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For the Sake of Research...
Each time I begin a new book, my goal is to write the best book possible, which involves conducting extensive research. I’ve done some interesting things for research, like being blasted with pepper spray, test driving a Vespa scooter—when I’d never driven a motorbike in my life—participating in a Paris puppet show, and touring funeral homes. I'd like to share some of the research for my latest books!
Flying by the Seat of My Knickers
![Malahide Castle Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_1e208c8ad4a64c3fa53c66e746a1a08d.jpg/v1/fill/w_451,h_339,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_1e208c8ad4a64c3fa53c66e746a1a08d.jpg)
![Malahide Castle Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_fc5ab4b0212c475aa2aac068a6ce10bd.jpg/v1/fill/w_212,h_338,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_fc5ab4b0212c475aa2aac068a6ce10bd.jpg)
Imitating my book cover at
Malahide Castle.
Researching Ireland's pubs! A brilliant way to get a "flavor" for Irish culture.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_ccde4976532e4fa28b84cba492254a75.jpg/v1/fill/w_334,h_250,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_ccde4976532e4fa28b84cba492254a75.jpg)
My first Baby Guinness...
![Temple Bar Dublin Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_5ffd520b7a9d47f9a69662776738aed2.jpg/v1/fill/w_181,h_291,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_5ffd520b7a9d47f9a69662776738aed2.jpg)
![Lynch's Pub Cork Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_2beec513b14c454684bf6942d1be84a0.jpg/v1/fill/w_321,h_241,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_2beec513b14c454684bf6942d1be84a0.jpg)
Learning about Irish sports.
![Flannerys Ballinrobe Mayo Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_0db8dfb0f27746ada6e3591961b368eb.jpg/v1/fill/w_273,h_205,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_0db8dfb0f27746ada6e3591961b368eb.jpg)
Visiting our Flannery
ancestors' homeland.
Enjoying a sunny day in
Dublin's Temple Bar area.
![Gogartys Dublin Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_d0f1e281607447dfa13c83904e2a9261.jpg/v1/fill/w_318,h_239,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_d0f1e281607447dfa13c83904e2a9261.jpg)
![Gogartys Dublin Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_08f8ad4fb74b49b2b85b2dd062e12edf.jpg/v1/fill/w_271,h_203,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_08f8ad4fb74b49b2b85b2dd062e12edf.jpg)
Asking Santa for a publishing
deal for Christmas...
Our first Christmas in Ireland.
![Powerscourt Estate Wicklow Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_678c9d68301d48d08bf0a9c1e51d7b8c.jpg/v1/fill/w_352,h_264,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_678c9d68301d48d08bf0a9c1e51d7b8c.jpg)
![Powerscourt Estate Wicklow Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_1c594dcb97754ec982619573e6533daa.jpg/v1/fill/w_340,h_255,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_1c594dcb97754ec982619573e6533daa.jpg)
Powerscourt Estate
County Wicklow
![Wicklow Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_a67b9c523fbd42c1803193f114d851f0.jpg/v1/fill/w_360,h_270,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_a67b9c523fbd42c1803193f114d851f0.jpg)
Other settings in the book...
Trying to befriend the sheep at Wicklow National Park. Think it might be my wool scarf scaring them off...
![Wicklow Mountains National Park](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_e74c1b616dbd46ab94384bdb9457bc2b.jpg/v1/fill/w_422,h_317,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_e74c1b616dbd46ab94384bdb9457bc2b.jpg)
![County Wicklow Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_495a8925e50f4b1a80705b121a03dd05.jpg/v1/fill/w_297,h_223,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_495a8925e50f4b1a80705b121a03dd05.jpg)
The beautiful but insanely narrow roads in Wicklow. Thankfully we discovered Scratch Gone.
Voila! Wicklow National Park
![Glendalough Wicklow Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_615278fb0a9444f7b411930898082b0f.jpg/v1/fill/w_335,h_251,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_615278fb0a9444f7b411930898082b0f.jpg)
![Glendalough Wicklow Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_2d4f8ba74eb94c9782dc4f2cd40d84ab.jpg/v1/fill/w_371,h_278,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_2d4f8ba74eb94c9782dc4f2cd40d84ab.jpg)
![Glendalough Wicklow Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_0f45fe532d89481a990c5fdf017a336c.jpg/v1/fill/w_334,h_250,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_0f45fe532d89481a990c5fdf017a336c.jpg)
Glendalough
A monastic site and setting for several films including Braveheart.
The Cliffs of Moher aren't featured
in my book but this was my first
trip to Ireland in 2007 with my parents.
And so the journey began...
![Cliffs of Moher Ireland](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_a5f575486a6f4aaa83b34a32532c4521.jpg/v1/fill/w_424,h_318,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2a769e_a5f575486a6f4aaa83b34a32532c4521.jpg)
Paris Research ...
![Eiffel Tower Paris France](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_c01eeb6cac9d4c6c9642abf76cd1b219~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_316,h_316,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/22886104_10214541732364830_5012243477757.jpg)
![Eiffel Tower Paris France](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_e4fbf3ac4ea045a38d0d6501338a6d9d~mv2_d_1326_2048_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_204,h_315,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/23270321_1695207730489821_10285751673852.jpg)
![The Seine Paris France](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_12b756f550bf427db09f88ee43bd0f6a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_198,h_316,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Newsletter%20(2).jpg)
![Montmartre Paris France](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_754552c0658a424dbe52515454609709~mv2_d_2048_1411_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_263,h_181,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/22552999_1680624488614812_45419803568288.jpg)
![Puppet Show Paris France](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2a769e_c3eb75a0325d4e85b49775c73d00023e~mv2_d_3072_2304_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_239,h_179,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/DSC00891_JPG.jpg)