Change of Scenery

It's hard to beat my latest writing spot.

Aloha from Maui!

I know, that's cruel, especially when many of you are dealing with ice, snow, and brutal cold. Think of my vacation here as research for my cozy. Whales, the Pacific Ocean, and sandy beaches; they will all appear in my books. I am just viewing them from a different angle.

Enjoying the sand between my toes

Published authors will tell you writing is work. It requires discipline, dedication, and deadlines. I have to say it is more enjoyable on a lanai hearing the roar of the surf, watching whales breach in the distance, and sipping Mai Tais. Because our condo is ground floor I have the opportunity to do a lot of people watching as people walk down to the beach. I think about how they could fit into my writing. What is their story? What do they do for a living? Are they married to each other or having a tryst? This is the perfect place to let my imagination run away. I also take notes on the appearance of the people on their way to the beach. Some you just can’t make up.

There is a couple sitting on beach chairs that I can see from where I am sitting. I chose to use them as a writing prompt. Here is their story from my vantage point, a figment of my imagination of course.

The couple sitting on the beach had been married for 30 years. Not all of them were easy. They had weathered the loss of a child, a house fire, career changes, and one affair. Each crisis seemed to have brought them closer together, except for the affair. That is why they were in Maui sitting on the beach. It was a last ditch attempt to put the remnants of their marriage back together, to put the whole sordid mess behind them and move on. As they sat there the sky turned the color of papaya and the sun dipped low. The couple stood up, shook the sand off, and walked their separate ways.

Until next time, Aloha!