I have been feeling rather adrift lately. I am in that between contracts stage. I get here every spring and spend the month (sometimes two) that I go without a contract, reassessing my career. Am I happy with where it is going? Do I want to try something new? Will my readers feel disappointed if I head in another direction? I never quite know the answers to these questions, but I also do generate a proposal or two during the down time. So far those proposals haven’t become published books, but I remain hopeful. At the moment, I am working on two very different concepts–one, a contemporary romance with a smaller feel and two, a chick lit paranormal with a feisty, much grander scale. In a way, both books are calling to me. But then, so is just getting away from it all for a few weeks.
I can’t really get away from it all right now. I have too much happening later this year that demands using my time off from the day job then (more on that to come). So I am taking several mental respites, both via reading a lot of books and also by daydreaming about exotic locales. I don’t know if it’s truly exotic, but I’ve always wanted to venture to Australia. Also topping my list are Scotland and Ireland. These are the settings in history that I’ve always adored. Honestly, though, I am a history buff, so I would love to get away to anywhere with great history.
What about you? Do you have a dream destination? Or are you planning a dream vacation? Or maybe you just got back from one. I would love to hear about it! Living vicariously through others–real or fictional–is almost as good as experiencing it firsthand.
Now before I head out, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that What Happens In Vegas… has had its official release date yesterday. Woohoo! I’ve long been a subscriber to eHarlequin and today I got an email that featured a few of the new releases, and Vegas was among them. How lovely! 
To celebrates its official release, I will select a commentor or two to receive a signed copy of Vegas. How about the books go to the person who takes me away in the grandest fashion? grand doesn’t have to mean extravagent either. And, yes, feel free to make it up. Definitely, do have fun along the way!
~ jodi
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:53 am
Yes, I have a dream destination and I hope to go there next year!
Me and a friend of mine want to go to South Africa. I’ve never been in a plain, so that will be a big adventure. But the real adventure is that we want to go there for a month to do volunteer work. That means we’re going to live and work very close with the African people. I’m really looking forward to that: building houses, playing with the local children, learning about their culture.
I wish I could leave today!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:53 am
Maybe you’ll like to explore Egypt and all its archaelogical treasures. Then you can relax and take a cruise down the Nile at night.
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:54 am
HUmm take you away huh….
Sunsets, beaches, lobster and mountains are in the great state of maine!! perfect for all the get aways. I personally love being on the ocean in the bright sunshine makes it seem like green glass. and watch the waves crash on the rocks. that is very soothing and always changing never boring could do that all day!
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
i have vegas catn wait to read it. great on getting the new release.
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
My favorite way to get away is to go to the beach with a book I’ve been wanting to read. There is something about the ocean breezes and the noise of the waves crashing that puts me in a zone where I can just lay there, not worry about anything and read a whole book.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Dear Jodi,
The time has arrived!! I have 2 plane tickets in my hands; yours and mine for June 12th to fly to Victoria, B.C., Canada. We will be staying at a hotel a stone’s throw away from the water front where we can watch the ships coming in and listen to the local musicians.
The next day I have rented a van and we are travelling to
Tofino, BC:home to some of the most rugged wilderness marine and rainforest scenery in British Columbia referred to as the Clayoquot Sound World Biosphere Reserve. A marine and land reserve covering 350,000 hectares. Here we will walk along the beach, barefooted, and collect sea shells.
The next day we will go visit Craigdarroch Castle:
Furnished lavishly in the 1890s–1900s period, the 39 rooms occupy over 20,000 square feet. The Entrance Hall and Dining Room are panelled with rich golden oak imported from Chicago. The Drawing Room features hand-painted and stencilled ceiling decoration with lions’ heads, garlands, birds and bouquets. Its windows represent the largest and finest in-situ collection of residential stained glass in Canada. And the Castle’s tower provides a view of Victoria and beyond.
Then in the evening we will be dining at a ocean front restaurant where we will taste the fresh water salmon that is so popular there along with other delicacies.
Aren’t you excited? Talk to you later.
Robyn
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Stefanie, your adventures sounds great! I have never been abroad for volunteer work, but have done it stateside for various events through the years. I have very fond memories of assisting with the homeless shelters and underpriviledged school systems in the DC area during my college years. I hope this comes to fruition for you!
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:34 pm
You know I would, Jane! The pictures Jenyfer Matthews has been posting on her blog from her recent trip has had me drooling like crazy. I am so jealous of her.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Tina, that sounds stunning as well. I have never been to Maine and would love to go. My early 09 Aphrodisia is set in the New England states area. Half the fun of writing is doing the research, since I rarely get to visit the locations.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I am excited, Robyn! I would love to get there. Not only do I know several authors from the area, but I just covet castles. Okay, so I know in reality they were dank and big and dirty, but it just sounds so dreamy to think about living in one with my hunky laird of a man.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
You are right, Maureen. I love the smell of the waterside at the beach. I so rarely get to take in it either. I am hoping to change that this year, by visting my brother up north a lot, as we have very little in the way of the beaches around us. Sounds like a lovely getaway indeed!
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Kim, I hope it goes over well for you! I have read 3 of the 4 stories so far and really enjoying them. I know, I should have read them all by now, but this has been my first real break from deadlines in a very long time.
May 4th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Italy!!! Italy is the one place that I want to go to the most. I am planning on getting married there. Everything there is a turnon!! The accents, the scenery, hello the freaking wine! Yes yes I know every place has its good and bads, but Italy to me is just the ideal place for a romantic vacation. I bet you could think of some very steamy love scenes while you were there!
May 9th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Hi Jodi. Great vacation ideas. I agree with Jane–Egypt is my ultimate dream vacation. I just had to comment because I’m thinking of getaways as well. For the last several years I’ve taken my nieces for graduation trips–the first to Paris and the second to Rome. They like to tell stories about their goofy aunt trying to speak the language. It was wonderful–such a great bonding experience. When my last niece came up for graduation this year, I was kind of concerned about finances, and with the exchange rate in Europe…ugh. So I just decided on Honolulu. It’s not Europe, and so we won’t have that feeling of being two foreigners winging it, but I’m sure we’ll still have a wonderful time.
Congrats on the release of What Happens in Vegas…