Travel, Inspiration, and the Stories Yet to Come 🧳 📚

Hello and Happy Wednesday!

I returned home from my trip yesterday evening, and while I’m glad to be back, I wish I had a few more days in each location.

Philadelphia – A City of History and Hustle

Philly was fascinating! Its history is rich and beautiful, but I’ll admit—I didn’t explore as much as I wanted to. The city was a bit overwhelming and not as friendly as I’d hoped, so I stuck close to familiar areas. That said, I’d love to go back one day and do some real sightseeing!

Norfolk & The Dismal Swamp

After Philly, we headed to Norfolk, Virginia, choosing that side of the Dismal Swamp because of the Visitor’s Center—and because it’s near the beach!

I am so happy I selected the swamp as the setting for my upcoming novel, Dating Die-Sasters. It was incredible—mysterious, beautiful, and full of stories waiting to be told. I took tons of pictures that I’ll share in upcoming posts, along with fascinating facts about the swamp.

Special thanks to Braxton, who greeted us at the Visitor’s Center and helped guide us on the right path. His enthusiasm was contagious!

Virginia Beach – My Ocean Soul

Then came the beach… oh, how I love the ocean. The sounds, the smells, the soothing rhythm of the waves (even when they sneak up and soak your rolled-up pant legs!). Every time I’m near the ocean, I think, I could live here. Imagine sitting on the sand, writing my next book with that view. Bliss!

A Surprise Movie Night

You might ask—why see a movie while on a research trip? Simple: the film was only showing for a limited time, and we happened to be in the right place at the right moment. The movie? Are You Ready Boy—a documentary about YungBlud and the recording of his new album, Idol.

If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend watching it. He’s like a modern fusion of Ozzy, Freddie Mercury, Steven Tyler, Mick Jagger, David Bowie and a few others – he is an old soul with raw talent who speaks openly about mental health. His music resonates deeply. Warning: he curses… but so do I.

Sweet Encounters

After the movie, we grabbed dinner at Cracker Barrel, and that’s where I met Mika—one of the sweetest waitresses. When my friend Mary mentioned we were researching the swamp for my book, Mika’s excitement absolutely made my day! Her energy (and her co-worker’s) gave me a fresh boost to keep pushing forward on my projects.

Final Stop: Waynesville, NC

Our last stop was Waynesville, North Carolina—a beautiful area I didn’t have nearly enough time to explore. It’s definitely the perfect setting for one of my future novels, and I can’t wait to go back for a longer visit. We had dinner at the Scottish Public House – all I can say is the staff was great and the food was fabulous!

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing photos, stories, and updates on my writing journey—including progress on Dating Die-Sasters and my other projects.

Thank you, as always, for being part of this adventure with me! Have you been to any of these places—Philadelphia, the Dismal Swamp, Virginia Beach, or Waynesville? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!

Until next time, may your moments be filled with hugs, love, laughter, and blessings.
Goodnight!