Like I mentioned in the reader letter, much of the inspiration for this story came while staying at the top of a tower at Glen Eyrie castle. But even with a contemporary story, there was still a lot of research required.
When it came to Drew’s military training and Grace’s burn treatments and how they could merge the two to help others, I also collected relevant research. You can see a copy of my messy notes here.
And I did a LOT of research into General Palmer and his family to create the scripts Grace used while giving her tours. You can get a pdf of my complete timeline notes here.
The castle inside this book, its history, and its current use are very real. In fact, Glen Eyrie is just one of several castles located in Colorado. The descriptions of the buildings and grounds are mine from personal experience on the grounds including the tunnel.
I fell in love with this particular castle while staying there…but the presence of God really spoke to me and my research helped uncover why. When it came to the Navigators ministry and the power of prayer, I think you might be inspired by this YouTube video filled with stories of several divine miracles including the Billy Graham connection while also giving you a virtual tour of the property.
Discussion Questions – get a pdf of discussion starters for your Book Club
Wondering what to read next? One thing my castle series had in common was underdog heroines, so if you’re interested in seeing more underdogs find families you might like the Cafe on Hope and Main. (It’s not a castle but there’s a lot of history within the doors.)