I have to admit that when I first moved to Arizona, I doubted that I’d ever really appreciate the desert. Before we were married, my husband took me out to this desolate strip of land where we shot up old coke cans with his pistol while he talked about how perfect the ‘dry’ heat of 110 was. And then, without warning, clouds rolled in, the sky got dark purple and the wind picked up. My husband stood there reveling in the monsoon while I ran for cover, rethinking my decision to marry such a lunatic. I mean, really, a monsoon? Don’t they only have those in Asia? Turns out Arizona has their own legendary brand of the beastly storms.
It wasn’t until I spent a summer watching those storms from my front porch that I began to realize the beauty of them, and it wasn’t until I started hiking through some of the desolate, unforgiving terrain that I recognized just how much life you can actually find in the desert. So it only seemed natural to drop my characters into the heart of the desert when I decided to write a book about forgiveness and second chances.
Some of my favorite moments in Her Own Best Enemy are when the characters are not only forced to battle their inner demons, but must contend with the rough terrain as well. Like when Keith gets caught in a flash flood while running through the desert, bad guys hot on his heels. Or when Grace and Keith trek down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, only to discover that they’ve made the difficult journey in vain.
Arizona has grown on me. Now I’m the one standing outside, reveling in the monsoon—okay, maybe reveling is too strong a word, but it sounds good doesn’t it? I love the never-ending sky, the dusky red earth, and the profound hush that makes me feel like I’m the only person here in this great, wide, open space. And I love writing about it.
Tell me about a place you’ve been that changed your perspective, and I’ll pick a commenter to win an e-copy of my romantic suspense, Her Own Best Enemy!
Desperate to track down her ex-husband who disappeared along with their son, Grace Stevens delves into his past and uncovers evidence of a shocking dual life. The man she thought was an ordinary computer consultant is in fact a former high-ranking Special Forces officer with unique skills in military intelligence. With nowhere to turn she is forced to plead for help from Keith King, the one man she hoped to never see again. Against her better judgment she’ll have to put her child’s fate into his hands. Keith has officially hit rock bottom. Framed for the theft of deadly missile components, the cynical Special Forces officer is in danger of losing the only thing he can count on: his career. His one shot at clearing his name lies in locating Grace’s ex, who was working with Keith on a secret mission to take down a cutthroat military traitor. But to team up with Grace he’ll need to spend 24/7 with a woman who has every reason to hate him. Out to use each other for their own agenda, desperate mother and disillusioned soldier find they must work together to stay alive, and in the process discover that sometimes even the best of enemies fall in love.
Buy from Amazon :: Buy from Barnes & Noble :: Visit Cynthia's Website**If the blogger snag from last week repeats and you get an error message when you try to comment, please email vivi@viviandrews.com and I will make sure you are entered to win. Thank you and good luck!**
27 comments:
The middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
I was born in a state with about a million and a half lakes and more flat land than should be allowed anywhere. I grew up in a city with an ocean view out my front window and mountains literally in my backyard. I'm plenty familiar with water, wide open expanses and majestic natural beauty.
But nothing put me in my place like being on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean with nothing in sight but water. Even more terrifying is the view at night when everything around you is pitch black, everyone is asleep so the only sounds you hear are mechanical, and you get dizzy because you can't see the horizon. I've never felt so small as when I'm out there. I love it.
I was born in Seattle, but I grew up in eastern Washington state so I traveled back and forth into the Idaho panhandle and eventually moved to the panhandle in 1995. I love the northwest because of its mountains and evergreens. But since I was a teenager my connection with wildlife it has grown even more.
In 2000, my hubby and I made a solo trip to to central Idaho to the WERC (Wolf Educational Research Center) which was created by the Nez Perce to care for the wolves that were used in the documentary film Wolves at our Door. Bless my Native brothers & sisters as they are angels in my book.
Anyway, as my hubby and I sat in our little RV outside the gate of the center waiting for them to open the most amazing thing happened that has forever changed my life.
The wolves began to howl to one another within the enclosure. We couldn't see them, but wow did I hear them. Their howling touched the base of my spine and traveled up to my heart and I know the howls hit my very heart and soul. The tears started running and I sat in awe as I listened to them speak to one another. There is no other sound that has ever touched me nor made me feel to connected to this mother earth. They literally spoke to my soul.
since then we have moved to Alaska in 2001, and I feel so small in the scale of things here. It is a huge state that you can travel hours and not see a single human for miles and hours. nature as its true state is unlike anywhere in the world, and I hope always it stays that way.....*S*
Thank ou for letting me share this!
Darcy
pommawolf @hotmail.com
Kali, I've never taken a cruise before, but your description of being out on the water at night is very cool. I think I need to mark a cruise down on my 'bucket list'! :)
Don’t know if any place has changed my perspective. Every place I’ve been confirms my view on how amazing this world is. I’ve been fortunate to live in many places and visit many more. I can’t say the canyons and cathedrals of the world's cities are any more magnificent than those of the Grand Canyon, Brice or Zion. Or the night life of Miami or Paris any more exciting than watching a meteor shower on a dark August night from a mountain in Montana.
It’s all good for me.
Darcy,
Thanks so much for sharing about the wolves. It sent a shiver down my spine. In a good way. My parents took a trip to Alaska a few years back and I loved looking at their pictures. I SO want to go there one day. Wouldn't it be nice to have a bottomless travel fund? LOL.
Rita,
I know what you mean. The landscape is so diverse on earth. There's beauty everywhere and I love that you can travel to the mountains, the desert, the plains, the rainforest, etc., and find something unique to appreciate.
New Mexico has changed my view on the term beautiful. When I first moved to New Mexico, I cried for three months straight. I hated the driness, how dead and brown everything appeared to be. Wouldn't you know, the longer I lived in New Mexico, the more I came to appreciate its own form of beauty. Now when I look at the landscape, I see the differences in the colors and can see it's not a dead desert, but full of life.
Congratulations on your release, Cynthia!
Alaska
I moved there by myself and my two boys. Wanted to get away from a failed marriage. I loved the beauty and the people. Since then I have moved to Idaho, but I am working at moving back. It's a gorgeous state.
Hi Cynthia! I am a Truck Driver and honestly every single day I travel the road United States.
every single day something I see changes my preception. One morning I woke up on a mountain top where I had pull out to go to sleep.
The night before was very dark and lonely and it was snowing .
When I woke up the next morning I saw that I had parked on the side of the mountain cliff. To 1 side was a waterfall that I could walk right up to.
the other side was a sheet drop off at least a mile.
The cliff overlooked huge an ancient forest all I could see wete the tops of the trees, and across from me another waterfall spilling from the neighboring mountain top. Eagles were spiraling around it. I look to my right and saw a lopsided mountainthat was charred and smoking. Mt. St.Helens. a little ways behind it Mt.Hood. At that moment I felt LARGE & small POWERFUL & weak. It was like being poised on the verge of immortality and realizing the finger that is pointing at you doesn't even know you're there.....
As a result I am a little more humble and a lot more respectful to the planet that nurtured us.
Tennessee has has changed my perspective. I have been here for 3 years now and I am still getting used to how things are here compared to Northeastern Ohio. I grew up in the snow belt and not used to things closing when they get an inch or couple inches of snow. Spring also arrives earlier here than it did in Ohio.
Don't know as it changed my perspecitve, other than confirmed it. Took a trip and camped quite far up north to a lake. Very untouched. Sitting in a boat near the shore, surrounded by towering pines, watching an eagle soar overhead, could hear the wind over wings he was so close and it was so quiet. In awe of the beauty and power of nature.
mmbourassa(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love the mountains. They are a pain in the tush to garden, but the sunsets! There is beauty everywhere if we look for it. Sailing on the Chesapeake at night, the only light pinpricks against a black so endless it seemed to suck you up into it.
I don't know how anyone can look at all that and believe it was an accident. I am often awed by the myriad colors and fragrances that surround us.
I'm loving this conversation. For me, the places that change my perspective tend to be due to the people or culture more than the natural physical beauty - but I think that's because I was spoiled growing up in two extreme and utterly gorgeous places, Alaska & Hawaii.
Thank you so much for visiting today, Cynthia!
I don't think of any one place that changed my perspective, but I love exploring new places and cultures.
Congratulations on your release!
Congrats on your new release!
When I was 18 I was in such a hurry to get out and on my own, that I went from Michigan across the country to Arizona to go to school. And then preceded to move to 6 other states in the next 10 years, but ended up finding myself missing the place that was home.
gigi
I think my perspective about places change the older I get. When I was young, I hungered for all that was sophisticated. Martinis, gleaming hotel lobbies, designer clothes, but as I've grown older, I've settled into simplicity. I guess it's not so much perspective as it is maturity that has changed me.
I love the simplicity of my front porch, my rocking chair and a glass of wine. Never thought I'd be so pleased with the view from my front porch, but I so am.
Can't wait to read the book, Cynthia, and see the world you've grown to love.
@Shea -- New Mexico is beautiful, Shea. Like Arizona, and yet, the desert is subtly different.
@Toni -- Wow! You are one brave woman to take on Alaska all by yourself! Kudos! :)
@Amanda -- I can just imagine the countryside you've seen as a truck driver. So inspiring!
@Becky -- Tennessee is such a lovely place with its rolling green hills. I haven't been there in a very long time. You're making me want to go back.
@mmbourassa -- We've got some of those untouched lakes here in Northern Arizona. Such a peaceful way to spend an afternoon.
@Gwynlyn -- I love the mountains too!
@Vivi -- Wow! Moving from Hawaii to Alaska must've been quite a change for you. They are so different. Both places are on my wish list for travel.
@Cherie -- Sounds like you're an adventurer :) I would love to just take a year and travel the world. Maybe someday when I'm rich and famous. LOL.
@gigis -- It's funny how sometimes the one place we can't wait to get out of is the only place that really feels like home. Thanks for sharing!
@Liz -- That's such a great point. Bright lights and big cities seemed so exciting when I was younger as well. But now I love the solitude of sitting in my backyard, looking up at the blue sky with only the birds for company.
I LOVE that scene where Keith gets caught in a flash flood. :) I guess the place I've been that most changed my perspective is Juarez, Mexico. I had to go pretty frequently for work as I was the overseer of an outsourcing group located there. It's a poor area and I really appreciate small things when I come home. Like hot water, grass, and feeling safe at night.
The way you describe AZ makes me want to go back and see it again. (you don't have to enter me in the drawing - I have a copy already)
Hey there,
As a kid I hated my hometown but now that I'm an adult with children of my own I see why my mother brought me up here, yup I live in my hometown and am raising my kids here. It's safe, clean, and there's great Dr. I should have known then that my mother would only do what's best for me lol
leanne_gag[at]hotmail[dot]com
I'm in the middle of HER OWN BEST ENEMY right now, and it's a wonderful book! The setting is powerful, and beautifully described. Arizona feels very real on those pages. Congrats!!
I'm blessed. As a teenager, I rode my horse to the top of hill, sandwiched between two blue mountains of NE PA--part of my great grandfather's farm and planned out my life. My dreams have pretty much come true. My grandfather gave me a couple acres here on the hill and my house overlooks the entire valley. In my eyes, there isn't a prettier place on earth. However, I've visited many places that took my breath away; The Green Mountains of Vermount in October, The Atlantic Ocean in Virginia, Fancy Gap, VA, AZ in April (I didn't realized all the flowers there), Zion National park, UT.
BTW: I experienced that AZ windstorm last time we missed. Beautiful sky afterwards.
Well Cynthia, they have cruises to Alaska...two bucket list check marks for the price of one :) Though you really need to spend some time on land too to get a real idea of the massive scale of this state.
I visited Switzerland years ago and I was blown away by the landscape during our hikes. There is a mountain called Jungfrau that is super high that you can only reach by train (unless you can afford a helicopter). I just floored me when we got to the top. I just showed my kids the pictures. It brought back such great memories. Thanks for the giveaway.
jepebATverizonDOTnet
Hi, Cynthia! Lovely post! It's a big, beautiful world out there, and when I had the chance to visit China with my parents, that drove the point home. It's one huge country, with many different geographies and peoples, and one sure does feel like just a tiny piece of the puzzle in such a broad, far-reaching place.
Don't ever spent a split second on this type of porn page again Cynthia,
Post a Comment