

Click on the above photo to enlarge it and get a good view of the Sound of Mull. I did have to bundle up and venture outside to take some pics myself. I took several of Duart Castle as we passed by. Little did I know at the time that we would explore Duart from the ramparts to the grassy area near the shore.

Duart Castle

Duart Castle stands prominently on a cliff that overlooks the Sound of Mull. This has been the base of the Clan Maclean for over 600 years.

Approaching Duart Castle from the parking area.

Once we disembarked at Craignure on Isle of Mull we found the bus for the Duart Castle tour waiting for us. Part of the way, the road was one lane. It took ten to fifteen minutes to get to the castle.

The Courtyard.

We entered the courtyard and I thought the interior and buildings were beautiful. This castle was restored in the early 1900s, but these buildings look incredibly authentic for hundreds of years ago. The rowan tree here (above) was planted on Sir Fitzroy Maclean's 100^th birthday. It's believed to ward off evil.

The Courtyard, opposite direction.

 The castle was restored between 1911 and 1914 by Colonel Sir Fitzroy Maclean, Bt., KCB, Twenty-sixth Chief of Clan Maclean. Before that, the castle lay in ruins.

Click photo to enlarge sign.

Information from other signs posted here:

"About 1150 Duart was just a courtyard. No grass then, only mud and rocks and simple wooden shacks for shelter. You would have had no shoes or socks, even in winter; long hair, no brushes or combs and your clothes would be a simple strip of woolen cloth to keep you warm."

"The Keep, which is another name for a Tower House, is where everyone lived. This one was built by Lachlan Lubanach, the 5^th Chief, in 1360. The main entrance was up a short flight of stairs from the courtyard."

Next, we went by the kitchen and dungeon. Sorry, no photos were allowed of the interior. The ground floor of the castle was originally one vaulted room with two small windows.

View out one of the windows.

Experts believe a castle existed on this site long before the first walls of Duart were constructed in the mid-1200s because it is such a strategic position on a high cliff on the end of a peninsula which juts into the Sound of Mull. Duart comes from the Gaelic Dubh Ard, meaning 'Black Point'. This location allowed the Macleans to control the Sound of Mull, which runs between Mull and the mainland of Scotland, and also the entrances to Loch Linne and Loch Etive and also part of the Firth of Lorn. This site would've been of vital importance during Viking and Norse invasions. Later, the Lord of the Isles ruled this area and the Macleans were supporters. There were eight castles on each side of the Sound of Mull which could communicate with one another via a beacon.

Click the above photo to enlarge

Maclean means 'Son of Gillean.' Gillean of the Battle-Axe (Gilleathain na Tuaidh) was a warrior who lived in the 1200s. He is known to have been alive in 1263. One of his ancestors was Lorn, the brother of Fergus Mor MacErc, founder of the Dalriadic kingdom which centered in Argyll. Gilleathain fought at the Battle of Largs and his son Gillenmore is mentioned in the Ragman Roll of 1296. The Macleans supported Bruce at Bannockburn. After that, they settled on Isle of Mull and came into conflict with the MacKinnons who already lived here.

Macleans were recorded in the papal dispensation of 1367 which allowed their chief, Lachlan Lubanach (the crafty or cunning) Maclean to marry the daughter of the Lord of the Isles, Mary Macdonald. It is said this was a love match, but her father wouldn't allow her to marry Maclean until he had kidnapped her. Another account says Lachlan kidnapped the Lord of the Isles in order to marry his daughter. The Mackinnon Chief was killed during this incident, and since Macdonald was Lord of the Isles, he gave the Mackinnon land to Maclean as part of his daughter's dowry. It is said he approved of Lachlan as a husband for his daughter because of his daring during the kidnapping. This is how the Macleans ended up owning most of Mull.

Click the above photo to enlarge and see the great view from the wall walk or battlements.

Lachlan Lubanach Maclean is believed to have built the keep at Duart. The first mention of Duart was 1390. But the great curtain walls already existed from the previous century. On the more vulnerable landward side, the walls are 29 feet high and almost 10 feet thick. A ditch was cut through the rock beyond the wall for further defense. The walls facing the sea were not as thick, 5 – 8 feet.

The wall walk

Lachlan Lubanach's son was Red Hector of the Battles. He was a famous Maclean warrior who fought at the Battle of Harlaw on July 24, 1411. I mentioned him in my post on Drum Castle. Sir Alexander Irvine of Drum and Red Hector MacLean engaged in a one on one personal battle to the death. Yes, both men died. I wonder what they had against each other? Afterward, their families exchanged swords when their chiefs met.

The roof.

Hope you enjoyed the photos and info. I'll continue the tour of Duart next time.

Thanks!!

Vonda

www.vondasinclair.com

Battle-hardened warrior Dirk MacLerie isn't who everyone thinks he is. He's Dirk MacKay, heir apparent to the MacKay chiefdom and Dunnakeil Castle on the far north coast of Scotland. When he returns home after a long absence, will his clan know him and will the duplicitous enemy who tried to murder him twelve years ago kill him in truth this time?

Lady Isobel MacKenzie is a beautiful young widow betrothed to yet another Highland chief by her brother's order. But when her future brother-in-law accosts her and threatens to kill her, she is forced to flee into a Highland snowstorm. When she runs into a rugged and imposing man she thought dead, she wonders if he will turn her over to her enemy or take her to safety.

Dirk remembers the enchanting, dark-eyed Isobel from when he was a lad, but now she is bound to another man by legal contract—an important detail she would prefer to forget. She wishes to choose her own husband and has her sights set on Dirk. But he would never steal another man's bride… would he? The tantalizing lady fires up his passions, testing his willpower and honor at every turn, even as some of his own treacherous clansmen plot his downfall.

Remember The Sacrifice

As we celebrate Memorial Day here in the US, as we go to parades, and grill outside, and get together with family and friends, and simply enjoy a day off from work and school, take a moment to remember all the military who gave their lives so we could enjoy the freedoms we have today. We wouldn't have the life we do today if they hadn't been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Plotting vs. Pantsing

A funny thing happened on the way to The End…

As a writer, I’m definitely a ‘pantser’ (as in, I write by the seat of my pants). Don’t get me wrong, I know how my story starts and how it ends, but I’ve always thought that the fun and creativity of writing was in getting from point A to point B.  It’s an adventure.

But for my last book, I was paralyzed by writer’s block to such a horrific extent that I *swore* I would plot out my next story down to the minutest detail. After all, one of my critique partners insists “there is no such thing as writer’s block, there’s just bad planning.” I’m not entirely convinced I believe that, but of one thing I was sure: I never again wanted to stare at a computer screen with one eye while staring down a publisher’s deadline with the other. That was an awful time.

So imagine my surprise two weeks ago when I started my newest erotic romance. I happily shut myself up in my home office with a hot cup of tea, fired up my computer, and pulled out my extensive plot outline.

The first line came easily enough:  “There was a dead body in my pool.”

After that… nothing. It didn’t seem to matter that I had the entire story sketched out on six pages sitting next to my keyboard. It didn’t matter that I knew my character’s names, their histories, their hometowns, their favorite color socks. In an insane trick of the Muse, the fact that I had already written out an abbreviated story of my story meant I couldn’t write my story!

I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

I settled for a Captain Morgan Spiced Rum and tonic with lime instead. (Actually, two of them.)

Once I relaxed, I began to feel better about my book. I knew how it started and how it was supposed to end, so I threw away the outline on those six sheets of paper and just let the words flow from my fingers. The spunky heroine. The uptight detective hero. The dead body that throws them together.

I’m happy to say that the story (so far) has elements of humor, intrigue, suspense, plot twists and sexual tension. LOTS of sexual tension. Oh, who am I kidding? I write erotic romance. There’s a lot of actual sex in this story. (The result of all that sexual tension.)

But at least there’s a story. I’m writing pages. Day after day, the words are coming. Maybe my Muse was trying to tell me that writing is a leap of faith. It’s hard work, but if you show up for it every day, your Muse will, too. I don’t need an outline, I just need confidence.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself until the next time writer’s block strikes.

What about you? Are you a plotter or a pantser, and why? I’d love to hear about your process.

Leigh Court

www.leighcourt.com

A Visit to Oban, Scotland

Oban is probably my favorite town in Scotland. I'm not sure why but I'm drawn to it and the whole Argyll area. It feels like home. What's great about staying near Oban is there is so much to see and do. The ferries go out to the islands. There are castles and neolithic sites. If you need to buy something or eat out, there are plenty of shops and restaurants.

Wikimedia Commons. View of Oban from Druim Mor. Photographer: Dorcas Sinclair

Oban is known as the Gateway to the Islands and means "the little bay" in Gaelic. Archaeological remains say the place now known as Oban has been occupied since Mesolithic times.

Dunollie Castle

Dunollie Castle sits at the north end of the bay and, long before this castle existed, around the 7^th century, the fortified site was one of the main centers of the Celtic Kingdom of Dalriada. Dunollie Castle was home to the MacDougall Clan. They were descendants of the Lord of the Isles.

Prior to the 19th century, few people lived in Oban. Its main industries were fishing, trading, ship building and quarrying. John and Hugh Stevenson were known as Oban's Founding Fathers. They established a boat building yard, a tannery and a brewery which became Oban distillery in 1794.

In 1847 Queen Victoria described Oban as "one of the finest spots we have seen." The railway followed in 1880 and Oban became a popular tourist attraction. Over a million people visit each year.

"Oban Bay, Skottland", painted by Hans Gude in 1889

Click on the above painting to see what Oban looked like in 1889.


Oban is now considered a resort town. The general population is just over 8000 but during the high season, summer, the number of inhabitants can rise to 25,000.

To me Oban is like a little city or maybe a wee city. :) The first time I started driving through it, I almost panicked because it really looks and feels like a bigger city at first. But before I knew it, we were in the country again. I was shocked at how small it actually was in terms of the space it occupies. It isn't all that difficult to drive through, but more fun than that is walking through it and looking at all the beautiful historic buildings.

We stayed in a cottage about four miles from Oban. On our first day there, we decided to explore part of Oban. We parked on the side of a street and had breakfast in a tiny cafe. Great food! After that we walked toward the waterfront to do some shopping. Oban has several grand old hotels. Above is the Caledonian.

A nice view of the waterfront. Kayakers were out. It was a beautiful day.

Boats and islands on the opposite side of the bay.

A grand Victorian hotel, the Columba Hotel.

The Iona Shop and Caledonian Hotel

Another shot of the Caledonian.

 The Caledonian Hotel was built in 1882. During World War II, it was used as a base by the Royal Navy. It has since been restored beautifully. It has 59 rooms and the waterfront location looks ideal.

More waterfront buildings.

A lovely boat or yacht and the islands beyond.

This is a view of the bay from on board the ferry as we headed out to Isle of Mull a couple days later. It was a cold, windy, cloudy day.

Clocktower outside Oban Station

When we returned it was around 5 pm. With the clouds, it wasn't very bright for my pictures, but I still enjoyed the walk. The temperature was pretty good and I was glad it wasn't raining.

View of Oban, near the harbor with McCaig's Tower in the background.

McCaig's Tower a folly and prominent landmark in Oban was built in 1897 by local banker, councillor, and Chief Magistrate, John Stuart McCaig. His intention was to provide work for the local stone masons who had been unemployed and provide a monument for the McCaig family. We didn't have time to walk up to it but I intend to in the future. I understand there are gardens inside and it provides spectacular views of Oban Bay and the islands.

 Oban was important during World War II and during the Cold War. The Transatlantic Telephone Cable came ashore at nearby Gallanach Bay. This was the hot line between the US and USSR presidents. Tourism is Oban's largest industry now. Oban also serves as an important port for the ferries going out to the Hebrides.

The Royal Hotel and the Commonwealth flags in Argyll Square

 9.4% of Oban's population speak Scottish Gaelic.

The Royal Hotel

Bossards Patisserie

I took this picture the next day when the weather was too windy and rainy to do more than shop late in the afternoon. It was so bad the ferries couldn't run. Still, it wasn't a bad day because we got to shop for goodies and souvenirs.

Hope you've enjoyed this brief visit to Oban. :)

P.S. I donated a Scotland Basket to the Brenda Novak Online Auction for Diabetes Research. It has lots of Scottish goodies in it, some of which I bought in Oban. Click the below picture to make it larger.

  Click here to check out the auction or bid!

Thanks!!
Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com

At The Outer Banks

Sun. Surf. Sand. Shopping. And daily walks on the beach. We have two more days at the Outer Banks of North Carolina and then will be making our way back home.

Sitting on the deck overlooking the beach at our campground. Our campsite is close enough to see the water and hear the surf.


We've been really lucky with the weather. But even when the skies weren't clear blue, the clouds were beautiful.


Footprints in the sand - human and dog and bird.


I love the dunes.


Beneath Rodanthe Pier.


Standing in front of the pier, my feet in the water, wearing my new hat.


We'll be back home before we know it, but I'm relaxing and having a great time. I'm not writing, but I'm soaking up the atmosphere and taking lots of pictures. Don't be surprised if I have a few stories in the future set on the beach.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com