Hello, friends! Today is the September meeting of The Insecure Writer's Support Group. The group was founded by our Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh. To view list members and this month's co-hosts, or to sign up and join the group, visit the IWSG page here.
Back in July I returned to the IWSG and planned to spend the rest of the summer actively writing and blogging. But instead some unexpected health issues popped up and totally derailed my plans. Fortunately I'm doing much better now and am starting a new plan to be active and productive for the rest of the year. Fingers crossed!
Each month the IWSG administrators suggest a question to answer in our post for the month. This month's question is:
If you could pick one place in the world to write your next story, where would it be and why?
This was a fun question to think about!
I'm totally enchanted by Scandinavia even though I have never been there. I love the scenery, the winter landscapes, and the remoteness of some of the areas. I have always found winter to be a muse for my imagination and writing.
Recently I learned about the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway and I would love to go there and settle into a house by the sea for my own private writing retreat.
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If I ever do make it there I'm hoping I can see the Northern Lights.
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So that's my writing retreat daydream. I'm looking forward to reading where all of you would love to go.
Before I wrap this up I want to give a shout-out to my friend Luanne G. Smith and her fantastic book The Vine Witch. Luanne was one of the first friends I made here in the blogging world, back when she was running her Bards and Prophets blog, and I'm so happy to see her finding such success with her books now.
I received an ARC of The Vine Witch and I can't recommend it enough. If you love witches, wine, France, or just a well-written story full of intrigue and great characters, this is a book for you. The book is one of Amazon's first reads this month so if you are a Prime member you won't go wrong picking The Vine Witch as one of your choices.
Congratulations to Luanne!
And Happy September, all! This is the start of my favorite time of the year and I am looking forward to the months ahead.
Sounds a perfect place to write, but sadly can only daydream, looking after an invalid husband. Good to hear you are feeling better, Julie 🌹
ReplyDeleteI'll go with you to Norway! Scandinavian prog rock is some of the best music in the world.
ReplyDeleteYeh for a new plan! You've got this, Julie. No doubt here. :)
ReplyDeleteAlthough beautiful, I suspect Scandinavia would be too cold for me most of the time. I'm glad to hear that you;re doing better, and I hope your writing picks up again.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie - so glad the health issues are sorting themselves out - and what a lovely thought of a cottage in Northern Norway and the Northern Lights - must be amazing to see ... good luck with the writing and all the best - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteScandinavia sounds quite awesome! The Northern Lights would be amazing.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
Ah wouldn't it be lovely to see the Northern Lights? Great choice of writing retreat and one that would surely hold much inspiration. Sorry to hear about the health issues, Julie, but glad you are recovering and looking ahead. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteOh, there are so many places I've love to have a writing retreat. And one day, I'd love to see the Northern Lights.
ReplyDeleteHappy September, Julie!
So sorry about the health issues, Julie. Hope you're back to health and writing soon. You're the second person who has chosen the Northern Lights to write under. They are spectacular, so I'm sure they'd be inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're feelin better. Hopefully fall is a healthy, word-filled time for you.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun places to write. I can see distraction isn't a problem with you!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful location, Julie.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your fall season.
It's the beginning of Spring my end of the globe.
Happy IWSG Day!
So glad you are feeling better, Julie. I love the pictures of where you'd like to visit and write.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, Julie. Thanks for the shout out on the novel!!
ReplyDeleteAnd agreed. I'd love to go to Norway for the Northern Lights. Magical. :)
I love your retreat. Wish I could go too. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
I'm sorry you had health problems but happy to hear you are on the mend.
ReplyDeleteI want to see the Northern Lights too!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI don't think I want to write in any of the Scandinavian countries. It's too cold and I'm a writer who needs warm weather and a nice basement to write in.
Be gentle to yourself as you continue to recover. Things can wait even though sometimes we think differently.
Take care and all of the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Norway would be a great place to write!
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
Congrats to Luanne! I lost track of her when she moved from Bards to another site. I will definitely go read her book!
ReplyDeleteNorway looks beautiful and my daughter gets to visit there for two weeks (soon) with my husband's cousins before she starts a study abroad experience in the UK. From just helping her find places to visit and stay, I can say ... it does look stunningly beautiful. I wish she could take me in her suitcase. :)
I am glad you are back to health and writing!
Happy September!
Glad you're feeling better! Hopefully you'll start to get back into the swing of things now.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are on the mend! Thank you for giving a shout out to Vine Witch. Looks like a great read.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place to write!! Julie, I'm sorry to hear of your health problems and hope you're on the mend. Take Care.
ReplyDeleteI would love Scandanavia and seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland is on my bucket list. My favorite seasons are on the horizon, also. So glad you're going in autumn in better health.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful places. I get first reads thanks for the suggestion I have a hard time deciding and am often disappoint, so did not look at the others just pick this one. Looking forward to reading.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear you're feeling better now Julie. The Northern Lights would be amazing to see.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear you had health issues and I'm grateful to hear you're on the mend. Here's to your new writing plan!!
ReplyDeleteElsie
Scandinavia! Lovely. I just love the scenery there too :) any place like that would work wonders for me...hope you're feeling better now
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures of Scandinavia. I've always wanted to see the Northern Lights, too. I know I can drive north about 4 hours to see them, but winter in northern Michigan can be iffy. I hope you're feeling better and can get back to writing soon.
ReplyDeleteHealth is such a bitch isn't it?! I am going through my own crappola which makes it tough to get blogging and reading. I would love to visit Norway and this little spot looks so peaceful. I wish to see the Northern Lights as well. I saw a bit of them years ago but nothing dramatic. That little bit, thought, was magical
ReplyDeleteGlad your health issues are resolved! Those are pretty pictures. Looks like a great place to go!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great choice for a writing retreat! I would love to see the Northern Lights as well. I find that I love winter as long as there is some snow about, the more, the better.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear you've been facing some health challenges this summer, but I'm glad you're feeling better now. Now... (cue a cracking of the whip) get to writing, young lady!
ReplyDeleteSeeing the Northern lights is one of the items on my bucket list, but I thought maybe you were far enough north that you could see them from your home location. No, eh? Well, I hope you get to see them someday. It would be an awe-inspiring experience.
Thanks for letting us know about Luanne's book! We're facing some harrowing health issues at our house, too, so I wasn't sure if I was even going to order an Amazon first read book this month. Now I know I will, and which one to get!
Witches and wine sound like a good combo--congrats to Luanne.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your health issues are resolving, and I hope you get to translate feeling better to writing more.
Norway looks beautiful!
So sorry about your unexpected health issues! Know exactly how plan-derailing such things can be. Glad to hear you're doing much better, now! <3
ReplyDeleteAnd ooh, your dream places to write all sound so lovely. Hope you have a chance to see them in person, someday!
The northern lights are on my bucket list too. My husband is from North Dakota and grew up seeing them, so to him it’s no big deal. But for me, I can’t wait! Glad you’re feeling better, Julie! Welcome back!
ReplyDeleteI hope your health issues stay away, and you stay healthy. Great choice for a writing location. I always love writing in winter much better than in summer.
ReplyDeleteI like your writing retreat daydream!
ReplyDeleteHI Julie,
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you were under the weather...glad you're better now! The Scandinavian countries are beautiful! I hope you make it there some day. I would LOVE see the Northern lights...Iceland is on my list. I haven't been abroad in decades, but I hope to return sometime in the near future. Right now I'm concentrating on buying my village home in Galena, IL. I found a wonderful turn of the century home and is screaming at me to be updated. I LOVE the fact that it's over 2200 sq. ft AND it had THE most AMAZING walk up attic which will be a perfect writing and art retreat!!!! I hope you'll come and visit me next spring-summer-or fall. You'll have your choice of two guest rooms!
So glad you're doing better now. Ooo! That is incredibly beautiful. I'd love a writing retreat like that too.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I’m so sorry that you went through some major health issues. Thank goodness you’re feeling better and you’re being proactive about leading a healthier lifestyle. Scandavia looks beautiful and I hope you can visit in the near future. I’m so excited for Luanne! I always enjoyed reading her blog and got a kick out of her witty comments. Take care of yourself, Julie!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Hi Julie, I've never seen the Northern Lights. I grew up in Michigan and it's rare to see them there but it does happen. Just not while I was there or it was too cloudy to see them.
ReplyDelete