INSTALLMENT THREE OF 5OTH BOOK CELEBRATION

I fully intended to stick to my goal of posting 10 lists of 5 things to honor the number 50. But when I started this list, I couldn’t confine it to just 5 so for this week, here is a list of 10 research trips I have taken.

I love research trips. They give me an excuse for a working holiday and I look at things slightly differently when I’m hunting for details.

In no particular order, here are some of my research trips.

1. ALASKA AND THE YUKON. I had already written the story, Klondike Medicine Woman when we made this trip and was pleased to see that my research (books and internet) was mostly accurate.

2. IDAHO-I wrote a series set in historical Bonners Ferry (Glory and the Rawhide Preacher, Mandy and the Missouri Man and Joanna and the Footloose Cowboy). Loved researching this place and the beautiful setting.

3. BAR U RANCH. This is the setting upon which I based the Eden Valley Ranch. Again, a beautiful place with well preserved historical buildings.

4. MONTANA—The setting for several of my books. I’ve made several trips to this area so it was hard to pick out one or two pictures of the trip.

5. FERNIE. A picturesque town with a history of bootlegging and mining. I haven’t figured out how to turn the setting into a story but someday I will.

6. FORT STEELE-a place teeming with historical information. I could move in for a week or two and write a book surrounded by authenticity.

7. FORT MACLEOD—where the history of the North West Mounted Police and early ranching is showcased. Again, some day I am going to do a series on the early Mounties.

8. THE DAKOTAS. Unfortunately those pictures were before my digital camera but enjoyed the museums we visited. I wrote a series set in the Dakota Territory. (Dakota Cowboy, Dakota Child.)

9. BANFF-another place I’d like to write more stories about.