Novel Adventures

08/11/2024

You start dying slowly;
if you do not travel,
if you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.
You start dying slowly:
When you kill your self-esteem,
When you do not let others help you.
You start dying slowly;
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths,
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.
You start dying slowly:
If you avoid to feel passion
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.
You start dying slowly:
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,
If you do not go after a dream,
If you do not allow yourself
At least once in your lifetime
To run away from sensible advice.
Don't let yourself die slowly
Do not forget to be happy!

~ Pablo Neruda
Chilean poet who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971

Scotland, here we come! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😄

08/10/2024

And I Must GO! 😄

Watch this page to follow our 'Royal Scottish Adventures'! 👑🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

08/07/2024

Wise words for this Wednesday morning 😊

08/06/2024

Wise man, Frederick. 📚🤓

08/05/2024

Happy Monday! Have a great week! 😄

08/04/2024

Get these books now! Trust me, they are so good! 😃

If you've been following us for a while, you may even remember, we've done a 'Jason Crane' Novel Adventure®️ in Sleepy Hollow; one of my all-time favorites! 🎃🐎

Don't miss this opportunity... they are FREE in preparation for Richard's next book, which is coming out soon!

08/03/2024

I am so excited about having a "Cocktail Making Class" during our 2024 Fall Gathering on The Ridge®️ by Novel Adventures®️ this coming October using this 'Outlander Cocktails' book! Diana says that some of the cocktails were created by her hunny -- I can't wait to give them a try! 😋🥃

Well, now...next week, on August 9th, I'll be appearing at the Poisoned Pen, for a special event--featuring a) a great debut fantasy novel --The SWORD AND THE SOPHOMORE, by a good friend, Brian Sweany (who, as Acquisitions person for Recorded Books, is the man solely responsible for the existence of the UNabridged OUTLANDER Audiobooks!), and b) the new OUTLANDER COCKTAILS book (with Foreword by me, and a modest selection of my husband's best drinks--featuring the Pterodactyl and Rum, So**my and the Lash. (Also the new OUTLANDER Trivia game, in case of long winter nights to come....).

Here is the information on the event from the Poisoned Pen's website (which lists tons of great author events, besides this one!)

https://calendar.time.ly/9plshfqx/posterboard;event=77618596;instance=20240809190000?lang=en-US

08/02/2024

Lol, Happy Friyay! 😄

08/01/2024

Call a friend now because you don't want to miss this! 😄

🍁🍂 2024 Fall Gathering on The Ridge® by Novel Adventures® 🍂🍁

Oct 17 - 20, 2024

Ancient Lore Village 7107 Sevierville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA

Join Novel Adventures ® for our All-Inclusive Signature Event - A Fall Gathering on the Ridge®' - an unforgettable 4 day/3 night Autumnal celebration at The Ancient Lore Village in Knoxville, Tennessee!

Located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Ancient Lore Village is a truly magical rural retreat destination. This unique Village has been thoughtfully designed around fostering community and creating unforgettable memories! Enjoy an immersive experience in a quaint, whimsical village, combined with events and happenings, such as themed dining, entertainment, and many fun activities!

Prices starting at $2450pp

Included in every package:

🎃 3 nights lodging in spectacular themed dwellings

🎃 ALL meals from Thursday's Welcome Dinner through Sunday Brunch

🎃 Moonshine tasting and wine pairing with dinners

🎃 Full day of on-site activities. Choose from Archery, Axe Throwing, Blacksmithing, Hiking, Autumn and Period-Themed Crafts

🎃 Full day of off-site activities. Options include; Marble Springs Historic Site, Oakes Farm, and other Seasonal Activities

🎃 Themed dinner event Friday night

🎃 'Ceilidh on The Ridge' with LIVE performance by Callum Kerr, Scottish actor and country music performing artist on Saturday night (tickets not available to the public)

🎃 Bonfires, Laughter, Friendship, and so much MORE! :-D

Come! Be a part of our family. Disconnect and discover the magic, mystery, and wonder of Ancient Lore Village during our 2nd Fall Gathering on The Ridge®
by Novel Adventures®!

This link for more info:
www.noveladventuresvacations.com/fall-gathering-on-the-ridge

07/31/2024

Amen

07/30/2024

Speaking of Gatherings, take a look at these Luxury Treehouses being built at Ancient Lore Village, home of our 2024 Fall Gathering on The Ridge®️ by Novel Adventures®️ - holy wowza! 😍

Just one more month left to sign up for this spectacular event - Registration closes September 1, 2024.

As with all our Gatherings, this, too is ALL-INCLUSIVE but with an amazing "Autumn" theme in the spectacular Smoky Mountains. Man, is it gonna be gorgeous! 🍁🍂

Don't miss it! 🎃 www.noveladventuresvacations.com/fall-gathering-on-the-ridge

07/29/2024

Ticket window for our 2025 Gathering on The Ridge®️ is NOW OPEN! 👇
www.noveladventuresvacations.com/events/gathering-on-the-ridge

When: July 9-13, 2025
Where: The Mast Farm Inn

✨️ All Packages are ALL-INCLUSIVE! ✨️
☆ Lodging
☆ All meals
☆ All activities/classes/speaker/presentations
☆ Tickets to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Inc.
☆ Transportation to/from Grandfather Mountain Highland Games -- think no lines or parking hassle! 😁
☆ Entertainment
☆ LIVE music
🌟 'Outlander' Special Guest
☆ Photos/Autographs
☆ Mead tasting and cherry bounce
☆ Other surprises, bonfires, s'mores, gifts, and MORE!

*********************************************

Below is a list of the available rooms/beds after our first weekend of Registration. Only 10 rooms left... don't miss your chance! 👇

● $2950 Per Person-non private room
* Uncle Earl’s Haven
* Mam's Refuge
* Mary Mast's Cottage

● $3150 Per Person-private room
* Aunt Leona
* Uncle Earl’s Haven
* Mam's Refuge
* Raspberry Hill

● $3450 Per Person-private room and upgraded
* Cousin Sarah
* Miss Allie
* Mary Mast's Cottage

Bring a friend and join us for the BEST weekend ever! 😄

07/28/2024

These would be magical for a 'Harry Potter' Novel Adventures! ✨️🪄💼

07/27/2024

Registration is NOW OPEN for our 2025 GatheringonTheRidge®️! This link: 👇 https://www.noveladventuresvacations.com/events/gathering-on-the-ridge

07/27/2024

Link HERE for tickets to our 2025 Gathering on The Ridge®️! 👇
www.noveladventuresvacations.com/events/gathering-on-the-ridge

Ticket window opens at 10am CST July 27, 2024

When: July 9-13, 2025
Where: The Mast Farm Inn

✨️ All Packages are ALL-INCLUSIVE! ✨️
☆ Lodging
☆ All meals
☆ All activities/classes/speaker/presentations
☆ Tickets to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Inc.
☆ Transportation to/from Grandfather Mountain Highland Games -- think no lines or parking hassle! 😁
☆ Entertainment
☆ LIVE music
☆ 'Outlander' Special Guest
☆ Photos/Autographs
☆ Mead tasting and cherry bounce
☆ Other surprises, bonfires, s'mores, gifts, and MORE!

*********************************************

Available rooms/beds and descriptions here: 👇

● $2950 Per Person-non private room
* Joe Mast (2nd floor-Queen bed and twin bed, 3 people)
* Woodwork Shop (2 Queen beds-one up (loft)/one down, 4 people)
* Blacksmith Shop (Queen bed and twin bed, both downstairs, 3 people)
* Maple Springs (Murphy bed downstairs, 1 person)
* Uncle Earl’s Haven (Upstairs loft Queen bed and 2 twin beds, 4 people)
*Mam's Refuge (Upstairs loft Queen bed and 1 full bed, 3 people)
* Granary (Upstairs loft Queen bed, 1 person)
* Raspberry Hill (Upstairs loft 2 twins, 2 people)
* Mary Mast's Cottage (Upstairs loft King, 2 people)

● $3150 Per Person-private room
* Cherry Room (3rd floor-King bed, 2 people)
* Aunt Leona (3rd floor-Queen bed, 2 people)
* Maple Springs (Queen bed downstairs, 2 people)
* Uncle Earl’s Haven (Queen bed downstairs, 2 people)
Mam's Refuge (Queen bed downstairs, 2 people)
* Raspberry Hill (Queen bed downstairs, 2 people)

● $3450 Per Person-private room and upgraded
* Cousin Sarah (3rd floor-King bed, 2 people)
* Nell’s Room (2nd floor-4 poster King bed, 2 people)
* Miss Allie (2nd floor-Queen bed, 2 people)
* Elizabeth Gray Vining (2nd floor-Queen bed, 2 people)
* The Granary (Queen bed downstairs, 2 people)
* Raspberry Hill (King bed upstairs, 2 people)
* Mary Mast's Cottage (King bed and Queen bed upstairs, 2 people per room)

● $3700 Per Person-completely private cabin and upgraded
* Loom House (King bed upstairs, 2 people)

**********************************************

For more information on lodgings and the venue, go to: www.themastfarminn.com

All rooms/beds are on a first-come/first-served basis. I recommend having at least 3 options -- these will go fast! :)

07/26/2024

Edit: Registration is NOW OPEN! This link: 👇 https://www.noveladventuresvacations.com/events/gathering-on-the-ridge

TOMORROW is the day! Registration opens for our 2025 Gathering on The Ridge®️ at 10am CST!️

🗓 July 9-13, 2025
📍 The Mast Farm Inn

The ONLY ALL-INCLUSIVE 'Outlander' fan event in the world! ✨️

Pictured: Braeden Clarke - Special Guest at our 2020 Gathering on The Ridge®️.

#

07/25/2024

Edit: Registration is NOW OPEN! This link: 👇 https://www.noveladventuresvacations.com/events/gathering-on-the-ridge

⏳️ 2 days until Registration opens for our 2025 Gathering on The Ridge®️!️

🗓 July 9-13, 2025
📍 The Mast Farm Inn

The ONLY ALL-INCLUSIVE 'Outlander' fan event in the world! ✨️

Pictured: David Berry - Special Guest at our 2018 and 2023 Gatherings on The Ridge®️ and Tim Downie Special Guest at our 2023 Gathering on The Ridge®️

And, YES, there will be an 'Outlander' Special Guest with us on our 2025 Gathering on The Ridge ®️! 😁

Be ready Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 10am CST to select your spot!

07/24/2024

Edit: Registration is NOW OPEN! This link: 👇 https://www.noveladventuresvacations.com/events/gathering-on-the-ridge

📢️ ATTENTION!

3 days until Registration opens for our Signature Event, our 2025 Gathering on The Ridge®️!

Be ready at 10am CST on Saturday, July 27, 2024 - spots will go fast! 😄

Event dates: July 9-13, 2025
Location: The Mast Farm Inn

Any guesses who our Special 'Outlander' Guest will be? 🤔

Pictured here: Cesar Domboy aka "Fergus Fraser" at our 2017 Gathering on The Ridge®️

07/23/2024

Edit: Registration is NOW OPEN! This link: 👇 https://www.noveladventuresvacations.com/events/gathering-on-the-ridge

✨️ 4 days until Registration opens for our 2025 Gathering on The Ridge®️ by Novel Adventures®️ ✨️

Be ready Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 10am CST to select your spot!

🗓 July 9-13, 2025
📍 The Mast Farm Inn

The ONLY ALL-INCLUSIVE 'Outlander' fan event in the world!

And, YES, there will be an 'Outlander' Special Guest with us on "Fraser's Ridge"! 😁

Pictured: Gary Lewis - Special Guest at our 2019 Gathering on The Ridge®️

07/22/2024

Edit: Registration is NOW OPEN! This link: 👇 https://www.noveladventuresvacations.com/events/gathering-on-the-ridge

️5 DAYS until Registration opens for our 2025 Gathering on The Ridge®️!

Be ready Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 10am CST!

❓️Who will be our 🌟 Special Guest 🌟 in 2025❓️

🗓 July 9-13, 2025
📍 The Mast Farm Inn
💲 Beginning at $2950pp

5 day/4 night ALL-INCLUSIVE packages:
✅ ️Lodging
✅️ ALL meals
✅️ ALL activities/classes/presentations (no additional fees)
✅️ Unrivaled access to our Special 'Outlander' Guest
✅️ Photos/Autographs with our Special Guest
✅️ LIVE music and entertainment
✅️ Mead tasting, cherry bounce
✅️ Tickets to Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
✅️ Gifts, bonfires, unforgettable experiences like no other...and MORE!

To view lodging options, go to www.themastfarminn.com

Pictured: Graham McTavish - Special Guest, Gathering on The Ridge®️ by Novel Adventures - 2016

07/20/2024

Registration opens for our 2025 Gathering on The Ridge®️ one week from today!

🗓 When: July 9-13, 2025
📍 Where: The Mast Farm Inn

Check this out! The B&W image is the original structure of The Mast Farm Inn. I am convinced John Gary Steele used our beloved farm as his inspiration for "The Big House" on Starz' Fraser's Ridge. ❣

Below is a brief history of the property...

1792
Joseph Mast walks from Pennsylvania and settles much of the land that is now Valle Crucis, North Carolina. In 1810 Joseph Mast’s son David, builds the two-room log cabin which now sits facing the main house at the Mast Farm Inn. Three generations reside in this cabin, and like most of the Valle Crucis residents, the Masts raise corn, grain, sheep, cattle, and food for the family. Now called the Loom House, this original cabin is widely believed to be the oldest habitable log cabin in the state of North Carolina.

1880
David’s son Andrew begins building the main farm house and Andrew’s son, D. Finley Mast, completes it in 1896. In 1900 – Finley and his wife, Josephine, also known as Aunt Josie, begin to make more additions to the house, and begin to operate the property full-time as both a farm and inn. Over the next 20 years, five different symmetrical additions are completed, ultimately comprising thirteen bedrooms and one bathroom.

1913
When President Woodrow Wilson’s daughter, Jessie, is to be married, Josephine Mast gathers neighbors to help weave spreads and rugs for Jessie’s room in the White House. The president’s family is so impressed by the work they redecorate the room around the weavings. Some of Josephine’s weavings are in the Smithsonian. Josephine used the “Loom House” to make all of her weavings and was very well known for her outstanding work.

1919
The Masts had by now built 16 different buildings as part of the old mountain farmstead all of whom have survived to this day. Most of the buildings in the meadow were used for livestock, storing hay, and grain and for to***co curing. Finley and Josephine Mast have two sons, Joe, the son who stayed on the farm, is blind by the time he is a young adult. Joe would attach string between the buildings in order to find his way around the farm. Later, with typical mountain ingenuity, he abandoned the strings and created his own personal system for getting from place to place on the farm.

1950
Joseph Mast and his wife Edna run the inn until the 1950’s. The main house is often so full that Joe sleeps upstairs in the loom house to make room for guests. After Edna passes and Joe becomes ill, Edna’s maid Nell, and neighbors, The Yates Family, help take care of Joe. In 1964 Joe Mast moves out of the main house and passes away in 1969. Joe and Edna did not have any children and no one in the family steps in to carry on the tradition of the inn. The Inn closes to the public and stays furnished but closed for the next 20 years.

1972
The United States Department of the Interior evaluates the property. The departments’ representative writes “The numerous buildings that make up the Mast Farm, each expressive of its function, represent vividly the wide variety of operations necessary to a self-sustaining farm complex. The weaving house is particularly interesting, both because “it is an example of log construction which reached its finest development in North Carolina,” and because it was the original dwelling around which the farm grew up. With this building as a nucleus, the farm illustrates the progression of an enterprising pioneer family from this rude early house on a small homestead to a larger, more comfortable house, the seat of much larger land holdings. This complex includes one of the most complete and best preserved groups of nineteenth-century farm buildings in western North Carolina.” The farm is placed on the National Register of Historic Places at that time.

07/19/2024

Matthew 5:14-15
14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

07/18/2024

Have you checked anything off this fun bucket list? 🌞

07/17/2024

Amen!

07/16/2024

✨️ Registration opens Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 10am CST for our 2025 Gathering on The Ridge®️! ✨️

🗓 July 9-13, 2025
📍 Mast Farm Inn
💲 Beginning at $2950pp

5 day/4 night ALL-INCLUSIVE packages:
🏚 - Lodging
🍽 - ALL meals
🥾🪡✒️🎨💃 - ALL activities/classes/presentations (no additional fees)
🌟 - Special 'Outlander' Guest
📷✍️ - Photos/Autographs with our Special Guest
🎶 - LIVE music
🍷🍒 - Mead tasting, cherry bounce
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 - Tickets to Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Inc.
🔥🍫🎁...and MORE!

To take a look at available lodgings, go to www.themastfarminn.com

07/15/2024

📢 Announcing the rates for our 2025 Gathering on The Ridge®️!

Packages are ALL-INCLUSIVE:
🏚🍽🥾🪡✒️🎨💃🍷🌟📷✍️🎶🍒🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🔥🍫🎁...and MORE!

*********************************************

● $2950 Per Person- private room
* Joe Mast (2nd floor-Queen bed and twin bed, 3 people)
* Woodwork Shop (2 Queen beds-one up (loft)/one down, 4 people)
* Blacksmith Shop (Queen bed and twin bed, both downstairs, 3 people)
* Maple Springs (Murphy bed downstairs, 1 person)
* Uncle Earl’s Haven (Upstairs loft Queen bed and 2 twin beds, 4 people)
*Mam's Refuge (Upstairs loft Queen bed and 1 full bed, 3 people)
* Granary (Upstairs loft Queen bed, 1 person)
* Raspberry Hill (Upstairs loft 2 twins, 2 people)
* Mary Mast's Cottage (Upstairs loft King, 2 people)

● $3150 Per Person-private room
* Cherry Room (3rd floor-King bed, 2 people)
* Aunt Leona (3rd floor-Queen bed, 2 people)
* Maple Springs (Queen bed downstairs, 2 people)
* Uncle Earl’s Haven (Queen bed downstairs, 2 people)
Mam's Refuge (Queen bed downstairs, 2 people)
* Raspberry Hill (Queen bed downstairs, 2 people)

● $3450 Per Person-private room and upgraded
* Cousin Sarah (3rd floor-King bed, 2 people)
* Nell’s Room (2nd floor-4 poster King bed, 2 people)
* Miss Allie (2nd floor-Queen bed, 2 people)
* Elizabeth Gray Vining (2nd floor-Queen bed, 2 people)
* The Granary (Queen bed downstairs, 2 people)
* Raspberry Hill (King bed upstairs, 2 people)
* Mary Mast's Cottage (King bed and Queen bed upstairs, 2 people per room)

● $3700 Per Person-completely private cabin and upgraded
* Loom House (King bed upstairs, 2 people)

**********************************************

To take a look at each room, go to www.themastfarminn.com to find your favorite.

🗓Registration opens Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 10am CST!

All rooms/beds are on a first-come/first-served basis. I recommend having at least 3 options -- these will go fast! :)

07/15/2024

They are the doorway to our extraordinary Novel Adventures®️ together! 📚+🫵+ us+✈️=😍🌍

07/14/2024

What a fun page! Go ahead and click the link, and it'll take you to Storiarts Instagram page -- soooo many really incredible things to see! I promise, you'll be as enchanted as I am! 😃

I have a few of their items, including the Dracula fingerless mitts that I gave as gifts to the peeps on my 'Celtic Legends and Lore' Novel Adventures®️, but the "Pride and Prejudice" book with letters just topped my wish list. 😍

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/u9gY1GkGL3qeAviP/?mibextid=oFDknk