Before I was an author (I was always a writer), I was a librarian, and before that, I was a history major. I’ve always loved history, but I was prejudiced—I only liked American history. I was so naive! And honestly, arrogant. How long have Americans even existed? What have we really done or learned or taught in the short 250 years we’ve been a nation? Not that America hasn’t made many significant contributions to the world, but in comparison to the Romans, the Greeks, the Byzantines, the Florentines, the Vikings, etc, what kind of history do we really have?
It has only been in the last ten years that I have truly come alive as a history student. Having been so blessed as to have a husband who works in the global energy industry, I’ve been able to travel extensively. I’ve traveled often without my husband, but it’s his frequent flyer mileage that I’m typically using, so I have to give him the credit for that and for helping me figure out that I have the confidence to travel the world without him.
In becoming a world traveler, I’ve fallen in love with art and art history. I often say that I’d love to get another degree at some point in my life—an art history degree. To know and understand art, its masters, and its influence is truly to know and understand history. It’s this love of art and history that inspired my book, Whispering Vines. Now, wherever I go, I’m in search of that same inspiration.
This week, Ken is on business in Sweden, and my schedule was open enough to allow me to travel with him. From the sleepy, little town of Mariefred to the bustling, economic center of Stockholm, we’re experiencing fall in Scandinavia. One thing I didn’t expect is the weather. It’s darn cold here! Having been to Iceland and Copenhagen during summertime, I expected the 60 degree temperatures, as predicted by my weather app, but I was surprised by the raw and damp cold of a cloudy day. Not that we’ve let that stop us!
We’ve enjoyed a ride on a narrow-gauge railroad, a visit to palaces in both Mariefred and Stockholm, a traipse though the ancient ruins of a 12th Century church, the brilliant display of military precision in the Changing of the Guard, an afternoon of fun at the ABBA Museum, and dinner at Viking and medieval restaurants. Junibacken is fun for all who fell in love with Pippi Longstocking and her creator, Astrid Lindgeren. The Vasa Museum takes your breath away when you walk beneath the shadow of the great 17th Century ship and truly is one of the most fascinating museums I’ve ever visited. The list of museums I’m trying to fit in is endless!
It’s an amazing world we live in. Never stop learning about it and striving to explore it. Whether you regularly travel the world by plane or from your reading chair, be open to all aspects of history—the art, the culture, the military, the literature, and the people, living and long passed. It’s only in learning about the past that we can improve the future. I hope I’ve instilled this important fact in my girls and that they are open-minded and open-hearted when it comes to experiencing all that this great planet and its peoples have to offer. Life is an adventure. Embrace it in whatever way what you can.
The second book in Amy’s Chincoteague Island Trilogy, Island of Promise, is now available in stores and online.
Amy Schisler is an award-winning author of both children’s books and sweet, faith-filled romance novels for readers of all ages. She lives with her husband and three daughters on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Her books, Picture Me, Whispering Vines, and Island of Miracles are all recipients of Illumination Awards, placing them among the top inspirational fiction books of 2015, 2016, and 2017. Whispering Vines was awarded the 2017 LYRA Award for the best romance of 2016. Island of Miracles has outsold all of Amy’s other books worldwide and ranked as high as 600 on Amazon. Her latest children’s book, The Greatest Gift, is now available; and her novel, Summer’s Squall, can be found online and in stores.
You may follow Amy on Facebook at http://facebook.com/amyschislerauthor, Twitter @AmySchislerAuth, Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/amyschisler and at http://amyschislerauthor.com.
Amy’s books: Crabbing With Granddad (2013), A Place to Call Home (2014), Picture Me (2015), Whispering Vines (2016), Island of Miracles (2017), Stations of the Cross Meditations for Moms (2017), The Greatest Gift (2017), Summer’s Squall (2017), Island of Promise (2018).
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