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Curiosity, Reinvention, And Inspiration: The Return Of Books and Travel

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Welcome back to the Books and Travel Podcast! In this episode, I explore why I’m restarting the show, how travel has shaped my writing, and the deeper reasons we journey—both physically and through books.

From revisiting my first episode to discussing reinvention, curiosity, and the meaning of travel, this is a fresh start filled with inspiration for readers, writers, and adventurers alike.

Why I’m restarting the podcast – Revisiting my first episode on The Three Trips That Changed My Life and the theme of reinvention.
Turning 50 and creative confidence – How my journey as a writer led to this fresh start.
Books that came from the podcast – Pilgrimage (travel memoir) & Writing the Shadow (creativity & darkness).
The ocean metaphor – Light & dark sides of travel, inspired by The Three Trips That Changed My Life.
The meaning of travel – Emily Thomas on experiencing otherness.
Curiosity – Steve Brock on using travel as a learning lab.
Finding beauty close to home – Brianna Madia on redefining what travel means.
Travel inspiring fiction – Layton Green on researching thrillers through travel.
How place shapes storytelling – Roz Morris on writing from past experiences.
Gothic travel, cemeteries, and memento mori – Loren Rhoads on being “life-obsessed” rather than death-obsessed.
What’s coming next for the show

You can find my books at JFPennBooks.com and see more of my photos on Instagram @jfpennauthor

Reykjavik Art, Northern Lights, And The West Fjords: Iceland, Land Of Fire And Ice

Places

I’ve always been captivated by places where nature makes you feel insignificant in a good way, so for my 50th birthday—and some book research for my next story—I headed to Iceland: a land shaped by fire and ice.

From Reykjavik’s eclectic street art and sculptures to the remote Westfjords, and from crisp glacier-fed waterfalls to the glow of the Northern Lights, it was well worth the trip. In mid-March 2025, with snow still on the ground, I set out (with my husband Jonathan) to uncover some of Iceland’s vibrant culture, dramatic landscapes, and intriguing history. Here are some of the highlights, along with tips to help you plan your own journey.

Why visit Iceland? Unique geology, volcanoes, glaciers, Northern Lights, and funky towns
Reykjavik sculpture and street art
Þingvellir National Park and Gullfoss
The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
Westfjords, Snæfellsnes and the Black Church at Budir
When to go — and money
Books about, or set in, Iceland

Why visit Iceland?

Iceland is often called the Land of Fire and Ice for its unique geology. The island sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates pull apart, fueling intense volcanic and geothermal activity. You can actually snorkel/dive between the plates, but you have to be keen on cold water to do so!

JFPenn, March 2025, Snaefellsnes, Iceland

Volcanoes — many of them active — as well as geysers, and hot springs dot the landscape, while about 12% of the country is covered by glaciers. These natural extremes create spectacular sights – from lava fields and black-sand beaches to massive ice caps – and of course, the Northern Lights, which draw people to the country. Eruptions and glacial erosion continue to shape Iceland, so it is ever-changing.

Death Valley, California, USA

Behind the Book, Places

In November 2024, I visited Death Valley, California, on a day trip from Las Vegas, USA as part of book research for my next thriller. Here are some of the interesting aspects and my pictures.

The first stop was one of the most breathtaking panoramas in the park, Dante’s View. It provides an incredible vantage point, offering sweeping views of the valley floor.

JFPenn at Dantes View Death Valley, CA, USA, Nov 2024

Zabriskie Point is known for its eroded badlands, formed from sediments of the ancient Furnace Creek Lake, which dried up around five million years ago. The result is a striking, otherworldly landscape of ridges, gullies, and vibrant colours.

Zabriskie Point Death Valley Photo by JFPenn — Zabriskie Point, Death Valley, Nov 2024. Panoramic photo by JFPenn

Ely Cathedral, England

Religious

In late September 2024, I visited Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, in the south-east of England. In this article, I’ll share some of the most interesting aspects and some of my photos from the trip so you can virtually join me in this beautiful place. This trip also partially inspired my short story, Seahenge.

Ely Cathedral dates back to 673 AD when St. Etheldreda, an Anglo-Saxon queen and abbess, founded a double monastery for both monks and nuns on the site. The cathedral was originally built to house her relics and her shrine was a significant pilgrimage site in medieval times.

Ely Cathedral main entrance Photo by JFPenn Sept 2024 — Ely Cathedral main entrance, Photo by JFPenn Sept 2024

English Vineyards, Biodynamics, And Blood Vintage: J.F. Penn With Natalie Maclean On The Unreserved Wine Talk Podcast

Behind the Book, Unusual Places

What is biodynamic viticulture and why is it sometimes associated with dark magic or the occult? What’s behind the rise of English wines and how did two specific vineyards inspire a dark wine-drenched novel?

Over glasses of Pinot Noir and Rosé, wine writer Natalie Maclean talks to author J.F. Penn on the Unreserved Wine Talk Podcast about her folk horror novel, Blood Vintage, set in an English vineyard.

You can watch above or here on YouTube, listen to it on your favourite podcast app, or read the transcript below. We discuss:

The rise of English wine, and how Woodchester Valley Vineyard in the Cotswolds, England, inspired the idea of a folk horror novel
Biodynamic viticulture and how it plays such a huge part in terroir, and why Limeburn Hill Biodynamic Vineyard in Chew Magna, England inspired more the story
Folklore and sensual writing, evoking a sense of place
Exploring folk horror, and how far people will go for that special taste
Wine and architecture
Kickstarter, special editions, and the importance of beautiful packaging for what lies within — both for wine and books

You can find Blood Vintage at JFPenn.com/bloodvintage, and you can find Natalie at NatalieMaclean.com with articles, wine pairings and the Unreserved Wine Talk Podcast.

Limeburn Hill Biodynamic Vineyard. Chew Magna. England.

Unusual Places

“Authentic, terroir-based, joyful wine … that expresses a true sense of place and could only come from this land.” Limeburn Hill Biodynamic Vineyard

English wine is having a renaissance, and after a visit to a vineyard in the Cotswolds last summer, I became interested once more in how vineyards used biodynamic agriculture. I also love folk horror novels and had an idea for a story so I wanted to learn more. [Update, I wrote the story, Blood Vintage.]

I first discussed the stranger aspects of biodynamics with Caro Feely back in 2020 in a podcast episode around The Taste of Place. More recently I read Voodoo Vintners: Oregon’s Astonishing Biodynamic Winegrowers by Katherine Cole, but Oregon is a long way from Bath, where I live in the south-west of the UK, so it wasn’t practical to visit.

Then I discovered a vineyard near me that uses biodynamic practices, so on a beautiful hot day in early June, 2024, I visited Limeburn Hill in Chew Magna, near Bristol.

Why visit Iceland?

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