Islands and Research Trips Worth Waiting For
Sointula, Malcolm Island
It’s been quite a year. . .
I finally got to undertake two island trips I’d been dreaming about for some time – to Sointula on Malcolm Island (part of Vancouver Island), and to Limnisa Writer’s Retreat in Greece. There, after a break from writing for a time to care for my lovely folks, I finally finished my novel for children, and on Vancouver Island, I got the chance to research locations and begin plotting my next novel.
In order to do all this, I made the tough (and some said at the time, ‘brave’ - eek!) decision to leave behind my job of eight years, rather than just take the six-month sabbatical that I’d been considering initially. The time felt right to just move on altogether and to explore work pastures new. But first, to write!
Limnisa, just outside Methana on the Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece is about as far away from my world as I could imagine. It’s like a little piece of paradise set on the shore of the Mediterranean. Limnisa is run by two terrific writers, Mariel Hacking and Philip Wooderson. As this is a residency run by writers, all of our quirky writerly needs are met here – beautiful writing spots al fresco with amazing sea views; delicious vegetarian food; coffee, tea and cake every afternoon (I still think about the carrot cake - yum!), hikes through local countryside, literary nights, movie nights and the great company of other writers. This was the haven where I finally got to grips with Swim Free, my first novel for children about two cousins and their quest to unlock family secrets by finding Saoirse, a wild dolphin in West Clare. Limnisa offers support to writers in many shapes and forms, and I’m particularly grateful to Philip Wooderson, a prolific children’s books writer, who read through part of Swim Free and gave me some valuable insight and advice on the finished (or so I thought at the time!) draft.
#AmWriting! Limnisa, Greece
After a few idyllic weeks’ in my Greek paradise, I made my way to the other side of the world – to Sointula in Canada. Part of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations territory, Sointula on Malcolm Island (part of Vancouver Island) was named by a community of Finnish settlers in 1901. Sointula means ‘Place of Harmony’ - and it certainly is that, a peaceful place seemingly on the edge of the world, surrounded by wildlife, nature and great people.
And the words flowed there – here’s a few posts I wrote from my beautiful writing nook by the sea:
Finally, I tore myself away from the charms of Sointula, and the whales and wildlife of Vancouver Island, hopped in my hire car and crossed the border into Washington State. My plan? – to visit Mount St. Helen’s Volcano where part of my next novel is set. It was such an eyeopener to see in person the scene of the massive eruption in 1980 - so humbling get a true sense of the scale of this earth-shattering natural event and the widespread devastation it caused. Here’s a post of my thoughts at the time.
Mount St. Helen’s Volcano, Washington State
I rounded off the end of the summer then with a trip to Kerry for more writing, some quality time with friends and family and also a loooong-anticipated trip out to Skellig Michael - a truly magical place. I loved the puffins and birdlife, and the scenery and ancient settlement were simply spectacular! Well worth the three year wait, and dare I say it, the absolute highlight of an already amazing summer.
Skellig Michael, Kerry, Ireland
Puffin, Skellig Michael, Kerry. Ireland
And so, inspired by some incredible locations, children’s novel finished, ample research done and literally thousands of photographs taken, soon I shall return to work. It’s been a wonderful experience - I’m delighted to be back in the flow of writing and excited about the next chapter.