Author Guest Post Debra Borchert, “Her Own Legacy” (487 words) Journeying for Writing While writing “Her Own Legacy,” I found a 1939 edition of “The Land of France,” which I devoured. After digesting all the first-person knowledge, I realized I needed to fulfill my senses so that I could immerse my readers in that time and place. So, off to France I flew for my first research project. Then, I found myself writing “Her Own Revolution,” the second book of my Chateau de Verzat series. In total, I traveled to France five times. I know you’re thinking: All that fabulous food and those wine tastings must have been rough. What truly was rough was driving a stick-shift car without a GPS, getting lost, and not knowing the language or the customs. But I was determined to learn more about what my characters experienced in real life, albeit in the eighteenth century. I researched numerous chateaux in the Loire River, and I explored the topography, cave dwellings, flora, fauna, the color and quality of light absorbed and reflected on tufa, the unique stone found in that area, and I experienced odors firsthand. Contrary to one of my critique partner’s opinion, mud does have an odor, and different odors, depending on the minerals of the soil. I found muds near the ocean have salty scents and muds of riverbanks often have an iron scent to them. In my third book of the series, “Her Own War,” one of my protagonists travels to Egypt. Fortunately, I had been to Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor, nearly forty years earlier. Since I was writing about the late eighteenth century, what I’d experienced back in the 80s would have to do. Like the actress I once was, I used a sense memory technique, closed my eyes, and felt the blistering sun on my shoulders. More importantly, I remembered the sand—fine as talcum powder—in my nostrils, eyes, ears, surrounding my fingernails, coating my tongue, gritting against my teeth, Perhaps my memories of the desert were enhanced because I am sensitive to the sun and heat, because I likened my trip to Egypt like a trip to hell with amazing artifacts and architecture. I’m grateful I had the great privilege and honor of experiencing Egypt and its amazing people, for I was able to draw upon my experiences with many of them to flesh out my native characters, who were the definition of kind. Traveling for research may be the reason writers embark upon their journeys. But when writers immerse themselves in the culture, they will return with a treasure-trove in their souls, which can help them return to that place through their memories anytime they like. While writing “Her Own Legacy,” I found a 1939 edition of “The Land of France,” which I devoured. After digesting all the first-person knowledge, I realized I needed to fulfill my senses so that I could immerse my readers in that time and place.
So, off to France I flew for my first research project. Then, I found myself writing “Her Own Revolution,” the second book of my Chateau de Verzat series. In total, I traveled to France five times. I know you’re thinking: All that fabulous food and those wine tastings must have been rough. What truly was rough was driving a stick-shift car without a GPS, getting lost, and not knowing the language or the customs. But I was determined to learn more about what my characters experienced in real life, albeit in the eighteenth century. I researched numerous chateaux in the Loire River, and I explored the topography, cave dwellings, flora, fauna, the color and quality of light absorbed and reflected on tufa, the unique stone found in that area, and I experienced odors firsthand. Contrary to one of my critique partner’s opinion, mud does have an odor, and different odors, depending on the minerals of the soil. I found muds near the ocean have salty scents and muds of riverbanks often have an iron scent to them. In my third book of the series, “Her Own War,” one of my protagonists travels to Egypt. Fortunately, I had been to Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor, nearly forty years earlier. Since I was writing about the late eighteenth century, what I’d experienced back in the 80s would have to do. Like the actress I once was, I used a sense memory technique, closed my eyes, and felt the blistering sun on my shoulders. More importantly, I remembered the sand—fine as talcum powder—in my nostrils, eyes, ears, surrounding my fingernails, coating my tongue, gritting against my teeth, Perhaps my memories of the desert were enhanced because I am sensitive to the sun and heat, because I likened my trip to Egypt like a trip to hell with amazing artifacts and architecture. I’m grateful I had the great privilege and honor of experiencing Egypt and its amazing people, for I was able to draw upon my experiences with many of them to flesh out my native characters, who were the definition of kind. Traveling for research may be the reason writers embark upon their journeys. But when writers immerse themselves in the culture, they will return with a treasure-trove in their souls, which can help them return to that place through their memories anytime they like. While writing “Her Own Legacy,” I found a 1939 edition of “The Land of France,” which I devoured. After digesting all the first-person knowledge, I realized I needed to fulfill my senses so that I could immerse my readers in that time and place. So, off to France I flew for my first research project. Then, I found myself writing “Her Own Revolution,” the second book of my Chateau de Verzat series. In total, I traveled to France five times. I know you’re thinking: All that fabulous food and those wine tastings must have been rough. What truly was rough was driving a stick-shift car without a GPS, getting lost, and not knowing the language or the customs. But I was determined to learn more about what my characters experienced in real life, albeit in the eighteenth century. I researched numerous chateaux in the Loire River, and I explored the topography, cave dwellings, flora, fauna, the color and quality of light absorbed and reflected on tufa, the unique stone found in that area, and I experienced odors firsthand.
Contrary to one of my critique partner’s opinion, mud does have an odor, and different odors, depending on the minerals of the soil. I found muds near the ocean have salty scents and muds of riverbanks often have an iron scent to them. In my third book of the series, “Her Own War,” one of my protagonists travels to Egypt. Fortunately, I had been to Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor, nearly forty years earlier. Since I was writing about the late eighteenth century, what I’d experienced back in the 80s would have to do. Like the actress I once was, I used a sense memory technique, closed my eyes, and felt the blistering sun on my shoulders. More importantly, I remembered the sand—fine as talcum powder—in my nostrils, eyes, ears, surrounding my fingernails, coating my tongue, gritting against my teeth, Perhaps my memories of the desert were enhanced because I am sensitive to the sun and heat, because I likened my trip to Egypt like a trip to hell with amazing artifacts and architecture. I’m grateful I had the great privilege and honor of experiencing Egypt and its amazing people, for I was able to draw upon my experiences with many of them to flesh out my native characters, who were the definition of kind. Traveling for research may be the reason writers embark upon their journeys. But when writers immerse themselves in the culture, they will return with a treasure-trove in their souls, which can help them return to that place through their memories anytime they like. While writing “Her Own Legacy,” I found a 1939 edition of “The Land of France,” which I devoured. After digesting all the first-person knowledge, I realized I needed to fulfill my senses so that I could immerse my readers in that time and place. So, off to France I flew for my first research project. Then, I found myself writing “Her Own Revolution,” the second book of my Chateau de Verzat series. In total, I traveled to France five times. I know you’re thinking: All that fabulous food and those wine tastings must have been rough. What truly was rough was driving a stick-shift car without a GPS, getting lost, and not knowing the language or the customs. But I was determined to learn more about what my characters experienced in real life, albeit in the eighteenth century. I researched numerous chateaux in the Loire River, and I explored the topography, cave dwellings, flora, fauna, the color and quality of light absorbed and reflected on tufa, the unique stone found in that area, and I experienced odors firsthand. Contrary to one of my critique partner’s opinion, mud does have an odor, and different odors, depending on the minerals of the soil. I found muds near the ocean have salty scents and muds of riverbanks often have an iron scent to them. In my third book of the series, “Her Own War,” one of my protagonists travels to Egypt. Fortunately, I had been to Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor, nearly forty years earlier. Since I was writing about the late eighteenth century, what I’d experienced back in the 80s would have to do. Like the actress I once was, I used a sense memory technique, closed my eyes, and felt the blistering sun on my shoulders. More importantly, I remembered the sand—fine as talcum powder—in my nostrils, eyes, ears, surrounding my fingernails, coating my tongue, gritting against my teeth, rubbing my skin raw when sand coated the inside of my sandals and sneakers as I walked. The blowing Khamsin winds embedded grains of sand in the fabric of my pastel sundresses turning them a taupe color. All of my sensations would be experienced by my characters. About the book To save her world, she must risk losing it. Chateau Verzat’s vineyards have sustained generations, but ancient laws forbid unmarried women from inheriting land. Countess Joliette de Verzat secretly manages her estate, haunted by the fear of losing everything for herself and her people. Revolution erupts, chaos descends. She risks her life to save her forbidden lover amidst the turmoil and flees to Paris where she uncovers a shocking truth: her illegitimate half-brother, Henri, is the rightful heir. Now hunted by her father’s killer, Joliette must trust those she has saved to protect her and help her reclaim her legacy. But as she faces impossible choices and dangerous enemies, she must also confront her own desires and the true meaning of family. For fans of strong women and forbidden romance, Her Own Legacy is a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and the fight for self-determination. Experience the passion and turmoil of a woman defying tradition to claim her rightful place.
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