Happy Spring, Readers! Mary Ellis here. Ever wonder what could go wrong while researching/writing a book? Covid, that's what!
Readers familiar with my writing know I do a lot of research before, during and after the book is finished. My first visit to an area is to envision the basic storyline and flesh out the characters. I accomplish this by asking questions of everyone I meet connected to a certain vocation, B&B or sect of people. My second and third visits are during the writing to pull together subplots or flesh out secondary characters. My final visit is to answer the multitude of questions that come up during the writing. For One for the Road, book one of the Bourbon Tour Mysteries, I chose Kentucky, the bluegrass state, for my setting. Although I'm not a bourbon drinker, I heard from several friends that bourbon tours have grown very popular. Hordes of tourists arrive weekly to tour the distilleries. Some tours offer overnight stays with paring dinners. There’s even a train you can take with bourbon tasting along the way. Sounded like a fun getaway weekend with friends. And a distillery sounds like a great place for murder…speaking as a mystery writer, of course.
I planned two trips to Kentucky to research the small (craft) distilleries and interview the master distillers. Then I made plans for an extended visit to the Louisville area to tour eight major production plants. My friends and I planned to take tours, ride the train, go to paring dinners and of course, at least taste the bourbon. Reservations had been made and tickets purchased, then the Covid pandemic hit and everything was cancelled. No more tours. Luckily, most of my book, One for the Road, takes place in a small craft distillery and I had finished that research and was thus able to write the story. But things better open back up before I put the finishing touches on One Hundred Proof Murder, book two of the series, or this writer will be creating a lot more fiction than usual.
Please leave me comment about how the pandemic changed your life for a chance to One for the Road on audio (CD's) Winner drawn in one week. You must leave your email address. Sorry, US readers only.
Links: www.maryellis.net or
www.facebook.com/Mary.Ellis.Author
Buy link: Amazon.com: One for the Road (A Bourbon Tour mystery Book 1) eBook: Ellis, Mary: Kindle Store
I think the biggest change that occurred in our family is that my husband began working from home. We live in a small house with no extra space, so his "office" is in the middle of the living room/dining room. It's been interesting, but we're making it work.
ReplyDeletedmandres5 at Gmail dot com
It is work, no doubt about it. But I applaud you both on continuing to make an effort.
DeleteThe biggest change for me is no traveling. I love to go places.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
You and me both! Truly, I miss that most too. I can't wait to go somewhere this year.
DeleteI had to quit going to the "Y" for my water exercise classes, but that was about it since we still went to the store and our sons for meals sometimes. We are retired so it wasn't a lot different. Just the idea that we were being told we could NOT do so many things even if we wanted to was depressing though and the mask wearing is bad for me. Since I don't go out a lot it is hard to wear a mask and do our grocery shopping, I'm not used to it so it's hard to breathe and then not water exercising doesn't help either. I did walk outside still, until winter hit, lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Wendy, for sharing your challenges during the pandemic.
DeleteMay God bless your family.
We are retired and were beginning to mark of items off our bucket list by traveling to dream destinations to see things and do things that we had only dreamed of before. Due to medical issues we knew that our window for such adventures might be limited. For two years we had planned at least two trips a year. After our last trip of 2019, we started planning for 2020.
ReplyDeleteWe can't just pack up and leave in a couple days times. Our trips take time to plan. We want to make the most of out time and make sure to see all there is to see in the area. On top of that, we travel with our now 16 year old chihuahua, which complicated things. Seem you can have a dozen rowdy kids in a motel room, but you can't have one very small dog that not only doesn't bark but also travels with his own bed, potty and refrigerator. Meaning we have to find a place we can stop along the way as well as at our destination that accepts him and then is still a place we wish to stay as well. Due to the medical issues, we have to plan for things I can do since things like long hikes to a viewing spot are not an option. We had all these things ironed out for 2020 and had even called after the first of the year to verify that all was in order. Then Covid hit and all plans had to be cancelled.
With Covid running wild, it also meant that plans for 2021 were also a no go. We are hoping maybe with full vaccination to come and praying that Covid declines that 2022 is a go for more bucket list trips. My concern is that with each passing month - year that increased medical issues will turn our want to do list will become I wish we had list. Determined to stay optimistic and will keep checking out future destinations, things to see and things to do.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Your medical challenges sound familiar to me own. I plan to get vaccinated and hope that will make me less afraid to venture out in the world when our health and finances allow.
DeleteThere was some changes with this pandemic for sure. We usually get to have our grandson that lives 6 hrs away from us and last year and this year we didn't get him for spring break and last year we didn't get to see him for the summer vacation. We haven't seen our son(this grandson's dad) and his little family for over a year. I myself have not gone into a store of any kind for over a year, but all for the best. This pandemic has for sure taught me more patience and it has reenforced what I have known all along "to not take anyone or anything for granted" I haven't seen any of my siblings for over a year also. At least our daughter and her little family live in the same town we do , so we do get to see them and for that I am very grateful. We do have a pup, and my husband and I are retired, so that is a big help. Have a Great week and stay safe. Thank you so much for the chance. Your book sounds like a great read. God is Good and He will get us through all this. aliciabhaney(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
ReplyDeleteI truly wish I had learned more patience during this pandemic. I seem to take two steps forward and one step back. I must keep reminding myself that God is in charge. We must wait on Him, knowing He has the best for each of us in mind.
DeleteYou are my lucky winner of One for the Road on CD audiobooks. I will contact you via email for your mailing address. Thanks for being a reader of Suspense Sisters.
Deletenot traveling
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thanks for posting a comment. Not traveling to see family has been my biggest challenge too.
DeleteRead and enjoyed the book. Your research is always spot-on and gives your books such an honest feel.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Casey. I truly appreciate you saying so!!
DeleteI had hope you could have helped with said research.
Not going to in person church or having friends over has been my biggest change. My church is back in full speed since March first. jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI have missed going to church in person too. Live streamed church on TV is not the same. I still don't feel safe going to church because its so small and tight.
DeleteTwo things happened because of covid. My husband started working from home and I lost my job due to the cutbacks. And the crazy thing with that is, I’m an X-ray tech (doing mostly mammography) in a hospital. It’s crazy to think healthcare workers losing their jobs because of a sickness.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this opportunity. 😊
janeen dot bair at gmail dot com
goodness, that is crazy that a mammogram tech would lose her job. I certainly hope women are back to having mamms so we'll lose more lives due to breast cancer. Thanks for posting.
DeleteMy life didn't change much except for worshipping from home and having to wear masks. sheliarha64(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteAt least you're still worshipping, as I am, at home. I wish you a blessed Easter.
DeleteMy Sister and I had a trip to Kentucky to do the Bourbon tour in October 2020 and the also taking the train ride. Obviously, that was cancelled last year because of the Pandemic. Hopefully we will be able to to take that trip soon. Looking forward to reading your Bourbon Trail mysteries.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Hopefully you can get that trip rescheduled sometime in 2021 or 2022. Thanks for leaving me a comment.
DeleteThe pandemic didn’t change my life as I became my mom’s full time caregiver and have to stay home anyway.
ReplyDeleteYou are a loving daughter to do this. I was my mom's caregiving too during the last month's of her life. And I'm so glad I had the time to spend with her.
DeleteAfter my retirement from the library, I had gotten used to being home much of the time so Covid hasn't been as hard on me as some people. My biggest loss has been the change in our church services. We no longer have potlucks or Sunday School but hopefully, this will change once our congregation becomes vaccinated. I've seen this book many times and I hope to read it soon. I am a life-long Kentuckian!
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm so glad you hear people are willing to get vaccines in your community. I have two more weeks to wait before I can get my second shot.
DeleteI got back to making fresh bread and cinnamon rolls. We now Zoom for Sunday School and occasionally with relatives. Church is online for now. I am hopeful that the vaccines will be helpful to get us closer back to normal.
ReplyDeletePerrianne Askew
perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
I hope so too! thanks for posting a comment. And have a happy Easter.
DeleteBecause of the pandemic I have not been able to work because I am in the high risk category and my sister (who is older than me) is in the very high risk category and we live together. Another major difference is that my sister and I have not been able to go and do the things we normally would since most of them have stopped due to the pandemic and the ones that continued were too much risk because few people wore masks or practiced social distance. We both have missed our fun times of being out in the community at different events or activities. We have been able to enjoy some free online painting classes with various artists around the country and from Canada; that's been really fun. I have made and mailed out lots of cards each month to people of all ages to encourage them and to remind them they are not forgotten as they each deal with different struggles. Suzan Burgett livinginjoytogether@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThat was a wonderful idea to keep in touch through cards and letters those who might otherwise be forgotten.
DeleteThe biggest thing for me was that my family realized how important our being together is and we have been able to arrange for my two daughters, son-in-law and granddaughter to spend several days here weekly. And because of getting covid, my husband had to go to the hospital with 2 pulmonary embolisms. During his stay and the tests they ran, the doctors found out that he has kidney cancer. He had no symptoms and if it hadn't been found it might have metastasized. He is having to have a kidney removed but we are thanking the Lord for covid and that the cancer was discovered before it had spread.
ReplyDeleteCathy cpicha@earthlink.net
Wow, what an uplifting story. It's hard to believe that Covid could cause a happy ending. But in your husband's case, it certainly has. God bless your family and I pray he continues to recover from all health concerns.
DeleteI think it's amazing that you're writing these stories. I didn't know about the brewies in Kentucky. That would be fun to visit. racheltirzah(at)gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHopefully, once the pandemic is over, we'll all be able to travel and visit again. Thanks for your kind words about my writing.
DeleteI was already confined at home in a hospital bed after a terrible auto accident that wasn’t my fault. So I pretty much didn’t feel the effects so much. My husband however had to mask up and by groceries every now and then. But I did get lots of reading time in between treatments and pain pills!
ReplyDeleteForgot my email, oops....
Deletetumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com
I am so very sorry to hear about your auto accident! I pray you'll be feeling better soon. Thanks for the email address.
DeleteThanks to everyone who took the time to leave me a comment after my post about the pandemic. My winner of One for the Road on CD audiobooks is Alicia Haney. Alicia, I will contact you privately via email for your mailing address. And I wish everyone a happy Easter.
ReplyDelete