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My Own Pineapple Paper Chase Adventure!
Many readers have asked how book ideas come to fruition. Is it inspired by a place, an adventure, or perhaps something I have personally faced? My fiction is truly a blend of imagination, research, and a touch of my own experiences.
In my book, Silver Cowgirls Ride Again, the women discover the courage to face their fears in the Pineapple Paper Chase on a Caribbean island. The adventures woven into the story are drawn from my own life. Still, the island itself was created from my imagination. The result was a distinctive island as realistic as I could invent.
I am grateful for the extraordinary adventures and successes I have experienced through my writing journey. In celebration, we booked our first cruise to nine islands in the Caribbean. It was a delightful revelation to discover that my fictional island of St Tiersa, my own invention, was much like a Caribbean island known as "the nature island."
The island called Dominica possesses a unique habitat. The people of Dominica are self-sustaining and live in harmony with their environment. Because our Viking ship was small, we were able to dock at a port inaccessible to larger vessels, making us the only ship present that morning. A lone ship on an ominous morning, we sailed through murky fog and drizzle. I thought perhaps this was to be a bad weather day. Wrong.
Dominica is a mountainous island blanketed with rain forest and lemongrass, home to nine active volcanoes and, as locals say, a river for every day of the year. The mountains of Dominica rise from the landscape, creating multiple peaks on the horizon. Along the coastline, the beaches plunge directly into the sea, sand blended with black rocks, remnants of ancient lava flows. The winding roads that cut through the dense greenery, offer both challenge and breathtaking views. Because of the different terrains there was sunshine, mist, fog and rainbows.
Homes are clustered into the rugged landscape with an appearance that they also fall into the ocean. As our cruise ship approached, the morning was filled with eerie screams, a mix of rooster cock-a-doodles with (as I soon learned), the sounds of chicken frogs or crapaud. These frogs have an average length of 7 to 8 inches and are on the endangered species list. Dominica is also home to freshwater crabs which can only be eaten two days out of the year.
The people of Dominica were very welcoming and the Kalinago are indigenous to the island. We were invited with open arms to lunch and dance with them in celebration. (Yes, that's me dancing in the picture above my dear Scott!)
The adventures above were only the tip of the iceberg. Visiting such an inspiring island was truly a blessing, as it allowed me to immerse myself in an magical place like St Tiersa, my imaginary creation. I want to thank the wonderful people of Dominica, our tour guide and Viking.
Deciding to follow my heart has proved to be a journey. I hope you can find your adventure! If you can’t make the trip to the Carribean, reading The Silver Cowgirls Ride Again will bring an island to life!
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