Off the coast of North Carolina lie a string of barrier islands called The Outer Banks. Most people will know these islands from their association with the pirate Blackbeard, or the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Others will know it from my last book, Pug At The Beach, An island dog’s reflections on life in which many of the adventures are set on the Outer Banks. And now, thanks to Hollywood, people will see the Outer Banks in the movie Nights In Rodanthe which is based on the Nicholas Sparks book and which was filmed there.

It’s a place which has served as inspiration not just for me but for others as well. You can read my reflections on Ocracoke in a blog entry from September of 2007.

I don’t subscribe to very many blogs but the Ocracoke Blog is on my list. If you visit their blog you’ll get to read a recent post, an islander’s view on hurricanes and how the events leading up to a storm unfold.

And if that doesn’t inspire you, here are some photos from my last trip to Ocracoke Island starting with a map of the area.


Ocracoke Island, often called The Pearl of the Outer Banks
The view from the house on Ocracoke. The ocean is in the distance - quarter mile as the crow flies.


The view from the ferry over to Ocracoke. It's an island accessible only by plane or boat.

My wish for you is that you’ll find something which moves you, inspires you, and creates in you a fire to bring your best self to the forefront of your life.

<*(((><
Copyright 2008 Diana Taylor
Photo credit: Diana Taylor, Ocracoke Island, view from the house, sunset on the ferry to Ocracoke Island

For cut and paste:
http://www.amazon.com/Pug-Beach-Island-Dogs-Reflections/dp/0974448400/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220579216&sr=8-1
http://pugatthebeach.com
http://nightsinrodanthe.warnerbros.com/
http://ocracokeblog.com/2008/09/03/hanna.aspx
http://ocracokeblog.com/search.aspx?q=key%20west&sc=t&dt=a&al=
http://www.pugatthebeach.com/links.htm