Setting is vital to my novels because I make it so, but something in each environment I choose, pushes my creativity to levels that surprise me. The point is, I have to ‘live’ in the setting described in my novel to make the story work.

 

Here’s a list of the places I’ll visit/live in 2024, prompting several new stories.

1. Pinnacles National Park. This is the setting for my second L.E. Ranger Sable Chisholm Mystery. Remember, FIRE is NICE, in Sequoia National Park, introduced you to the fearless ranger, whose amygdala was destroyed by a poisoning she suffered on duty. She’ll go to Pinnacles because condors, bees, and people are dying, and no one knows why.

 

1. Lisbon and the Douro River. My husband and I explore Lisbon for three days, then we hop on a river boat down the Duoro River, stopping at villages along the way. Learning about port and enjoying Portuguese cuisine are high on our ‘to do’ list.

 

1. Madrid. Five days in this lively city follow our river cruise. We’ll side-trip to Toledo, Avila, and Segovia. High priority: Tour the city for the best tapas and paella.

 

1. Athens. As a former English teacher, I learned to enjoy early Greek and Roman history/literature. This is a bucket list destination for me. Ahh, the Acropolis!

 

1. The Greek Islands. Aboard the gorgeous sailboat, Windstar, we visit the amazing sites we have only seen in pictures: Mykonos, Delos, Ephesus, Santorini, Mycenae, and others. I. Can’t. Wait.

 

1. D.C./Alexandria. A big family reunion awaits us at the end of our Europe Tour. Alexandria is a setting well worth a story, and my family is full of characters

 

1. 13-day cruise from Miami, stopping in the Caribbean, Columbia, Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Mexico. We’re on a small ship and traveling with friends. We’ll bring back stories to tell…and some that I can’t wait to write about!

 

No moss growing under these feet. By the end of the year, I will have settings galore to draw upon.  Bon voyage!