Holding steady in Maryland

Two weeks exactly and I'll be on a plane to Europe for a new teaching assignment. My lofty goals of going to Canada have been replaced with added time in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia. It's always interesting to me how fluid my travels are, but truly I like having the ability to shift gears, especially when I know my time stateside is coming to an end. 

Some coworkers and family continue to ask when will I return to New Hampshire for the long term. I don't have a firm answer simply that life brings change. I believe if one is already looking several years ahead at different potentials, then the present is overlooked. Living in the moment is key, especially in the crazy times we all live in. Not to mention, I haven't even gotten on the plane yet. 

To that end, the summer break continues to be a holding pattern. I filled much of my time consolidating my belongings and whittling them down to two bags. It's been a bit crazy because at the beginning of the year I had a two bedroom house with a writing loft. Now, my writing haven is gone. Even Microsoft Word isn't working properly on my new computer, which hopefully isn't a sign that no new books are on the horizon. I have saved one book for my trip. Surprisingly, I didn't take Rusty Star (no room), the Marcus Files, or any of my Luza books. The only book I will take is From West Virginia with Love. 

Whether it's for nostalgia reasons, I'm not sure. I wrote the book when I lived outside Tampa, The story takes place in the Washington DC area and in Crimea. In my adult years I have spent more time in greater DC, so I wanted to create a story in a region I know well. (On a side note Luza takes place in Lakes Region, New Hampshire) As for Crimea, I often look back on my student exchange time on the Black Sea. In Yalta, my eyes were first opened to life outside the USA and how even with cultural differences, we are all connected. I know that my month living in the old wine vineyard, stirred my soul and created this desire to travel and live in different areas.

In regard to the novel, creating Chase and his search for love was a fun ride. Having a paperback copy with me will remind me of the journey I continue to take and the many twists and turns to follow. I'm curious if you had one fiction book to choose for your travels, what would you take?   

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