my heart's in the lowlands liz curtis higgs

Perhaps because when I’m there, I have a sense of rightness, of completion, of belonging. How then to explain my abiding affection for Scotland, a country small enough to fit inside the state of Indiana with room to spare? “Because men in kilts make my heart skip a beat” may be true, though it’s the skirl of a lone bagpipe that brings a lump to my throat. Crawfords and Walkers, two fine Lowland names, grow in my family tree, but we’ve yet to find our roots definitively planted in Caledonian soil. “Because I’m fascinated by the country’s history” offers some justification. “Because it’s the loveliest place on earth” is a beginning. I’m asked that question so often I really should have a snappy answer at the ready. If Scotland has stolen your heart as well, welcome home!

Pop on my Books page and see which titles grab your fancy.

In case you’re curious, so far I’ve written eight books set in Scotland-six historical novels, one Victorian Christmas novella, and a friendly armchair travel guide. I’ll mine them for all sorts of fascinating tidbits for you. My writing study is lined with one thousand reference books about Scotland from A to Z: Architecture, Birds, Customs, Dining, Education, Folklore, Gardening, History, Islands, Jacobites…och, they go on forever. When details are available, you’ll find them here. Plans are afoot for a Lowlands tour in May 2016. In May 2014 I lead a Highlands and Islands, Castles and Gardens tour. I confess I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with Scotland, having traveled there eighteen times, often for several weeks at a go. You’ll find my favorite photos, snippets from my books, interesting bits of Scottish history, tips for travelers, helpful links to other Scottish websites, traditional recipes, recommended Scottish books and music, pen-and-ink drawings, and my wee blog. If time and money were in limitless supply, I’d whisk you away for a fortnight and escort you around bonny Scotland in person.

My heart's in the lowlands liz curtis higgs