Or rather, it will be. Next week.
Yesirree…..I’m officially on vacation and can’t wait. I’m heading to sunny Mexico and taking the hubby and kids along for the ride. Truthfully, this winter has been brutal and that’s saying something considering I’m a Canuk and so enjoy my winter sports. But, the cold and snow have finally taken their toll and driven me to the land of endless margaritas. It will be vacation for sure, but I aim to do a bit of research while I’m there.
You see, there is madness to my methods. I fell in love with the entire region while doing research for my first paranormal, Dark Revenge. My main character is a Jaguar Warrior and while they are part of the Aztec culture a good portion of my first book takes place in the jungles of Belize and involves an old Mayan ruin. I’ve been to Belize and it is indeed a beautiul country. But, when I was there, I never did make it into the jungle to tour some of the Mayan ruins close by.
I will be hitting one for sure while in the Mayan Riviera and I can’t wait. To touch and feel and to just imagine the culture that built these incredible monuments is something that I just can’t wait to experience. I want to spend a fair bit of time in the jungle, to really get a sense of it, as the second book in my series, Dark Craving takes place mainly in the jungles. Where it’s hot and humid and for my two main characters, very much a background to the life and death situation they find themselves in. And how fitting, really since that’s how I envision the jungle to be. Wild and untamed and filled with predators…some of which are yummy jaguars!
So, my vacation will be relaxing and I hope to get some work snuck in as well…in between the Coronas and margaritas 
, and I’ll be taking along some books to read…I have Kiss of Fate by Deborah Cooke, At Grave’s End by Jeaniene Frost and I have Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton.
So, who else has been lucky enough to travel and maybe do a little research? And if so, where have you been? Or, where would you like to go?
On my ipod. Van Nuys with SIXX AM with the still very hot Nikki Sixx……a la Supernatural!
ps. I don’t know how to upload the video but if you click on this link there is some Supernatural love there! Have a great week all and I’ll see you when I return from vaca!
February 11th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Great song and awsome vid. I love me some sexy Supernatural in the morning.
Have a great vaca Juliana. I’ve always been enthralled by old things. Anything from the past. If a place, I think, who walked here? What were they thinking, or talking about? To go where you are going and walk among ruins…just wow. I have a list of places like that I want to see. Where you’re going is one. My dad has traveled to Turkey, Egypt, Romania, Greece, Portugal, Italy…well it goes on, but I fairly devoured all his pictures and stories when he would come home.
I’ve only had the pleasure of going outside of the US to to Mexico, Canada, and Haiti. Haiti was amazing (in its beautifulness and sadness) and inspired several ideas for stories.
Be safe, happy researching, take time to relax ,and just plain old have fun Jules!!!!
February 11th, 2009 at 8:20 am
Hey Linda, thanks for stopping by. Sounds like your dad was quite the traveller. I’ve not been too far from home, Belize being the farthest away. I have two places I’d love to visit…New Orleans and Australia. Maybe someday!
February 11th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Hey there, Juliana. I hope you have a terrific time. It’s a well deserved vacation after your winter and all the hard work you’ve been doing. I have no doubt you will be inspired yet again. I’ve been to Chichen Itza (sp?) and it was awe-inspiring, to be sure. I have a friend who did this…jungle suspension ride?…where you get hooked up to a harness on a high area and then they release you, and you just whisk over the tops of the entire jungle/rain forest and also the ruins. I’m not describing it well, but it sounded fabulous, as you see it all like a bird.
Have fun!
February 11th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Hey Julianna!
Great blog. I’ve been to the area, too. i really loved the ruins. I find that stuff so fascinating. Have a great time on your trip! Jealous!
Suzanne
February 11th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Oh, my sweet sweet sexy Dean. My heart aches for you, my love.
I sooooooooo love that show. Jensen Ackles has got to be the sexiest dude like EVAH.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Ah Jules….New Orleans…the city of Jazz, Vamps and Hurricanes (the kind that fit in a tall glass and make you soooo happy). Been there and loved it!
Have fun with your margaritas and jaguar daydreams.
Amanda
February 11th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Yay for the land of endless margaritas! Have fun!
February 11th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Hey Jules…
Have a blast! I’ve travelled some, not a lot, but if i win the lottery big time, i’m travelling forever!
Nini
February 11th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Been around the US alot. Went to New Orleans pre-Katrina and loved it. I’d like to go back. You’d love it Jules.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I hope you have a great time on vacation, and wow–that video was awesome!
February 11th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
@Beth and Suzanne…..I can’t wait to go and believe me, my hubby’s been a bear lately too…he’s in dire need of many cold corona’s!
February 11th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
@Vivi Anna….yeah, Dean’s a cutie eh? and I can’t even tell you how excited I was when I discovered Dean in a montage to one of my fave songs…..
February 11th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
@Zoe….thanks chickee….I’ll have a margarita for you….to celebrate “your win!”
@Nini…..win the lottery girl and join us…..oh, and come to Washington too!
February 11th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
@Cynthia…..glad you liked the video…..the song is from The Heroin Diaries which is a cd that accompanies the book, which chronicles Nikki Sixx’s addiction to heroin….OMG it was an amazing read…sick but amazing and very real. He wasn’t afraid to show how pathetic he’d become….
February 11th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Hey Jules, I absolutely can’t count chickens right now. It could go one of three ways. I hope that I do win though, but I’m trying to keep it in perspective and realize that even if I don’t, that the world won’t stop turning and I have other goals as well.
When Tom got home from work he was like: “You have to chill out. In the big picture grand scheme, if you don’t win, it’s not the end of the world. You have so many other things you’re doing, and it won’t make or break that.”
Tom’s are good things to have. He’s the guy that keeps me sane when I’m about to go over the edge. It’s hard to be this close to something and know that you could lose it, but Tom is really good for perspective.
Now I want a margarita. Who knew salt on the edge of a glass could be so awesome?
February 11th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Hi Juliana,
Great post. Come see me when you get to Oz!
E x
February 11th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Elove! awesome….so when I finally make it there….I’ll call you for sure! I hope you’re safe wherever you are…those fires are just awful.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Have a great time on vacation! Let me know what you think of the resort. Where are you staying, by the way?
February 12th, 2009 at 8:31 am
I can’t wait to go Ann! And we’re staying at the Bahia Principe,I’ve heard and read nothing but great things about this resort! And, most importantly the weather looks lovely! (and its supposed to snow here again next week!)
February 12th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Have a wonderful vacation! We’re planning on going there in a few months so you’ll have to blog about your trip when you get back. Enjoy!
February 14th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
I will for sure Gail!