In two weeks, I’ll be heading for the airport to catch a
Qatar flight to Doha, and then on to Edinburgh, Scotland. I can’t wait for this
overseas trip for many reasons. I’ll be seeing my brother, Lenny, and
sister-in-law, Hanlie, who immigrated in September last year. Hubby’s coming
with which is great because we both need a good holiday after an exhausting
year—plus, I think my brother needs some male company for the 17 days we’re
there because my sister is also going with us to Scotland, as are her two crazy
daughters (no, they’re not literally crazy, but it is definitely going to be a
barrel of laughs from beginning to end with them around). I’ve booked the seats
in front of them on the plane for Noel and I, and have warned them that if they
misbehave, I’ll recline my seat as far back as I can the entire way. Jokes
aside, I can’t wait to show my sister and nieces the land of our ancestors. I’ve
been to Scotland twice and loved it.
My brother lives in Falkirk now, about an hour from Edinburgh
(one of my favorite cities), and an hour from Glasgow. Below are pics of The
Kelpies close to his home. Aren’t they magnificent works of art?
Care to join me for a minute and take a look at what I’ll be
experiencing and seeing? Click
here. I promise, it’ll be a minute well spent.
This brings me to the second reason for my excitement for
this trip. Have a look at the photo below to see what’s waiting for me at my
brother’s house. Because postage is cheaper and safer to Europe than to South
Africa, I’ve sent my book shipments there. I’m certainly glad my hubby, sister
and nieces are there to help me lug the 26kg of my books back home. I’ve
already claimed 5kg baggage from each of them (think I deserve some recompense
for booking the tickets and sorting out the visas, don’t you?)
And here’s just one more good reason why I can’t wait for
this trip. Glasgow Grace, my third Passport to Romance novella published by
Pelican Book Group, releases on July 22nd, and I cannot wait to visit
the places I researched and wrote into this story. Places like The Clyde
Auditorium, also known as The Armadillo—a concert and public event venue in Glasgow
(remind you of another opera house down under?); Buchanan Mall; Anderston Quay;
and all the bridges that cross the River Clyde—Bell’s Bridge, Millennium
Bridge, and Clyde Arc or The Squinty Bridge. Here are two photies of Lenny and Hanlie’s
recent trip to Glasgow. Doesn’t it look like such an interesting city?
I found two photos of
The Armadillo on Wikimedia Commons to share with you (no guesses why it got
that nickname).
I cannot wait to get to Scotland and see all the above. We're also spending four days beside Loch Ness...I wonder what Scottish stories my mind will conjure up during this time.
To get you as excited as I am, here’s the
cover and blurb for Glasgow Grace. As soon as this novella releases next month,
I’ll give away a free eCopy to one lucky reader who leaves a comment on this
blog.
Opera singer, Skye Hunter, returns to the land of her birth as leading lady in Phantom of the Opera. This is her first trip back to bonnie Scotland since her mother whisked her away to Australia after Skye’s father died sixteen years ago.When Skye decides to have dinner at McGuire’s, she’s not going there only for Mary McGuire’s shepherd’s pie. Her first and only love, Callum McGuire, still plays his guitar and sings at the family-owned tavern.
Callum has never stopped loving Skye. Desperate to know if she’s changed under her mother’s influence, he keeps his real profession hidden. Would she want him if he was still a singer in a pub? But when Skye’s worst nightmare comes true, Callum reveals his secret to save the woman he loves.
Can Skye and Callum rekindle what they lost, or will her mother threaten their future together once again?
MARION UECKERMANN's passion for writing was sparked when she moved to Ireland with her family. Her love of travel has influenced her contemporary inspirational romances set in novel places. She now lives in South Africa in an empty nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.
