 If travel is to gain new perspectives, how about straight up a bunch of stairs? Which means that new view comes with some exercise, so stay in shape!
This is a street in Dubrovnik. I suspect the bit on the left side of the stairs is for carts and baby buggies. Also, no cars can get through this town; it was built in Medieval times. I love the modern touch of the stickers on the drain pipe to the right. Why am I sharing this? In my recent Substack post (click below), I raised a question about the effects of travel on the places we go. In Dubrovnik, tourism brings visitors, but doesn't seem to have made much of an effect on the lifestyle of those living there. I wonder if the architecture and layout of the city makes a difference? It was designed to repel invaders. Food for thought. Any other theories? Also, in searching for other locations for my Netah stories, I don't think this one will do. Can you imagine an elk walking these streets? Wait a minute...Netahs can shift into humans! What a perfect way to disappear!
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 This is my last blog for June, because I will be away from my desk. I will, however, post images on Instagram, so if you miss me, follow me there. It will be a study in just how awful my photography skills are. Let's hope I improve with practice. No promises. I will be brainstorming and outlining book 3. I'm told that using a pen and paper like that will tap into the creative side of my brain, which is where I want to be to flesh out my next book. I just hope I won't quickly get frustrated by the speed with which I can write versus type! I will let you know if I am feeling inspired by the intellectual, visual, olfactory, and taste sensations of my new surroundings or exhausted from all the activities! Ah, the joys of travel! I will be on the hunt for a place or several places where I think Josh needs to travel during his study abroad stint in book 4. Will I drop hints in book 3? Will I throw my notebooks overboard due to frustration because I don't want to write, I want to live in the moment and enjoy myself? Stay tuned to find out how well I do. Books 1 and 2 in my Netah series are available in paperback, hard cover, and eBook versions. You can support your local independent bookstore by ordering through bookshop.org or go to my book page for other ordering options. Thanks for reading.  It's time for some much needed down time for me. Finishing up book 2 and working on the promotions and marketing for the last several months has been fun, but now it's time to relax and regroup. I've already spent some time planning book 3, with about 80 pages already written, however, I know I can make it stronger. Also, I want to outline and flesh out scenes for this book before I go much further.
I'll be away from my computer for nearly a month in June. Taking in a new part (to me) of the Mediterranean. I hope to take in lots of historical and Unesco sights, try new foods and wines, do some swimming, biking, and hiking. It’s 6 countries in 3 weeks, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, Italy and Greece. While there I will be taking notes and photos for inspiration. By book 4, I think my hero needs to study abroad. I’ll share photos, if this tech doorknob can figure out how to do it! Wish me luck!   Barnes & Noble In-Store Event When was the last time you walked into a bookstore? Me too, except for this week when I was walking through the set-up for my event this coming Sunday with the store manager. We all know that the pandemic did a number on a lot of us, especially brick and mortar businesses, including the mega bookstore Barnes & Noble! I never would have imagined that, you know, too big to fail and all that. That's why I'm arranging an in-person, live event in the store (at 960 Colorado Blvd, Glendale). I want them to survive. I'm not just going to sign books. With my friends and fans who attend, we'll talk about writing, my newest book, The Netahs, Down in the Valley (Book Two: Down in the Valley) then I'll introduce the concept of writing flash fiction, then we'll do a writing exercise together, and maybe even share those. I have prizes, snacks, and my favorite pen for signing books, just in case that's requested. So, if you find yourself with a free afternoon this coming Sunday, and you're not running in the Denver Marathon (so heads up on planning your route), why don't you join us? For more info, scan the qr code with your phone camera. This link will take you to the store event page. www.barnesandnoble.com/event/9780062169479-0 You might just find more than a few good books. For recommendations, check out my recent reviews on GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/51066082. |