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My ShortlistDiscovering great books, web sites, even movies that are both informative and inspirational are enough to make my week. This list represents those things that most helped or inspired me lately. Check back often, because this will change as my sources do... New (to me!) and Notable: I just stumbled upon the most fantastic resource, The Gazeteer for Scotland. You'll need to do some digging, but it's well worth it! Here's an example. I'm currently researching Fincharn Castle in Argyll, now in ruins. The Gazeteer linked me to old maps, current aerial photos, as well as links to relevant historical sites. My new favorite resource!
Must-Have Bookmarks: myArmoury.com: An incredibly well-informed, incredibly generous group of arms collectors who have walked me through everything from firing a flintlock musket to the best metal for a broadsword basket. Clan Cameron Online: A vast online repository of Cameron history and texts, curated by the Clan Cameron Association. Deb's Historical Research Page: I challenge you not to lose at least an hour in this amazing site. Trees for Life: A conservation charity dedicated to the forests of the Scottish Highlands. This link is to the Caledonian forest resource section of their site, with tons of information about the native flora and fauna. The photos alone are inspirational. Mara Riley's Costume Page: Amazing details about 17th- and 18th-century Scottish clothing. Botanical.com: Which indigenous plants would be best suited for concocting a poison? Look no further than Mrs. M. Grieve's A Modern Herbal. Electric Scotland: Thousands and thousands of pages on Scottish history, clans, literature...
(A mere few of the many) Books That Have Inspired Me: Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. This book was a revelation for me. I am a reader of two minds: I adore love stories, but I am also a long-time fantasy fiction fanatic. This was, for me, the first book I read that truly satisfied both urges. Karen Marie Moning's Beyond the Highland Mist. After I cruised through everything Gabaldon ever wrote, I went in search of more Highland magic and found Moning, now one of my favorites. Stephen King's On Writing. A gripping read for what is, ostensibly, a book on writing. I've never looked at adverbs the same since. Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. My second book (coming July '08) features more battle scenes, and I found myself thinking a lot about what it means, and what it takes, to go to battle. This book was an avenue for me into what that might mean to a man. Redmond O'Hanlon's Trawler: A Journey Through the North Atlantic. I loved this book. The sea is something that fascinates me almost as much as battle (some day I'd love to write a good, rollicking, sea-faring tale!) This was an amazing--and intimate--look at how some very different men responded to unfathomable stress.
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Comments
I had to read an excerpt from The Things They Carried for college and, I must agree with you, it's so gripping and sad and emotional. I never thought of war the same way again. I used to think war was just about the bombing and the gunning, but then... this changed my mind completely. The humane side is completely bared, as well as the disgusting side of life.
... Anyway, good choice of reading, that :)
— stormsandsins Tue, 02/05/2008 - 7:11pm
Thanks for commenting! At the top of my To-Be-Read pile is We Were Soldiers Once...And Young, by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway, for precisely those same reasons. Whether a 19-year old in Vietnam or a 19-year old in the British Civil Wars, one is still a young man facing the greatest fear of his life, forging intense friendships, losing his friends. I've gotten much from reading non-fiction pertaining to war. I recently dusted off a book of Randall Jarrell's poetry inspired by his time in WW2 as a ball turret gunner, and it blew me away as much as it did when I was in college.
— veronica Fri, 02/08/2008 - 11:01am
My other comment was lost. I loved Master of the
Highlands, and will be waiting for your new book.
I am of Scottish descent. I have been to Scotland several
times.
I love to read of the Scottish History , and the
countryside.
Every time I am in Scotland I find out more about my
clan.
Thank you.
Judy Ann
— JudyAnn Tue, 02/19/2008 - 10:54am
Thanks so much for stopping by, Judy Ann! I'm so thrilled you enjoyed Master of the Highlands. Though I'm not of Scottish descent myself, I'm Irish and like to imagine there must have been some crossover somewhere, way back when! Alasdair MacColla, the real hero in my third book (Warrior of the Highlands, Feb. 2009) was of the MacDonald clan, and they were based in both Ireland and Scotland.
Thanks again for getting in touch!
all the best,
Veronica
— veronica Tue, 02/19/2008 - 4:49pm
Veronica if you are looking for some in depth research site for Scotland you might want to try these. I have been a Scottish and irish family researcher for almost 20 years now. Recently spent three days at the Archives in Edinburgh. Though my area of expertise is the Lowlands/Borders you may find these site of some help in future research.
A great map site online at National Library of Scotland http://www.nls.uk/maps/index.html
SCAN is great too for their research tools and their archives site, though they don't have the records they provide you places where it is located and having done.
http://www.scan.org.uk/
Wgts/Measure:http://www.scan.org.uk/measures/index.asp
Currency converter(historical) http://www.scan.org.uk/researchrtools/scots_currency.htm
National Archives of Scotland (I am an archive student online at U of Dundee and we use these a lot) Guides explain basic types of records and then provide the types of records one can use in Scotland at the Archives in Edinburgh. http://www.nas.gov.uk/guides/default.asp
As well as Scotland's People research guides : http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=551&419
Statistical Accounts of Scotland: http://stat-acc-scot.edina.ac.uk/sas/sas.asp?action=public&
great for geographic information for late 18th and 19th century.
I have been reading Scottish romances for over 40 years and have done a lot of research in Scotland both locally and at the archives. I just ordered your book and am eager to read it. An online loop I belong to is reading it this month. Much success with your sales.
Jody
— Fraochale Wed, 02/27/2008 - 8:13pm
Jody,
Thank you SO much for sharing these! These are all FANTASTIC!!! How did you know I needed a good map site? They are surprisingly hard to come by.
How fascinating to be a family researcher! I dream of some day researching my family tree. (Wolff is just my married name, I have Irish on both my mother and father's sides.) I imagine it can be like an exciting -- and very rewarding! -- real-life treasure hunt.
Anyway, thank you again for so generously sharing your favorite resources! I live for things like this. :)
best,
Veronica
— veronica Fri, 02/29/2008 - 1:48pm