CRUSIN’ STORYTELLER

Hi All ~

I’m in countdown mode with one day and a wake-up until we leave for our first-ever cruise. On Friday, we fly to San Diego, where we will spend the night, along with the large group of friends we’re traveling with, in a trendy hotel.

We board our Holland America cruise ship on Saturday afternoon, then set sail for Cabo San Lucas. You may remember that I finished “Chaos in Cabo” in Cabo while on vacation last year, then published the book in December. At the time, I had no idea that we’d be vacationing on a Mexican Cruise this year, but I’m thrilled to be returning to Cabo with “Chaos in Cabo” in hand.

One of the friends I’m traveling with is lovingly called the “Queen Bee” because she’s always coming up with interesting ways for us to have fun. During this trip, she came up with the idea of our group wearing matching T-shirts with funny sayings. She picked this saying for me: “Most likely to be writing a book.” I mean, how appropriate is that?

Since Randy and I vacationed in Cabo last year, we decided to join the group for a day cruise on a luxury sailboat with the possibility of seeing whales. I love being on the water and am excited to have a picture taken of me with “Chaos in Cabo” in front of the Arch of Cabo San Lucas, which is featured on the cover of my book. I’ll be able to see from the sailboat the old, abandoned building on top of Mt Solmar, where my villainess makes a life-changing decision. We will sail by the section of beach where Antonio has a boat waiting, and he makes his escape. And the sea route will take us by “Lover’s Beach,” where Amado first proposed to Socorro. I love that I’ll be able to relive these important places in my book, experiencing them now after I know the roles they played in “Chaos in Cabo.”

After our day in Cabo, we set sail on the Sea of Cortés at night, and then we will wake up in La Paz for our second port of call. We’ve never been to La Paz, but I’ve always wanted to visit the charming Mexican town. And as luck would have it … the sixth book in my Mexico Mayhem series is “Lucky in La Paz.” I’m sure I’ve mentioned this in previous blogs, but I always start with a title after I’ve decided on the location of the next book. Next comes my first-draft storyline, defined by three taglines: A perfect paradise. A rocky reunion. A cavalier crook.

And of course, every good storyline needs fabulous characters, which in my case means a Hero, a Heroine, and a Villain. For this book, I’m bringing back three previous characters: FBI Agent Christopher Temple, DEA Agent Jade Mendoza, and Jade’s mother, the elusive Sarita Garcia. Oh, what fun awaits them!

Since I’ve never been to La Paz, I’m taking myself on a tour of the town to do research for my book. Randy says he’s on board so long as we can do some of the research from a cantina to two.

Once we sail away from La Paz, we travel farther north into the Sea of Cortés and stop in our final port of call, Loreto. We’ve also never been to Loreto, but the town has been on my radar for about five years, and we were planning to fly there for a future vacation. And, you guessed it, book five in my Mexico Mayhem series is “Lost in Loreto.” I’ve already started writing this book and am over the moon knowing I’ll be able to visit the places I’ve Googled and used as locations in the book. Once again, Randy and I will walk the streets of Loreto, soaking in all the culture and sights. “Lost in Loreto’s storyline has these taglines: A missing wife. An intriguing romance. A clever abductor.

As with all my Mexico Mayhem books, I advance at least one character from the previous book and am bringing Detective Javier Pérez to Loreto after leaving Cabo with a broken heart. As the Hero, he will be forced to work with his brother-in-law as they look for Javier’s estranged wife, Gabriella. He also finds himself helping attorney Skarlet Quinn, who, as the Heroine, tries to clear her ex-fiancé of abduction and murder. And, eventually, Javier will have to outwit Arlo Najar, a cunning and determined Villain.

Obviously, I am excited and feel blessed to have the opportunity to visit actual cities featured in my books. And bonus, I’ll be able to write off part of my vacation as marketing and research.

One day and a wake-up… geez … I’d better go pack my suitcase!!!

Addios ~