Behind the Scenes: Uncharted

Come and have a look behind the scenes of UNCHARTED, Book 1 in the Serendipity Adventure Romance series!

THE INSPIRATION FOR THE STORY:

Although I set out to write a wild and fairly lighthearted adventure romance, I wanted the details to be as close to reality as possible, so I chose themes and occupations I know well. I’ve been a sailing nomad myself as well as an archaeologist. I chose Belize because it’s a place that has all the ingredients a great adventure romance needs: proximity to the archaeological treasures of Guatemala, a fascinating culture with sometimes corrupt officials and unwaveringly devoted nuns, plus a long Caribbean coastline dotted with treacherous reefs and romantic island escapes.

THE INSPIRATION FOR THE CHARACTERS:

Julie is very much the archaeologist I once was, traveling Central and South America alone, bouncing from one amazing (if lonely) experience to another. I didn’t have a motorcycle, though, and I never worked for a corrupt professor who asked me to smuggle anything, thank goodness! I did have a machete, though, and I definitely felt the same way as Julie when it came to loving the independence while wishing for a special someone to share it all with. A tricky combination to achieve in real life, but I’m happy to report a happy end there, too!

I’ve also experienced those tropical shores from the other side: as a sailor, sailing from island to island and new coastlines throughout the Caribbean on small sailboats. Sailors come from all walks of life, but I especially liked the idea of a harried corporate type letting go of it all and going buccaneer. And there was Seth, the perfect hero.

MY FAVORITE SCENE:

The opening scenes, where the interplay of tension and attraction between Julie and Seth is so strong are among my favorites. I also love Seth’s speech to Julie on Cayo Coco, the little island they escape to for a little one-on-one (and yeah, the one-on-one was a lot of fun to write, too!). I also love the ending, where Sister Christine helps Seth and Julie pull off the ultimate escape. Dang – am I allowed to say I love pretty much every scene in this book?!