Wanderlust! It’s A Writer Thing by Kathryn Hills #RomanceGems

Okay, I admit it. I’ve had a serious case of Wanderlust. If you don’t know what that means, the definition, according to urbandictionary.com, is… “A very strong or irresistible impulse to travel.”

As a self-proclaimed road warrior, I miss what I fondly call “adventuring.” Visiting all sorts of historic and unique locations. Yet in the absence of safe travel during the pandemic, I’ve opted to journey in my writer’s mind. Once I’d come to grips with staying home, endless new possibilities opened up to me.

I’ve been told I’m a very descriptive writer. Something I consider a compliment, since I work hard at it, taking up extended residence in all my book settings. You see…that’s the other side of me. I’m a big-time homebody. Whether it’s a haunted mansion or a charming seaside B&B, I move in and make myself right at home. Sights, sounds, scents…Everything surrounds me in my imagination to become part of the story.

A reader once asked me how I do it, describe a fictitious place as if it’s real. “I can’t even tell you what’s happening around me most days. Forget about making something up,” she said with a chuckle.

I explained to her, “Trust me, that’s me too. Ask my family just how well I tune out the real world when a story is brewing in my head."

Yet sometimes, at special times, my writer’s brain takes over and slows me down. Bits and pieces from past experiences and memories of real places come together to create a setting. Sunlight becomes more than just nice weather. The fire in the hearth transforms into something other than warmth. Old wood makes sounds and has a different scent depending on the weather. (Have you ever been in a centuries-old building during a thunderstorm? I highly recommend it!) Fabric, and even a gust of wind, can hold a mesmerizing fragrance. Life becomes more than just day-to-day “stuff.” It transforms into an adventure as words create worlds for my characters. And THAT is very cool!

My mother—an avid reader when she was on this earth—is likely smiling at me now, considering my third-grade teacher told her I was “prone to daydreaming.” 😊

These musings inspire and excited me as I plan out my busy writing schedule for the upcoming year. A year that will likely mean MANY more hours in this old chair, surrounded by three sleepy dogs, and countless empty coffee mugs. As a teaser, I’ll share that there will be more haunted mansions to occupy my days and a return to both Sandpiper Cottage and Dickens. Plus, some special new destinations to explore. Forests and waves, townsfolk, and caves – you name it! I’m going places, and I’m thrilled! I’ll be adventuring again, though I don’t need to leave the warm spot of this worn leather seat.

Until we can ALL go adventuring together again, pick up a book and explore a new place. How about a pirate ship, or maybe the old west? A city on the moon or a quaint New England town? Take your pick! Or write your own journey. There is no limit to how far you can travel when your imagination is set free to wander.

Tell me… Do you have a favorite book setting? A fictitious place that sparks your sense of Wanderlust? Has an author written a setting so well that you feel like you were actually there? I'd LOVE to hear about it!

Thanks for reading. Until next time...Stay safe, be well, and have some fun adventuring. Even if it is from the comfort of your own home.

~ Kathryn

You can find my books HERE, or visit any major online book retailer.