Illustrators, Narrators, and Editors
I'm thrilled to announce that I signed another four book contract with Podium audio, and Justine Eyre will continue to be my narrator. The Keeper and The Last Sip of Wine will be put on Audible, as well as my next two books.
My editor, Joyce Mochrie, has done another smashing job on Book 8, and I can't wait for you to read it! And for a little book art treat, check out this illustrated artwork for Raven of the Sea. Alexandra is a Fiverr creator who agreed to do this work for me for a possible special edition hardcover. Isn't it amazing? Not sure when or if it will happen, but I had so much fun working with her. She is from the Ukraine, and the commission was agreed upon literally the same week Russia invaded/attacked the Ukraine. I was so worried about her, but she reached out and let me know she was okay. She asked for a small extension, but wanted to keep working. Let's all pray for her and the Ukrainian people.
My next project, Book 9 of the O'Brien Tales, will be out in October on ebook, probably on audio shortly after.
My editor, Joyce Mochrie, has done another smashing job on Book 8, and I can't wait for you to read it! And for a little book art treat, check out this illustrated artwork for Raven of the Sea. Alexandra is a Fiverr creator who agreed to do this work for me for a possible special edition hardcover. Isn't it amazing? Not sure when or if it will happen, but I had so much fun working with her. She is from the Ukraine, and the commission was agreed upon literally the same week Russia invaded/attacked the Ukraine. I was so worried about her, but she reached out and let me know she was okay. She asked for a small extension, but wanted to keep working. Let's all pray for her and the Ukrainian people.
My next project, Book 9 of the O'Brien Tales, will be out in October on ebook, probably on audio shortly after.
2021-New all time lows, a big announcement, and a new BOOK!
I'm sorry, I know...it's been a while since I've written a blog article. I'd like to say this is because I've been so busy with my amazing, adventurous, successful life. So...no. I am immensely proud of getting Burning Embers published, despite the shitshow of 2020. Unfortunately, the bad outweighed the good in this last year or so. You were all so wonderful when my father died several months ago, and things were starting to get better. Then we got COVID over Christmas, during a small family gathering in Ohio. COVID went through our little group like wildfire. Everyone survived but my mother. We were hugging her, opening presents, dancing and eating and watching her play with her grandkids. Then it all turned into a nightmare. She promised me on the phone, from the ICU, that she wasn't going anywhere. That she'd be okay. But she just couldn't do it. Her lungs couldn't do it. She couldn't stay. I wake up everyday and miss her. Both of them. I want my parents back. But now she's with my daddy. I'm not okay, but I'm trying. And I have a wonderful husband and children. And Bob's father, who was with us, did recover. Unfortunately, Bob's mother, after a prolonged illness, died six days before mine. Three parents in ten months. So, we are surviving our grief, but we're not there yet. They're together, they are with my brother, and that's something. Many of you reached out to me on Facebook, and I love you for it. Thank you.
I do have some absolutely amazing news. Podium Audio, and very well respected audiobook producer/publisher has approached me about putting the O'Brien Tales into audio. Yep, audible exclusive audiobooks. All nine, including the novellas. I signed a contract a few months ago, they've found my narrator, and will start recording in March if all goes well. I'm BEYOND excited about who they managed acquire for Raven of the Sea, and maybe all of the books. To be announced, don't worry!
The next book is progressing. When I'm ready, I'll be doing a cover reveal and back cover blurb reveal. So exciting. Just take this book on its own merits. I know you love the O'Brien's, and this is a spin-off from the O'Brien world. In the universe, so to speak, but a story in its own right. Dr. Antonio Rinalto is a good man, and he deserves his own book. I mean, who doesn't love a hot Italian guy? So just be patient. Another O'Brien Tale will come, but let me take you a little further south, to the rolling hills of Tuscany and introduce you to a wonderful family and some pretty terrific scenery.
I do have some absolutely amazing news. Podium Audio, and very well respected audiobook producer/publisher has approached me about putting the O'Brien Tales into audio. Yep, audible exclusive audiobooks. All nine, including the novellas. I signed a contract a few months ago, they've found my narrator, and will start recording in March if all goes well. I'm BEYOND excited about who they managed acquire for Raven of the Sea, and maybe all of the books. To be announced, don't worry!
The next book is progressing. When I'm ready, I'll be doing a cover reveal and back cover blurb reveal. So exciting. Just take this book on its own merits. I know you love the O'Brien's, and this is a spin-off from the O'Brien world. In the universe, so to speak, but a story in its own right. Dr. Antonio Rinalto is a good man, and he deserves his own book. I mean, who doesn't love a hot Italian guy? So just be patient. Another O'Brien Tale will come, but let me take you a little further south, to the rolling hills of Tuscany and introduce you to a wonderful family and some pretty terrific scenery.
A Summer to Remember
The O'Brien Tour, Back Fusions, and other moments
I'm not going to ruminate over the sheer hell the last 4 months have been. I'm going to tell you how awesome Ireland was instead. I've been laid up and completely dropped the ball on my Ireland trip blog. I typed the whole thing and lost the bastard right before I hit save. Needless to say the trip was amazing. My readers were fun, fantastic, and we frolicked like crazy people through O'Brien country.
Stacey's Place-A blog for my readers
My Greatest Work: Advice for Budding Authors
No, I'm not bragging about myself. My greatest work hasn't been written. My writing, like myself, is a work in progress. If that isn't the case, I'd better stop.
I've been pounding away on the keyboard, getting this next book out of my head and on to the page. My beta readers are starting to do their work as well. It occurred to me that I haven't written a blog article. So many of you have been kind enough to not only write reviews, but have also reached out to me personally. It's a wonderful feeling, getting notes from all around the country and abroad.
The nicest thing you can say to a writer is that the book evoked deep emotion. Laughing, crying, cheering, or so angry you wanted to throw the book out the window, but you couldn't because you just HAD to keep reading. That's the sort of feedback that keeps me at the keyboard, and I love you for it.
I've had authors reach out to me as well. Writers that are unsure what to write, how to make a career out of this extremely challenging work. The answer is, I don't know. I shit you not when I tell you that I am winging it big time. I'm making mistakes. Lots of them. I'm doubting myself and worrying too much, but I'm writing. Just keep swimming.
Hone your craft, take criticism with a grain of salt. Constructive criticism, yes. Even if you don't want to hear it. Destructive criticism? Scrape it off. Seriously. There are so many ways to get distracted in the writing world right now. Especially in romance. Social media being the big time suck. I am guilty. I'll admit it.
Back to the writing. I have some important advice, and you are going to hear it from other writers as well. Write what you know and write what you feel. Don't check the top 100 on amazon and see what's selling. Don't write an altered version of the same old trope JUST because you want to ride that trend for fame and fortune. It's easy to get sucked into that mindset. Especially if you want to get those royalty checks coming in fast. But if you really want to write something that you're proud of, that isn't the way to do it.
I've tackled some tough topics in my romance novels. Topics that I've brushed up against in my lifetime. Topics I knew and also did further research on for the book. When I was a police officer, I retained vivid memories that have stayed with me throughout my eighteen years since I quit. Memories that shaped me as a woman, as a wife, as a mother, and as a writer.
I've held a woman's hand in the E.R. as she waited to get a rape evidence kit done. Bagged up her clothes as evidence. Taken pictures of her bruising. Tried to channel my sisterly love and support into her while she endured the whole, awful process.
I've also removed my pens and badge from my uniform so that I could let a small little girl sleep on my chest. My bullet proof vest was bulky, and it took a while for her to settle in, but I was warm and said soft words to her, and she slept. I can still feel her on my chest when I think about it. She slept with a towel for a diaper, that I'd duct taped onto her with the help of a fireman/EMT. Because mom had a 40 ounce in her diaper bag, but no clean diapers. No baby wipes. No clean pants or snacks or formula. I washed out the filthy bottle as best I could, so I could give the baby water. And I waited with that baby girl and her sister. Still the worst case of diaper rash I've ever seen. I waited to see who showed up first. The dad or the woman from child protective services. I couldn't even look at the mother. She wasn't my arrest, and I wasn't in the right frame of mind to deal with her drunk ass. So instead, I assigned myself to the babies. The guys were more than happy to oblige. Not wanting to think about it, because they had their own kids. Yeah, that was a rough day.
I worked vice for three summers during a large sting operation. I was an undercover prostitute. If you knew my personality, you'd laugh about this one. I was fresh faced and naive at that time. Never lived far from my parents. Never been hungry or suffered any major tragedies in my life. So the underbelly of trading in humans was an eye opener. The men I worked with were tough as nails. They had to be. It was disturbing work. The kind of work that left a fog over you even when you got back home. Even after taking your "working clothes" off and getting a shower. No fluffy pajamas and chocolate could change the vision of a man pulling up with a child in the car. No car seat, of course. Trying to buy me... Buy me. So yeah, it's not all Richard Gere and Pretty Woman.
The week before I left my job (having married a Marine and headed to Japan) I had a parting shot that made it very easy for me to never look back. I taught in the classroom part-time, and had a large group of sixth and eight graders that were my little pals. Good kids that were just trying to survive junior high. One of my kids was shot while he was asleep in his bed. The father shot the whole family and then himself. The anger that boiled up and over in me was so deep and ugly, it's hard for me to put it into words. Our police chaplain, Father Michael, just closed the door and let me cut loose. He leaned against the door and let me vent my spleen. Then there was sadness. A well of sadness that tightened my chest and made me barely able to choke down food. So when I walked away from that job, I knew it was for good. It was taking something from me that I wasn't going to get back. Between all of the easy day fender benders and shoplifters, the occasional horrible call was taking a toll. One out of a thousand calls, maybe, but that rare call where my heart was broken in some way, and wasn't going to leave me. Ever. And I didn't want those experiences to accumulate. I needed to save my heart for better endeavors. To raise children. Protect them from all the shit that can go wrong in life.
I'm not sorry for those experiences. It made me a better wife and mother. I was independent and able to gut out a lot of lonely times when my husband was deployed.
And now, in the autumn of my life, I am able take those experiences and pour them into my writing. Not a carbon copy of the experience, but an authentic display of emotion that translates into an experience that I give my characters, even if it's different.
If you want to know how to write with emotional depth and authenticity, then you are going to have to dig deep. Do no less than bleeding on the page.
Blood, sweat, and tears. Pain, joy, and passion. Sometimes I write with tears dripping off my nose. That's when I do my greatest work.
I've been pounding away on the keyboard, getting this next book out of my head and on to the page. My beta readers are starting to do their work as well. It occurred to me that I haven't written a blog article. So many of you have been kind enough to not only write reviews, but have also reached out to me personally. It's a wonderful feeling, getting notes from all around the country and abroad.
The nicest thing you can say to a writer is that the book evoked deep emotion. Laughing, crying, cheering, or so angry you wanted to throw the book out the window, but you couldn't because you just HAD to keep reading. That's the sort of feedback that keeps me at the keyboard, and I love you for it.
I've had authors reach out to me as well. Writers that are unsure what to write, how to make a career out of this extremely challenging work. The answer is, I don't know. I shit you not when I tell you that I am winging it big time. I'm making mistakes. Lots of them. I'm doubting myself and worrying too much, but I'm writing. Just keep swimming.
Hone your craft, take criticism with a grain of salt. Constructive criticism, yes. Even if you don't want to hear it. Destructive criticism? Scrape it off. Seriously. There are so many ways to get distracted in the writing world right now. Especially in romance. Social media being the big time suck. I am guilty. I'll admit it.
Back to the writing. I have some important advice, and you are going to hear it from other writers as well. Write what you know and write what you feel. Don't check the top 100 on amazon and see what's selling. Don't write an altered version of the same old trope JUST because you want to ride that trend for fame and fortune. It's easy to get sucked into that mindset. Especially if you want to get those royalty checks coming in fast. But if you really want to write something that you're proud of, that isn't the way to do it.
I've tackled some tough topics in my romance novels. Topics that I've brushed up against in my lifetime. Topics I knew and also did further research on for the book. When I was a police officer, I retained vivid memories that have stayed with me throughout my eighteen years since I quit. Memories that shaped me as a woman, as a wife, as a mother, and as a writer.
I've held a woman's hand in the E.R. as she waited to get a rape evidence kit done. Bagged up her clothes as evidence. Taken pictures of her bruising. Tried to channel my sisterly love and support into her while she endured the whole, awful process.
I've also removed my pens and badge from my uniform so that I could let a small little girl sleep on my chest. My bullet proof vest was bulky, and it took a while for her to settle in, but I was warm and said soft words to her, and she slept. I can still feel her on my chest when I think about it. She slept with a towel for a diaper, that I'd duct taped onto her with the help of a fireman/EMT. Because mom had a 40 ounce in her diaper bag, but no clean diapers. No baby wipes. No clean pants or snacks or formula. I washed out the filthy bottle as best I could, so I could give the baby water. And I waited with that baby girl and her sister. Still the worst case of diaper rash I've ever seen. I waited to see who showed up first. The dad or the woman from child protective services. I couldn't even look at the mother. She wasn't my arrest, and I wasn't in the right frame of mind to deal with her drunk ass. So instead, I assigned myself to the babies. The guys were more than happy to oblige. Not wanting to think about it, because they had their own kids. Yeah, that was a rough day.
I worked vice for three summers during a large sting operation. I was an undercover prostitute. If you knew my personality, you'd laugh about this one. I was fresh faced and naive at that time. Never lived far from my parents. Never been hungry or suffered any major tragedies in my life. So the underbelly of trading in humans was an eye opener. The men I worked with were tough as nails. They had to be. It was disturbing work. The kind of work that left a fog over you even when you got back home. Even after taking your "working clothes" off and getting a shower. No fluffy pajamas and chocolate could change the vision of a man pulling up with a child in the car. No car seat, of course. Trying to buy me... Buy me. So yeah, it's not all Richard Gere and Pretty Woman.
The week before I left my job (having married a Marine and headed to Japan) I had a parting shot that made it very easy for me to never look back. I taught in the classroom part-time, and had a large group of sixth and eight graders that were my little pals. Good kids that were just trying to survive junior high. One of my kids was shot while he was asleep in his bed. The father shot the whole family and then himself. The anger that boiled up and over in me was so deep and ugly, it's hard for me to put it into words. Our police chaplain, Father Michael, just closed the door and let me cut loose. He leaned against the door and let me vent my spleen. Then there was sadness. A well of sadness that tightened my chest and made me barely able to choke down food. So when I walked away from that job, I knew it was for good. It was taking something from me that I wasn't going to get back. Between all of the easy day fender benders and shoplifters, the occasional horrible call was taking a toll. One out of a thousand calls, maybe, but that rare call where my heart was broken in some way, and wasn't going to leave me. Ever. And I didn't want those experiences to accumulate. I needed to save my heart for better endeavors. To raise children. Protect them from all the shit that can go wrong in life.
I'm not sorry for those experiences. It made me a better wife and mother. I was independent and able to gut out a lot of lonely times when my husband was deployed.
And now, in the autumn of my life, I am able take those experiences and pour them into my writing. Not a carbon copy of the experience, but an authentic display of emotion that translates into an experience that I give my characters, even if it's different.
If you want to know how to write with emotional depth and authenticity, then you are going to have to dig deep. Do no less than bleeding on the page.
Blood, sweat, and tears. Pain, joy, and passion. Sometimes I write with tears dripping off my nose. That's when I do my greatest work.
Book 6 coming this Spring/Early Summer
Book 6 of the O'Brien Tales
Title to be determined...
I am working hard on book 6. I am also finalizing the itinerary for the reader tour this summer. Check out the O'Brien Tour in Ireland on the menu bar! There's still room on the bus.
As for book 6, it's been a challenge to start, but I'm finally rolling.The working title I had has been altered, so as to keep my beloved story out of the politically motivated algorithms that will surely plague me at this time. This, afterall, is not a political story. It's at its heart, a love story. I hope you love Sean and Sorcha's tale as much as I do. You'll also get a glimpse into the life of William O'Brien and Katie Donoghue, Tadgh's future parents!
Young and in their hot twenties, they are far from their future positions as matriarch and patriarch of the O'Brien sons and daughter.
I have other books in the future, don't worry. Sean Jr. is sewing his oats right now, and poor Josh is just learning how to live a life free of fear and violence. They are young, but as we know, the O'Brien men eventually find their mates.
His Wild Irish Rose: De Clare Legacy has exceeded my expectations. I was a bit worried about branching out with a non-O'Brien book. Especially this length. But as always, I am blessed with a loyal and generous group of readers who have embraced Jack and Rose with open arms. You'll be happy to know that there will be one final De Clare Legacy book, as yet unnamed but planned.Until then, know that I wake up every day both grateful and humbled by the support that is shown to me by my readers. Without you, I am pretty much talking to myself.
As for book 6, it's been a challenge to start, but I'm finally rolling.The working title I had has been altered, so as to keep my beloved story out of the politically motivated algorithms that will surely plague me at this time. This, afterall, is not a political story. It's at its heart, a love story. I hope you love Sean and Sorcha's tale as much as I do. You'll also get a glimpse into the life of William O'Brien and Katie Donoghue, Tadgh's future parents!
Young and in their hot twenties, they are far from their future positions as matriarch and patriarch of the O'Brien sons and daughter.
I have other books in the future, don't worry. Sean Jr. is sewing his oats right now, and poor Josh is just learning how to live a life free of fear and violence. They are young, but as we know, the O'Brien men eventually find their mates.
His Wild Irish Rose: De Clare Legacy has exceeded my expectations. I was a bit worried about branching out with a non-O'Brien book. Especially this length. But as always, I am blessed with a loyal and generous group of readers who have embraced Jack and Rose with open arms. You'll be happy to know that there will be one final De Clare Legacy book, as yet unnamed but planned.Until then, know that I wake up every day both grateful and humbled by the support that is shown to me by my readers. Without you, I am pretty much talking to myself.
Distractions Big and Small
It's been months since I've written a blog article, for which I apologize. As some of you know, I made a move across the country this summer. As we missed the ocean with silent desperation...okay...maybe I wasn't very silent. But I digress. Fort Collins to Coastal Carolina was a massive undertaking. Packing, moving, unpacking. All that aside, we arrived just in time for Hurricane Florence to slap us in the ass. The clean up has been lengthy, even though comparatively, we suffered little damage.
During this transition, I've been working on a short novel that is unrelated to the O'Brien family saga. It was a writing exercise for me, in order to see if I was capable of writing a smaller novel and still stay true to a solid storyline, as well as my personal brand of character development. I'm going to be honest. It was difficult. We know how long winded I am when my characters start talking to me.
I'm actually very proud of the end result. I have been writing non-stop for almost four years exclusively on the O'Brien Tales. And having done this other book, I feel refreshed, accomplished, and ready to start tackling my biggest project thus far...the prequel that tells us the story of Sean O'Brien and Sorcha Mullen.
I've also been working hard on the O'Brien Tour of Ireland that will include my readers, fine-tuning the itinerary. This is such an exciting time, because I really need to get back to that west coast in order to move ahead with a certain little brother's story...ahem, cough cough. And a novella that will precede it.
Lots of projects in the works, so I will beg a little patience. As for this new novel, I really had fun writing it. I love some of the characters. Especially my leading man and woman. As always, I love to hate a couple of characters as well. I found myself in that magical place where a story takes me in a direction that I wasn't expecting. That's all I will say concerning His Wild Irish Rose: De Clare Legacy (Book 1) and I hope you enjoy Rose and Jack as much I do.
During this transition, I've been working on a short novel that is unrelated to the O'Brien family saga. It was a writing exercise for me, in order to see if I was capable of writing a smaller novel and still stay true to a solid storyline, as well as my personal brand of character development. I'm going to be honest. It was difficult. We know how long winded I am when my characters start talking to me.
I'm actually very proud of the end result. I have been writing non-stop for almost four years exclusively on the O'Brien Tales. And having done this other book, I feel refreshed, accomplished, and ready to start tackling my biggest project thus far...the prequel that tells us the story of Sean O'Brien and Sorcha Mullen.
I've also been working hard on the O'Brien Tour of Ireland that will include my readers, fine-tuning the itinerary. This is such an exciting time, because I really need to get back to that west coast in order to move ahead with a certain little brother's story...ahem, cough cough. And a novella that will precede it.
Lots of projects in the works, so I will beg a little patience. As for this new novel, I really had fun writing it. I love some of the characters. Especially my leading man and woman. As always, I love to hate a couple of characters as well. I found myself in that magical place where a story takes me in a direction that I wasn't expecting. That's all I will say concerning His Wild Irish Rose: De Clare Legacy (Book 1) and I hope you enjoy Rose and Jack as much I do.
In the trenches!
What a start to the year. I had a little breast cancer scare, but the biopsy was benign. Thank you baby Jesus. I am about 70% done with the first draft of book 5. Still struggling a bit with the title. I think you will love it, although it isn't the "boy meets girl" romance novel.
This is a branch off the O'Brien tree that we all have learned to love. We've laughed, we've cried, and now it's time for Caitlyn and Patrick to get their story. Half in Ireland, half in Brazil, and all from the heart. Have you wondered what is going to happen with the orphans at St. Clare's? Are you curious what the Reverend Mother's backstory is about? Hold on to your hat, because this is going to be an emotional roller coaster. We've got several O'Briens that are coming in and out of this story, and you are going to love it.
This is a branch off the O'Brien tree that we all have learned to love. We've laughed, we've cried, and now it's time for Caitlyn and Patrick to get their story. Half in Ireland, half in Brazil, and all from the heart. Have you wondered what is going to happen with the orphans at St. Clare's? Are you curious what the Reverend Mother's backstory is about? Hold on to your hat, because this is going to be an emotional roller coaster. We've got several O'Briens that are coming in and out of this story, and you are going to love it.
River Angels Giveaway!!!
Have you finished River Angels?? Then jump on this Spoiler Zone event on Facebook for the next big giveaway! A themed box of goodies from the O'Brien Clan and St. Clare's in Brazil.
https://www.facebook.com/events/142957529758202/permalink/146482292739059/?notif_t=event_mall_comment¬if_id=1515095319168541
Join this public event ONLY after you have finished the book! There are fun discussions, chances to get the inside scoop on upcoming books, and a chance to win this amazing box of fun!
https://www.facebook.com/events/142957529758202/permalink/146482292739059/?notif_t=event_mall_comment¬if_id=1515095319168541
Join this public event ONLY after you have finished the book! There are fun discussions, chances to get the inside scoop on upcoming books, and a chance to win this amazing box of fun!
Launch day and Merry Christmas!
Happy Christmas to all of my wonderful readers. I honestly thank the baby Jesus for you every day. I've met so many wonderful friends within my reading community. I love the Icelandic tradition of reading a new book on Christmas Eve, hence the release date.I want you all to have a beautiful holiday with the O'Briens and with your own loved ones!
The Brazilian rainforest isn't cold and there won't be any snow, but there will be plenty of good deeds, love, and Christmas spirit!
The Brazilian rainforest isn't cold and there won't be any snow, but there will be plenty of good deeds, love, and Christmas spirit!
Books gone wild...The creatures of the O'Brien Tales
I find myself looking things up on maps and googling different aspects of the setting for each book. I am busy researching everything from medical procedures to how long you need to be in the Garda before you can make detective. This latest book was no exception.
A very important part of the story for River Angels: An O'Brien Tale is the wildlife. I managed to find some information on Google and Wiki. This article was great to just put it in perspective.
https://themysteriousworld.com/most-dangerous-amazon-rainforest-animals/
The conclusion I came to was that there isn't a whole lot in the way of poisonous or dangerous animals in Ireland. Your main concerns might be a staph infection from a stray cat or hitting a deer or cow with your rental car.That is, until you get in the ocean. Then you've got your choice of sharks and jellies to pick from.
North Carolina steps it up a notch. My theory has always been that the warmer the climate, the meaner the bugs and snakes are. NC has several poisonous snakes, some poisonous insects, and the same dangers as any other ocean once you hit the saltwater or play in the wetlands. Then you've got the coyotes, bears, wolves, and bobcats.
Brazil is a rare and beautiful example of the brutality in the animal kingdom. They have a list as long as my arms of shit that can kill you...or make you wish you were dead. The rainforest is as dangerous as it is beautiful. And although I am pants-pissing scared of snakes and spiders, I find myself wanting to visit. Probably because I'm an idiot.
So, I've compiled a gallery of animal photos. Can you guess which ones go with which book? Take a look and play along!
A very important part of the story for River Angels: An O'Brien Tale is the wildlife. I managed to find some information on Google and Wiki. This article was great to just put it in perspective.
https://themysteriousworld.com/most-dangerous-amazon-rainforest-animals/
The conclusion I came to was that there isn't a whole lot in the way of poisonous or dangerous animals in Ireland. Your main concerns might be a staph infection from a stray cat or hitting a deer or cow with your rental car.That is, until you get in the ocean. Then you've got your choice of sharks and jellies to pick from.
North Carolina steps it up a notch. My theory has always been that the warmer the climate, the meaner the bugs and snakes are. NC has several poisonous snakes, some poisonous insects, and the same dangers as any other ocean once you hit the saltwater or play in the wetlands. Then you've got the coyotes, bears, wolves, and bobcats.
Brazil is a rare and beautiful example of the brutality in the animal kingdom. They have a list as long as my arms of shit that can kill you...or make you wish you were dead. The rainforest is as dangerous as it is beautiful. And although I am pants-pissing scared of snakes and spiders, I find myself wanting to visit. Probably because I'm an idiot.
So, I've compiled a gallery of animal photos. Can you guess which ones go with which book? Take a look and play along!
Research Trip!
Ten days in Éire. We will start with a visit to Newgrange and will sleep in an eighteenth century manor house in Trim. The next day we head to Co. Clare where we will spend two days in...you guessed it...DOOLIN! Aran, cliffs, Gus O'Connors for my birthday. Next we head to Galway for one day and night, then Kilcar in Donegal for two. After that, we head up the Antrim Coast to see Giant's Causeway and other amazing sites before staying two nights in Belfast. I'll be doing research for the prequel No Borders: An O'Brien Tale while there. The story of Sean and Sorcha in 1978. We will end the trip in Dublin where we will walk the cobbled streets and soak in the art, lighthouses, and infamous craic that the capitol city is known for. Don't worry, I will be "working" hard, getting photos and inspiration for the ongoing tales of the O'Brien clan.
Next? Yup, we're headed to Brazil
No spoilers, but if you finished Book 3, you understand the change of venue.