Writing about travel journeys

 

Why I include travel in my books.

For many years, I have worked with food, nutrition and hotels. This is not new news; not a secret.

Alongside all of those years, I have written. 

Is there a purpose in our lives? I don’t know. But I am sure we can sense a passion by the fizzing feeling in our bellies. And I would like to think my passion and purpose is writing.

To be honest, I am happy writing pretty much anything. Words just flow, and I would sit and jot things as a child, and ever since. But feeling as though the hotel world, events, food and nutrition are my area of expertise, I decided to throw such things into my stories.

When I write about things I am not knowledgeable about, I do extensive research. So, travel, hotels and stadiums/events make their way into my stories with ease. 

This Christmas, I have just published my latest book, which sees scenes set in:

Iceland

Dubai

Bali

Koh Samui

Thailand

One of these places is still on my ‘to be visited’ list and I’m sure it will make me head there just to gather some more content to drive forward more stories. Revisiting places in my videos and on my blog is a fun part of the process and telling those stories with fiction injected allows me a beautiful, creative flow with a couple of outstanding people called Liesa and Blake. They are the main characters who are busy travelling around the world in a private jet called Dominus with a band called Chasing Echoes. 

This book series is starting to create a buzz among the readers. They started to say they can feel some sort of magic in the book as they are reading it. This makes me happy, because I felt the magic while writing it.

Now, the Christmas edition of the latest book: ‘She Smells Like Strawberries', out now, until the end of January. It’s a very limited edition.

Of course, you can read these books alone, but you will be so in love with the characters, and you’ll want to see their entire journey, so you will want to read The Note I Wrote for You, too.

Let me know if you have read them, or intend to get them as Christmas presents!!! - Grab a copy here

Travel: on the 32nd day of Christmas, my true love sent me to…

Are you wishing for tickets in your Christmas stocking this year? 

You want to board a plane, visit the theatre, or sail away into the sunset and feel as if you are living life again after surviving the most commercial time of the year.

It is one of the busiest times of the year for booking trips; the 32nd day of Christmas (New Year) and what a way to head into 2026 with an excited bump. 

Where will you choose? Will it be affordable? 

Let me help you with some insider tips and show you how to make the best of the bargains. 

My preferred tour operator tends to be Tui, for all things all-inclusive, or, of course, for their cruises. I have learned the hard way, so you don’t have to:

1. There may be places which seem cheaper, but possibly don’t include a transfer
2. Locations tend to be better with Tui (in-resort places which are near everywhere else)
3. Beware of extra baggage charges

When you consider adding the above charges on, do a quick bit of maths to check if it is actually cheaper at all.

Saying that, there is also some beauty in researching booking flights, transfers and accommodation yourself. The links in that sentence will take you to the platforms I use (they do contain affiliate links, which never cost you any more, but the company will share a small commission with me, which goes towards the costs of running this website). I hope you find the links helpful. 

I tell you why this might be my new way of doing things: I have travelled to Asia in the past two years and that has a very different feel in the travel experience than using a package, and sitting relaxing for a week or two at an all-inclusive resort. 

There are a lot of things to jot down as you are navigating your agenda. 

Recently, I tried to book one of these super-cheap Wowcher deals, and sorry to call you out Wowcher, but it was a shambles. 

£160 for two nights in the alps was too good to be true. I paid for the vouchers, and the travel company called me within 48 hours to firm up plans. I was told by them, “This offer is no longer available, but you can pay another £133 each, and then we can find an alternative,” and after a lot of to and fro, we decided to go for the extra money and still go. Until the final moment, when I double confirmed the hotel was going to be the amazing Motel One, and I was told, “no, it’s the Ibis.” And it just wasn’t cutting it.

There is no option for a refund. 

There is only one alternative trip.

Most of them would need a half-hour taxi ride in Spain to the accommodation (likely €40-50) and didn’t include any baggage or meals. So, that was a no from me. We have settled to go somewhere which isn’t ideal at all, but hey, it is what it is, and you have to choose your battles. 

How you can save money:

This is not a myth or an old wives’ tale, but it is usually a fact. Despite the TikTok clan disagreeing 10% of the time, everyone else felt it helped. (this video had over 350k people looking at it!) 

Book on the 5th or 6th January 2026 - or a Tuesday evening if it’s another time. These are the days when people are least likely to be looking and booking. 

The more people demand holidays (imagine an auction room), the higher the price pushes up. Yep, it is a fact. 

Another thing you will want to do is put your browser into incognito mode, or use a VPN, so your searches are not push up the prices. 

Paying for it is easier than it was before due to using options like Klarna etc - but be mindful that this will put a soft search on your credit history. I’m not a finance person at all, but just ensure you are only booking trips you can afford (feels like a responsible thing to say).

I would love to hear your dream destination in 2026. I would like to know what the year ahead holds for us all, and where we may be by this time next year. Think back to last Christmas. What were you hoping for? Did it happen? You know by now, I am a firm believer in the Law of Attraction, and what you believe, you can achieve. 

My travel plans have been on hold for quite some time now, and I have no idea what the coming year may hold for me, but I still have ‘luminescent plankton’ on my bucket list…..

My first Literary Festival

 It’s true, I didn’t want to let go of the summer. Perhaps because I had sat studiously at my desk writing The Note I Wrote for You.

One of the happiest times of my life, I was ignorant of the world still turning outside and the warm air in the skies. People travelled and visited the beach, while I wrote. I smiled. I cried in coffee shops. I fell in love with my characters. 

Remembering the winter of 1992 when I sat in a dark and damp caravan, typing a manuscript on a word processor, this summer felt familiar in some ways and worlds apart in other ways. Since marketing the book, I have spoken to schools, advised students, been on the radio a couple of times, booked a theatre tour for next year and now, planned my first author appearance at a Literary Festival.

The MK Lit Fest has made way for romance authors, which I apparently am. Overjoyed to be meeting some readers, taking to the stage for an author reading and talk, I will sign a few books and hopefully see a few more readers on this platform. I’m excited. 

Summer went away too fast. I wasn’t ready to meander into autumn. Yet here we are, with the colourful trees and snuggly evenings. Things are unfolding as perfectly as they should. Autumn is showing great promise of a turning of the seasons in its usual way, sprinkled with a little extra hope. 

My old academic colleagues are interested in what I’m doing now, and they seem tempted to make changes too. I understand that. But for transparency, we are still working on sales to equal a lecturer's salary. Can you put a price on happiness? God, no. And these people I’ve made up in my head are helping me to grow into the person I always believed I should be. It’s taking work, effort and consistent self-development to undo old habits. The second I play my ‘wierdo’ trance-type music and sip my coffee, my hands are poised to write the next chapter, and my belly whispers ‘it’s alright.’

Hope to see you there

Love always

Louise xoxo

Get FREE Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mk-lit-fest-meet-the-author-lou-usher-tickets-1851227534389?aff=oddtdtcreator

Buy the book before the day, and I’ll sign it: https://amzn.to/46fKqZB

Travel may be incoming soon. I know it’s been a long time but there are ‘behind the scenes’ reasons. Meanwhile here are some nice Egypt deals: https://tui-uk.7cnq.net/09a02V 

Bali - possibly my favourite place in the world. Here's why...

 My latest book begins in Bali. That was deliberate.

I decided I had content I could already use for creating pretty videos with quotes on, potentially have a need to go back, and also I just flipping loved Bali when we went there. 

We tried to decide if we preferred Bali or Thailand and to be honest, I can't call it. Either of them are right up there as the favourites. That will mean trouble for this website and this blog as most of the audience are here for the all-inclusive hotel advice. 

Is that what you are here for?

Kanto Lampo Waterfalls

Rice Fields

Tirtra Emple

Previously, I thought the type of travel one experiences in places like Bali would be too inaccessible for some people, including me. I was wrong. With careful planning, we got to see many exciting places, keep safe and well, and experience things we have never seen before. I'm dreaming about this trip, and I want to share so much more with you in the coming weeks.

For now, let's go on this day trip together around Ubud. 

We explored the top must-see spots in Ubud, Bali with the help from our wonderful driver, Bronso. Let me know here if you want details on how to use his services (not affiliated).

From the stunning Kantolampo Waterfall to the serene Tegalalang Rice Terraces, and the delicious vegan dining at Moksa, this video has everything you need for an unforgettable Ubud adventure. Whether you're after culture, nature, or culinary delights, Ubud has it all. Here are some things you must not miss in Bali when you are in Ubud: Kanto Lampo Waterfall - https://getyourguide.stay22.com/lusherlife/xyy_AXCRVL Tirtra Emple Tagallalang D'tukad Coffee Club - https://getyourguide.stay22.com/lusherlife/TRw_TuWJh3 Please don't engage in the coffee tasting for the Luwak - it's cruel to the animals. Moksa Vegan Restaurant -https://moksaubud.com/ Ketut Liyer House https://booking.stay22.com/lusherlife/PYu4khcwmG

The photos below will help you to picture what we saw, but please watch the video - there are so many tips there too.

I loved taking my character Liesa to Bali again. Did you read the book yet? It's getting a lot of buzz!

There will be a lot more about Bali to come on this website. I hope you decide to go.

I feel there is so much more I want to share with you so soon as I dream about this amazing place. I'm not sure I'll be flying anywhere soon while I write book two of the series, 

Until next time much love

Louise 

Ps: I am currently hoping to organise some author talks - potentially somewhere lovely. I'd love you to come, so I will keep you posted :)

No planes, only Trains this summer.

 Changing planes for trains this summer?

Yes, you aren’t mistaken; I haven't been to many hotels over the summer. This is intentional every summer. It’s too busy to create films and I love the UK in summer too. 

Yet this summer has felt very different as I’ve spent a lot of time reigniting my immense love for music, thanks to my latest book. 

My latest book, The Note I Wrote for You

Long story short - last winter I released a book and this summer I released a spin off (totally different genres!). The latest book is fiction and it’s about a band and a girl. 

Me at Wembley Stadium

So, yes I’ve spent loads of time at festivals and concerts, studying what goes on and how people in a band behave in certain circumstances. 

To be clear, my characters are not modelled on anyone and are very different to pretty much every musician I’ve encountered. 

But this post isn’t about my book as such - but rather about Coldplay. I’ve been blessed to watch them properly, as well as working at Wembley and goodness, studying them and their ethos on whatever film platform I can find. 

These guys are phenomenal and if you haven’t managed to see them live yet, go. 

Coldplay at Wembley

I made friends in the crowd, the stadium, and online, in the process of researching for the book. 

Last year, you know I sadly parted ways with the academic world (many people have lost their jobs) and I took the frightening step into giving my writing the full time efforts I’ve always wanted to give it. 

My twins will testify, I’ve been working like crazy. I have loved this writing journey so far and book sales are looking promising. I would have said it’s the happiest time of my life. Although a recent blip showed me not to get too comfortable, we aren’t out of the trenches but between music, writing and “virtually” travelling around the world this summer, I’m definitely on the right path to where I would like to be. 

I’ll share some more about the artists I’ve seen in another post but I wanted to write this long one about the band who have been my Muse this summer. As I watched them perform a record breaking show at Wembley last night, it felt as if I was writing “The End”. The book is doing well, I’m happier, Coldplay are taking a small break and the research on them has shown me, 100%, I want to keep writing about this (my?) fictional band, travelling around the world with them and creating stories for them to live out. 

Let me know if you’ve read it yet?

Next stop, the radio interview. 

Then it might be time to look at getting on a plane again - where should I go? 

With love always,

Lou xoxo

Ps Order a signed copy here:

Or go direct to the distributor here: