Lisa J. Hobman - Scotland – My land of Inspiration @LivingScottishD

Scotland – My land of Inspiration

For the last ten years my family and I have been coming to Scotland on holiday. Part of this is due to the fact that I hate flying but mainly it’s because I’m a sucker for amazing scenery. I remember my first holiday to Scotland vividly. It was in the month of October but you’d have been forgiven for thinking it was August! The weather was glorious. Bright cornflower blue skies, fluffy white clouds and a warm summer-like breeze were all part of my first experience of Scotland.

Now I know that Scotland isn’t exactly notorious for its summers but I have to say that even in Autumn and winter the place is stunning. Around every corner is a different view. Whether it’s the rocky, bracken covered outcrops of Rannoch Moor, the rugged peak of the Buichaille pointing toward the sky from where it rises out of the ground or the majestic loch Shiel as it ambles towards the shingle shore at Glenfinnan. The country has so much to offer. I will share with you a few of the photos I have taken on my various holidays and also snaps taken closer to home now that I live in Scotland.

This is the actual Bridge Over the Atlantic; the stone structure that joins Easdale to mainland Scotland. It’s a stunning place and the view from here is just wonderful. It’s also known as Clachan Bridge. It’s the place where my debut novel takes place and I had an emotional visit there just before the book was published.

This is the beautiful shore of Loch Shiel at Glenfinnan to the north of the loch. We’ve sat here for many hours just listening to the water wash over the shingle and looking out at the stunning view.

 

This is the Buchaille, also known as the Buckle. If you have read Bridge Over the Atlantic you will know that this place is very special to Greg. It was where he met the love of his life, Mairi. It’s stunning mountain and seeing it for myself was another emotional experience.

For those of you who have read Through the Glass, this is the view in the family photo that Jim had kept. It’s also where he liked to sit with a good book and a flask of coffee. It features a few more times in the book too but you will have to read it to find out how ;-)

Edinburgh features in my third book which will be published in early 2014. This particular shot is of the vibrant Grassmarket which I have visited many times since relocating to the area. Edinburgh is a wonderfully cultured place with its museums and history. The Fringe Festival is something I can highly recommend if you visit around August time. Lots of wonderful talent to make you laugh, sing along and think deeply.

So, I’m sure from seeing the photos you can understand to some extent why the place is my inspiration and why I love it so very much. I’ve been called an honorary Scot’s lass and I’m very happy with that title. Long may it continue.

And as long as this beautiful country continues to inspire me I will continue to write about people falling in love here both with the place itself and, of course, with each other.

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Genre – Contemporary Romance

Rating – PG-17

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Connect with Lisa J. Hobman on Facebook & Twitter

Website www.lisajhobman.co.uk

Through the Glass by Lisa J. Hobman @LivingScottishD

Although he was raised in Scotland, Jim was by no means heading home. Dumbarton, place of his upbringing, held no pull for him now with his parents gone. They had put every penny they could aside for their sons. The brothers discovered after their parents’ deaths that this was the reason for their frugal existence. The modest town house they inherited on top of the savings had meant that Jim could buy himself a place, albeit small and a little run down. Although the money had always been intended to set him up in a home with Felicity, he’d sat on the money for years not daring to dip into it lest it be swallowed up on minor frivolities. But that home—their home—clearly was never meant to be.

The choice of his new location, Shieldaig in the West Highlands, was more of an escape. He had visited as a child with his family when they were on holiday, but he didn’t remember too much about it. His memories were all in the family photos he’d kept. He just knew that it was a peaceful, almost undiscovered place, certainly more his pace of life than London. Because he had no memories of Flick here, he knew he could start afresh.

Wipe the slate clean.

There would be nothing around each corner to remind him of what a mess he had made of things. He could reinvent himself if he so wished. Not that he would do that. He wasn’t pretentious. That had kind of been the problem really. He couldn’t pretend to be anyone but himself and this hadn’t been good enough. He’d come to realise, in recent years, that Flick was out of his league. But he also knew that he wasn’t a bad person. Other than a failed marriage he had nothing to be ashamed of. He had loved his wife more than life itself. He’d tried so damned hard to fit in with her life and all its glamour. But he simply wasn’t that good an actor.

His brother, Euan, had escaped too. He had emigrated to Australia to be with the woman of his dreams whom he had met two years ago whilst travelling through Europe.

Jim was slightly envious of Euan’s relationship with Tara. She was very easy going and fun to be around. Every bit the beach babe, she had a petite frame, sun bleached curly hair, and eyes as green as the brightest emeralds. Euan had always been into sports and had excelled in football at school. He had been travelling around Europe with some of his football team mates when he was introduced to Tara in a bar in Germany by one of his friends.

Euan was due a visit to the UK. He had promised Jim, during their phone call a few days ago that he would be back at some point this year and would be bringing Tara back with him.

“It’ll be great to see you, bro! I can’t wait! I’m looking forward to seeing where you end up living now that you’re rid of Cruella De Ville!” Euan chuckled. He had actually always seemed to like Felicity but in recent years that clearly had changed.

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – Contemporary Romance

Rating – PG-17

More details about the author

Connect with Lisa J. Hobman on Facebook & Twitter

Website www.lisajhobman.co.uk