For those who follow or know me it is no secret my MC, Willow like me loves tea. However, unlike me, Willow has taken her love of this delicious drink to the extreme and has studied, worked with, and lives for the perfect brew.
As I research her backstory and personality I’ve found myself longing to walk amongst the rows of tea bushes in Shenzhen, Guangdong. Wishing I could visit Tong Xin Tea House, who I discovered on Instagram.
There are many inspirational places I would like to visit and enjoy the full sensory experience rather than using photos or videos as prompts. Some are not as far-flung as India or Nashville, Tennessee where the unique High Garden Tea House and Potion Parlour are; I would love to visit Twinings at The Strand which has been there for 300 years or have afternoon tea at Betty’s Tea Room in Harrogate.
The discovery of an UK Tea Academy, where you can train to be a tea Sommelier, made my nerves tingle with excitement. What an experience that would be and would give me a deeper insight into Willow’s world.
The possibilities where her story could go are endless and I want to explore them all but then with a click of a mouse, reality bites. The ability to research to that depth requires funds only a fledgling penniless duvet dwelling paperback writer can dream of and as it stands, is it crucial to this WIP to experience them first hand? Probably not but it has given me the motivation to keep writing, and to keep dreaming of success because one day if I decide to write about a character on safari in Africa, I may just be able to experience it first-hand.
Time for a cup of tea made in the pot and write.
Happy writing!
Love
P.S. All these places are now firmly etched on my bucket list and if they get ticked off, you will be the first to know.
6 thoughts on “Research, Motivation and of course a Cup of Tea”
WOW, love this, a post dedicated to tea. My favourite brew is a Twinning’s English Breakfast, it used to be Yorkshire Tea but when I moved back to Hull from Chester the hardness of the water changed the taste. It took me a while to settle with my new favourite. I felt like sharing this with you.
The water makes all the difference. When we moved up to Yorkshire I struggled to find the perfect tea until I tasted Yorkshire Tea but it tastes different when we visit family closer to Hull. I will need to try Twinings x
Kate Kenzie Writes 
WOW, love this, a post dedicated to tea. My favourite brew is a Twinning’s English Breakfast, it used to be Yorkshire Tea but when I moved back to Hull from Chester the hardness of the water changed the taste. It took me a while to settle with my new favourite. I felt like sharing this with you.
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The water makes all the difference. When we moved up to Yorkshire I struggled to find the perfect tea until I tasted Yorkshire Tea but it tastes different when we visit family closer to Hull. I will need to try Twinings x
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That’s interesting Jen because when I moved to Barnsley from Norfolk I actually find the water a lot better up here x
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That’s so funny. Glad I’m not the only one x
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Oh I’m not a tea drinker but I was partial to Redbush when I was pregnant. I may have to get some actually it’s quite refreshing x
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That is one I need to try
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