
One of my favourite scenes in my newest contemporary romance, Forever Your Valentine, is the scene in which Cole and Faith fly in a small two-seater plane to visit Pelee Island, ON. Faith has never stepped foot in a plane and is scared to death. But she screws up her courage and puts her trust in Cole’s piloting skills. The trip to Pelee Island represents a positive change in Faith, when she begins to let go of the fears and inhibitions that have held her back since childhood.
I knew when I started plotting the book that I wanted to include a flying scene, but writing it was a challenge. I’ve never been in a small plane. Thankfully, I have friends with flying experience who were willing to help me put the scene together. My fellow author Joan Reeves used to own a plane and answered many of my questions so I could draft the scene. When it came to polishing the scene and making it shine, my friend Beth Fischer provided invaluable help.
Beth is a talented illustrator (you can see her work here). Another of her passions is flying. She grew up in Ontario and now lives in Germany with her husband. Since childhood, she wanted to learn to fly. She finally earned her private pilot licence at the age of thirty-three, and later, her commercial licence.
I knew when I started plotting the book that I wanted to include a flying scene, but writing it was a challenge. I’ve never been in a small plane. Thankfully, I have friends with flying experience who were willing to help me put the scene together. My fellow author Joan Reeves used to own a plane and answered many of my questions so I could draft the scene. When it came to polishing the scene and making it shine, my friend Beth Fischer provided invaluable help.
Beth is a talented illustrator (you can see her work here). Another of her passions is flying. She grew up in Ontario and now lives in Germany with her husband. Since childhood, she wanted to learn to fly. She finally earned her private pilot licence at the age of thirty-three, and later, her commercial licence.
An avid outdoorswoman, Beth dreamed of working as a bush pilot in Canada's wilderness. She says, “I had always wanted to see what the birds see and to experience their freedom. Flying is amazing. The aircraft feels awkward on the ground and especially on water, but once it breaks free of the surface, you realize that it is meant to be in the air, despite being at the mercy of the wind and weather.”
Thanks, Beth, for lending me your passion and knowledge in the writing of my book. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Thanks, Beth, for lending me your passion and knowledge in the writing of my book. I couldn’t have done it without you.