As many of you might already know, I'm a HUGE fan of Pinterest. Love, love, love filling up my boards with all my favorite things. One of my favorite boards that I pin to often is My Favorite Places & Spaces. This board is a collection of places I've either visited or have a deep desire to visit in the future. The pictures are gorgeous! They capture a moment in time, a mood, or simply an angle that makes you long to be there.

So, because I love you all so much, I'm sharing this very special board with you today :) And I'd love for you to share your favorite Pinterest boards with me, too! I'm always looking for new, fun boards to follow!

My Favorite Places & Spaces

The Eiffel Tower

What trip to Paris is complete without visiting the Eiffel Tower?  The first time I was there I couldn’t even go up in the elevator.  I have a horrible fear of heights.  I even have to close my eyes when watching a movie with someone looking over the top of a tall building or cliff.  However, on the second trip we were eating dinner in the restaurant on either the second or third level.  Well, I don’t like to miss a meal, so I closed my eyes and stepped on.   

I have to digress here for a moment because for a short time I thought I was going to be saved from having to go up there. You see, workers were on strike at the Eiffel Tower.  I don’t remember what they were protesting but they were on strike, which means it was basically shut down.  However, the restaurant was still open.  I don’t care how hungry I was, I was not going to walk up the steps. When there is a strike in France, it is usually for a day or so, from what I understand.  It is simply to get their point across. This was a foreign concept to me. If that is incorrect, someone please call me on it. This is just what I picked up while I was there and could have easily misunderstood.

Anyway, because we already had reservations, and had probably paid for the meal through the tour company, we were allowed onto the elevator.  Like I said, I closed my eyes and probably held my breath too.  The book, Angels and Demons played through my mind.   Remember the opening scene when the elevator malfunctions?  Yep, that was what I was thinking about. 

My first trip up was at night.  The view was breathtaking.  And maybe one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much was because there weren’t any crowds.  In fact, while we were outside looking over the City, it felt as if we had the entire Eiffel Tower to ourselves.   

There was no strike on my second trip, but I found myself taking that elevator up again (closing my eyes and holding my breath).  I have to admit, this view was even better because it was in the middle of the day and you could see so much.  Also, the shops were open so I had to buy a few souvenirs. Who knew if I would have the guts to ever go up again?

The Eiffel Tower is located on the Champ de Mars (which has its own history that I will discuss in a later post).  It was built in 1889 and was the entrance arch for the 1889 World’s Fair.   It is the design of Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguir, two senior engineers, after discussions for a centerpiece for the 1889 Exposition Universelle – a World’s Fair, which would celebrate the French Revolution.  Koechlin made an outline drawing in May of 1884. At first Eiffel did not have much enthusiasm for the design so he and Nouguir asked Stephen Sauvestre to contribute to the original design. Later Eiffel went on to state:

"not only the art of the modern engineer, but also the century of Industry and Science in which we are living, and for which the way was prepared by the great scientific movement of the eighteenth century and by the Revolution of 1789, to which this monument will be built as an expression of France's gratitude."

However, it was not met with enthusiasm from everyone.  Some didn’t think it was feasible and others “objected on artistic grounds.” A committee including important figures of the French artists was formed and a petition was sent to the Minister of Works and Commission for the Exposition and published by Le Temps.

"We, writers, painters, sculptors, architects and passionate devotees of the hitherto untouched beauty of Paris, protest with all our strength, with all our indignation in the name of slighted French taste, against the erection…of this useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower … To bring our arguments home, imagine for a moment a giddy, ridiculous tower dominating Paris like a gigantic black smokestack, crushing under its barbaric bulk Notre Dame, the Tour Saint-Jacques, the Louvre, the Dome of les Invalides, the Arc de Triomphe, all of our humiliated monuments will disappear in this ghastly dream. And for twenty years … we shall see stretching like a blot of ink the hateful shadow of the hateful column of bolted sheet metal"

Did you notice they mentioned twenty years?  Yep, the Eiffel Tower was to have been temporary.  It was supposed to have been dismantled in 1909 when the City of Paris became the owner.  The reason it wasn’t is because it became valuable for the purpose of communication.  During WWI, powerful radio transmitters were fitted to the tower in order to jam German communications.  Not only did it hinder their advance on Paris but contributed to the Allied victory.

I think anyone visiting Paris should visit the Eiffel Tower.  Is it my favorite place? No. That is because I prefer to be further back in history.  My favorite places in France are much older and when I set stories within France, the Eiffel Tower doesn’t exist, nor has it even been thought about.

(All quotes and historical information taken from Wikipedia)

by Suzie Grant


Inspiration for a novel can come out of nowhere. It’s funny how it hits you and usually at a time when you don’t have pen and paper to write it down. And then you scramble to find something, usually knocking over something (usually a drink or at least in my case it’s almost always something that makes a mess I’ll have to clean up later) and when you finally get pen and pad in hand you have to think really hard to remember what it was. And then it always feels like it doesn’t sound as good this go round.

Sigh. Yup, it’s happened to me many, many times. So, I’ve learned over the years to keep a pen and pad in my purse, one in my car and lately, one by my nightstand. You just never know when inspiration is going to strike.

My first novel The Devil’s Daughter was somewhat inspired by Sharon Stone in the movie The Quick and The Dead. Excellent movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I saw my character, Blaze first and really very vividly. The rest of the story came together much later. It took ages for this story to completely come together as it was one of the first books I’ve ever written.

I have been inspired by a single line in a book before—never used the same line—it was the tone of the line that struck me. And I immediately saw a character walking into darkness. Apparently, I write entire stories off one scene and a character lol. There seems to be a pattern here.

I recently took a trip to New Mexico. Beautiful part of the country, by the way, and lots of things to see. But the scenery inspired my latest work in progress. Several of the pictures I took inspired my newest novella The Texas Ranger’s Series. I haven’t decided on a set name yet so I’m going to leave you in the dark on that one.

You don’t like the dark you say? Sometimes, being in complete darkness can be one of the most inspiring moments in my day. Take a moment, turn off all the lights tonight, sit in the silence and let your imagination run.

Horseback riding or sitting outside communing with nature often inspires me, I don’t do it as much as I used to now that I’m living in a tiny apartment, but I can still very much remember the feelings nature evoke in me. Some people have a hobby or something that they do in their downtime and all too often, those moment of inspiration spring out of nowhere.

So tell me, what inspired your current work in progress or what was the most vivid moment of inspiration to you? Do you remember?

One of my absolute favorite places on earth is Newport, RI. Actually, I love all of Rhode Island. The road between Providence and Newport is lovely, with wineries along the way, and the promise of a quaint seaside town and towering historical estates ahead. Below, I hope you'll enjoy some pictures from our last trip there...

I admit, I play hooky a lot. I didn't get to do it in high school very much, so ever since then, I've taken all the opportunities I could. I went to the college classes I really liked and played hooky a lot with the ones I didn't. Any job I've held could have expected me to be out once every couple of weeks. And even now, working for myself, I tend to beg off and go do something fun quite often.

This post is from one such day when we were still living in NYC, and my hubby and I grabbed our friends so we could make our way up to the North Fork of Long Island. Most people don't realize, but this rural part of Long Island is chock full of wineries! It's like a mini Sonoma, with vineyards and farm stands and quaint little towns with tea rooms and antique shops.

In 1973, Alex and Louisa Hargrave arrived in the North Fork to plant the very first vineyard, and met with great success! Almost 40 years later, there are 30 wineries in the North Fork, and a whopping 60 wineries total on Long Island. Many of the wines are award winning, and Long Island has been called "one of the country's most exciting wine producing regions today."

For folks like us who lived in a big city (and now live in a semi-big city), getting out to the country for a day can be rejuvenating and inspiring!

Where do you go when you want to play hooky?

    It has to be one of my favorite places on earth. The first time I visited was in 2005.  I had heard of Versailles and was fascinated with its history, I just didn’t realize that I would fall in love. 

            It was late March the first time, but the sun was out and light jackets were all we needed.  Our tour began on the inside and we were provided with much of the history.  If you ever visit Versailles, you can rent an MP3 player to guide you on your tour so you know whose bedroom you are standing in or so you will recognize the Hall of Mirrors. Okay, you would know the Hall of Mirrors on sight and without the assistance of a guide.

            There is not enough time to explore the entire palace or all of the gardens.  Each time I visited I was with a large group as one of the chaperones to high school students.  However, this summer I will return and my time will be my own.  I can’t tell you how excited I am.  But, the three visits I did enjoy gave me a taste of what I want to further explore.  By the way, the gardens will require a separate post. 

            Originally, when the palace was built, there were two sets of gates.  To the left of the first gate were the stables and to the right, the kitchens. The second gate was torn down during the French Revolution.

Everyone could enter Versailles.  Several guards were posted to confiscate weapons, search carriages and to ensure the visitor was properly dressed.  I am fairly certain that during my visits I was not dressed appropriately for court life.  But I was on vacation and I was fairly certain I would not be running into any kings or queens.

It was originally a hunting lodge for Louis XIII. At first the king set out to embellish the original house, and construction lasted over 50 years.  In 1682 it became Louis XIV’s official residence, and in 10 years he expanded it, adding two wings and dedicating each common room to its own planet. Louis XIV, or the Sun King, favored the location because it wasn’t too close to Paris, but not too far away either.  In our century, it is about a 45 minute tour bus drive away. It was large enough that he could permanently have his court around him, which included aristocracy, ministers, advisors, etc.  When royalty was in residence, there could be anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 people living at Versailles.

The main entrance of the tour is to the left and includes all modern technology has to offer, including metal detectors.  But soon you step back, into the past.  The tours I have taken part of were of the State Apartments. Rich with art, tapestry, woodwork, gold carvings.   

Probably the most famous room in Versailles is The Hall of Mirrors. It is filled with 357 mirrors, as well as a row of 17 arched windows overlooking the vast gardens and reflecting back into the mirrors.  The king would use this hall to walk from his private apartments to chapel each day. It was also used for celebration and political events.  Even in modern day, long after the era of kings, The Hall of Mirrors has stood as a backdrop to history.  It was here on June 28, 1919 that the Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending WWI. It is still a place where dignitaries meet. I just hope none of them are planning a meeting on the date I want to visit so I can stand in the center of the hall and simply take it in.

by Jane Charles

I toured Palais Garneir, also known as Opera de Paris, on my second visit to Paris.  Opera de Paris is the one place my middle daughter HAD TO SEE.  It is all she talked about in the months leading up to the trip. Her passion and desire to visit Palais Garneir began when she wrote a paper on its history, and only grew from there. I should also mention this is my theatre child, so it should not have come as a surprise that out of my three children, she was the one that wanted to visit. 

Opera de Paris is gorgeous.  I can think of no other words to describe the inside.  This establishment opened its grand doors for the first time in 1875. I had thought it was much older, bu it is the opera company itself that goes back to the 1600's. This building was simply its home from 1875 through 1978.  It now hosts the ballet and the opera has moved to a more modern building.

The theater portion seats around 2,200 people with a giant chandelier in the center. We were able to step inside what would be a private patron's box where we could look down on the seats and large stage below and view the chandelier up above. Additional research told me that the stage could accommodate up to 450 artists.  That is one huge stage! At least to me. The stages I’m familiar with would get crowded with only 75 people.

The Grand Foyer rivals the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and my daughter and I will never come to an agreement on which is more beautiful. Of course, I still favor Versailles.

However, what this building is most famous for is the setting of The Phantom of the Opera." In 1896, one of the counterweights for the grand chandelier fell, killing one. This, as well as the underground lake, cellars, and other elements of the Opera House, inspired Gaston Leroux in 1909 to write his classic Gothic novel, The Phantom of the Opera."* We did not get to go below to see the underground lake but would have loved to.  That would have been the icing on our cake. 

It is also haunted, if you believe in such a thing.  I skipped the opera house on my third visit to Paris,  but my colleagues who were there insist on it’s paranormal activity. I didn’t feel any “presence” during my previous visits, but I wasn’t looking to encounter ghosts either.  However, I was looking through photos that another parent took and I am convinced she captured a ghost, or the outline, or whatever you call it.  I don’t look for ghosts in pictures or anywhere else for that matter. But she told me she kept having trouble taking a picture of these huge candelabra. Indeed, I saw a face and the outline of shoulders.  Kind of gave me chills and then I pointed it out to her.  Several people had pictures with floating lights, which is not unusual when taking pictures in such old places. The question is, are they ghosts?

By the way, following the tour I took with my daughter, she informed me that she plans on being married there.  My thoughts were 1) I had better sell a lot, I mean a lot, of books; 2) we need to hit the lottery (guess one of us should start playing); or 3) it will only be her, her husband and the few people who can afford to travel. I really hope she doesn't have her heart set on this. I haven't asked her recently, fearful of her answer.

*Quoted from Wikipedia