Sandra McCowen, artist. A Good Gawk, Blarney Castle, Ireland

When traveling in Ireland a few years ago, we had time to wander the grounds of Blarney Castle. After kissing the stone (God, I can’t believe I did that), I strolled through the lovely gardens, which included some very unusual art. Take for example the eyeballs. What? Two eyeballs in the middle of the path! I tripped over them and nearly fell into a pond. Recovered, I turned and took a picture. Wouldn’t you?

But there were more than eyeballs to be seen. There was a woman playing a harp just off to the side of the path, a pond with flowers the likes of which I’d never seen before, a circle of stones for those who enjoy time travel, and a poison garden for those pesky kings.

I found stories everywhere in that garden. In fact, that’s why I travel. I gather ideas, I search for something in particular, and I “stumble” over complete surprises. I take photos and notes to remind me of precious moments. All, some, or none of what I experience will end up in a novel. I have yet to write my Irish tale.

Each of my novels required on-site research. To create a believable story I needed to experience the ambience, the storied history, the glorious landscapes, and the fascinating people. To date, my novels and novellas have taken me to France, England, Mongolia, China, the terminus of the Silk Road, Hong Kong, and the American Rockies. Google Earth allowed me into North Korea, and much of the long and often dangerous Silk Road.

If you’re interested in my on-sight research, proceed to “How I Write.” You’ll find each novel linked to a nonfiction story about my research. (See red link, and tap on it.) And, please, don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you!