My favorite place to visit is the Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. I average a trip there once a week. It’s a relaxing place to walk, and the exhibits are so much fun to see. I suppose it was only a matter of time before some of the exhibits would influence my writing. I thought it would be fun to share some pictures that provided me the settings for which I planned my books.
But first, I want to share two pictures of owls that are in the desert dome of the zoo. I couldn’t resist. I am in the process of writing Anyone But the Marquess where the statue of an owl plays a role in the course of the story.
 
I don’t want to spoil how the owl plays a role in this particular story. But let’s just say that Guy Milton (Lord Quinton) has a panic attack over an owl statue in this book. If you read Midnight Wedding, you know why.
So anyway, I saw a couple of owls and decided to take these pictures in honor of Guy.
 
Alright, now for the setting part of this post…
The reason I decided to set Tagalong Bride in Arizona was because of the Desert Dome at the zoo. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize how varied the terrain in Arizona is, and I picked a location that is full of trees, rather than the desert environment that inspired me at the dome. I’ll be rectifying this situation in Book 2 in the Love Under Desert Skies Series, The Hero Least Likely.
 
Here are some pictures from the Desert Dome that inspired the creation of this series:
and
Another exhibit at the zoo that I fell in love with is for the sea lions, and the setting is the Northwest Pacific. After walking through this exhibit for a year and a half, I finally decided I had to write a book that took place in this setting. That is how The Wilderness Bride was born.
I took a story idea I had a couple of years ago and placed the heroine and hero in Oregon. Here are some pictures from this exhibit at the zoo:
and
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Every time I go to the zoo, I go through these exhibits and think of different scenes that might make up the stories as I’m writing them. It makes writing even more enjoyable. 😀
Aww, owls!
Yep. 😀 They are said to foretell death, but I’m sure you knew that. I have a lot of fun messing with my character over this very thing.
I have no doubt about that! 😆
I have lived in the Omaha area most of my life. However, I haven’t been to the zoo for about 20 years. There’s too much walking for me, especially after I had a bad fall in 2019. However, I’m happy you are enjoying it. As most of those who have visited it, they love it. God bless.
They have scooters there. A lot of people take them, including Tony’s mom when she was visiting. But I don’t take you for the type to go to the zoo without having to go with your family. 🙂
I love owls. We have one close to the house that I hear from time to time just hooting away! 🙂
I love them, too. They’re gorgeous birds.
When I lived in Nebraska before, a family of squirrels lived in a big hole that was in a tree right outside my bedroom.
Being near animals like that is just soothing, isn’t it?