The Authorized Version

One of my guiding rules as a writer (which I break only when absolutely necessary) is never to write about something I haven’t actually experienced. Of course, I must hasten to say that being murdered, falling off cliffs and finding dead bodies are a major exception to that rule.

But following the rule has led me to be uncharacteristically adventurous at times and provided some delightful experiences. For example, when my heroine Kathryn in the first of my Daughters of Courage family saga books had to go into a lava flow cave in search of a missing boy the ladder offering easy descent into the Kuna Caves had not yet been installed. Solution— my outdoorsy teenage son took me rappelling— an exhilarating event I’ll never forget. Http://ning.it/16nFcF2

Likewise, many years ago I was setting a romance novel on the island of Kauai where it was only natural for my heroine to go snorkeling. I do realize snorkeling is a children’s sport and a long way from the daring-do of scuba diving, but it was quite eventful enough for me— especially when I brushed up against a coral fan.

So, of course, before writing A MOST INCONVENIENT DEATH which introduces the enthusiastic aeronaut Lord Danvers, I prevailed upon my friend’s brother-in-law to take me hot air ballooning— an experience I’ve recalled with regularity in writing the subsequent books in the series. Http://ning.it/16nER5q

Just a couple of weeks ago I had the fun of reliving that event when we visited the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan http://www.airzoo.org/ . The entire history of flight, from Daedalus and Icarus through airplanes and on into space rockets feature in this delightful interactive museum. My daughter-in-law who had recently been to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, said she enjoyed the Air Zoo more— especially in the light of the experiences offered for small children.

And for me, the great fun was the section on hot air ballooning which I could enjoyin the vicarious company of Charles and Antonia. I’ll let the pictures tell the story.