Road Trips Can Be Fun

Hello. I’m  at work again after taking a two week road trip all the way to New York City and back. I used to fly when I traveled to writers’ conferences and workshops, but since my husband retired a few years ago we now drive just about everywhere. It’s fun but it can be exhausting. We have a Mini-Cooper and you should see that little car full of two big suitcases and books and book bags. (Plus, shoes. I always pack extra shoes.)

We started out stopping in Tennessee. Somehow, my husband times our stop to be right next to a brand new Bass Pro Shop! We ate dinner there but the whole store was closed by the time we got out of the restaurant. Next we stopped in Bethlehem, PA, so I could visit one of the world’s oldest bookstores.

That was such fun. Especially when I walked in and saw a live rendition of “To Kill A Mockingbird” be acted out in the back of the store. I also got an idea for a book–a Christmas story–while walking around this quaint little mining town. I also learned that the locals pronounce it BETH_HEM, not BETH-LE_HEM. Interesting.

Then it was on to NYC and the RWA conference where I had a lot of meetings with my agent and the Love Inspired editors. I had a nice lunch with my main editor, Patience Bloom, and fellow writer Carla Cassidy. It’s always fun to meet other writers.

 Here are two of my editors–Melissa Endlich and Emily Rodmell with me at the Harlequin Party.

After a whirlwind week, we loaded up the mini again (with a new pair of sneakers for me.) We headed back South, driving along the east shore when we could. We stopped at Virginia Beach for one night and had a lovely seafood dinner there. We went on to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, toured the Kitty Hawk sight of the Wright brothers and their famous first flight. Amazing to stand where they stood and to see just how hard they worked to create the first airplane.

Then we stopped at a quaint little town in Georgia–St. Marys, near Cumberland Island. We didn’t have time to tour he island but decided we’d come back another day. All in all, a good trip with lots of fun, food and memories. But it’s good to be home. Now I can look forward to the release of my next Love Inspired Suspense! (And write more stories.)