In the Footsteps of Giants by Wendy H. Jones



Shalom. I am currently in Israel where many Christians will say they are walking in the footsteps of Jesus. I certainly did that, who wouldn’t, but I feel like I have also spent time walking in the footsteps of literary giants. I thought this was particularly appropriate as I am in Israel on a writing retreat. You may think this a strange place to write, but did I mention I am now in Eilat which has sun. And heat. 33 degrees centigrade heat to be precise. What did you say the temperature was in Scotland again? I rest my case your honour. 

In any case, what about those literary giants? When I was in Jerusalem I went to the American Colony Hotel and did a spot of writing. This hotel is over 100 years old and has hosted a veritable plethora of dignitaries from Lawrence of Arabia and Winston Churchill to Richard Gere and Bob Dylan. On the literary side, Leon Uris and John Le Carre both wrote books there. I would like to think Bob Marley was also inspired to pen a few lyrics while there. 

I also spent time doing some writing in the King David Hotel, another historic hotel in Jerusalem. This hotel was the military HQ of the British Mandate and, as such,  was involved in the drawing up of the Balfour Declaration. Now, before we get all political here, this is not a political blog, I am merely saying I wrote in the same place such a historic document was written.


Then it was down to Eilat where this blog is being written. What a fabulous place to be writing. I am staying at the Shelter Hostel which is owned by Judy Pex who is also an author and ACW member. It was such a pleasure to meet her and to spend time with her.


There are three other Christian writers here at the hostel, from Ukraine, California and England and it was so good to meet them and spend time with them. A picture with them all will be taken later and I will update the blog. 

I have to say, spending time soaked in such literary history gives me shivers down my spine and inspires me beyond belief. I am curious, have you ever written anywhere that has inspired you to this degree? Let me know in the comments.

About the Author


Wendy H Jones is the Amazon #1 international best-selling author of the award winning DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Her Young Adult Mystery, The Dagger’s Curse was a finalist in the Woman Alive Readers' Choice Award. She is also The President of the Scottish Association of Writers, an international public speaker, and runs conferences and workshops on writing, motivation and marketing.  She is the editor of a Lent Book, published by the Association of Christian Writers and also the editor of the Christmas Anthology from the same publisher. Her first children's book, Bertie the Buffalo, was released in December 2018. Motivation Matters: Revolutionise Your Writing One Creative Step at a Time, was released in May 2019. The Power of Why: Why 23 Women Took the Leap to Start Their Own Business was released on 29th June, 2020. Marketing Matters: Sell More Books was released on 31st July 2020. Bertie Goes to the Worldwide Games will be released on 5th May, 202,  and the third book in the Fergus and Flora Mysteries will be published in 2021. Her new author membership Authorpreneur Accelerator Academy launched in January 2021. Creativity Matters: Find Your Passion for Writing the third book in her Writing Matters Series was published in September 2021. Wendy's latest release is Killer's Curse, the seventh book in the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Wendy is represented by Amy Collins of Talcott Notch Literary Services. 



Comments

  1. What a fantastic blog and pictures, Wendy. When I was songwriting, there was one spot on the local hillside, overlooking the valley and God's splendour. I penned several great songs there and one was called, 'Inspired by God'. Where we write can make a huge difference to what we produce.

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    1. Thank you, Brendan. That sounds lovely. Certainly inspirational.

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  2. Thanks, Wendy, for the pictures as well as the words. I'm glad you're having such a good time. I find train journeys are often good for writing.

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  3. Lovely to see you with my friend Judy Pex, Wendy. (We were together in Eilat in December.) You forgot to mention me as a writer who wrote in Israel! I wrote 'She Does Not Fear the Snow' when I lived there. And my time there is recalled in 'Love Triangles'. (Sigh) There is something there, isn't there? It grips your heart...

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  4. You had me at "sun." Like Emily, I find writing on trains a wonderfully creative experience. Looking forward to hearing more about your travels

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    1. Trains are the way to go. Sun is my favourite word.

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  5. Lovely post and wow! You are having a whale of a time! Enjoy sister. Blessings.

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  6. This is inspiring. I had no previous knowledge of the fact that these writers were associated with Jerusalem - fascinating. I can well understand how special it must be for a writer to go there today. (Sheila aka SC Skillman).

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    1. It really is steeped in history - literary and otherwise. I'm loving it.

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  7. Thank you Wendy, a mental note made of a possible return to Israel for a writing retreat! Great idea. My only visit to Israel a few years ago coincided with writing 'When the Rabbis Cry', an attempt to make sense of God's purposes with Israel since New Testament times...I smile now at choosing one of the harder theological nuts to crack for my first book BUT travelling around Israel made all the hours of research (mostly tucked away in Bristol) come to life. Loved the Old City of Jerusalem...and the Dead Sea...think I might start there, float about waiting for inspiration, as you say, at 35C. It's currently 5C in Bristol.

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