Monday Feature and Photos From Our Trip to Costa Rica

Hello everyone!  I have finally returned to the blogosphere.  To kick things off this week, I am celebrating four things: 

1. C. Lee McKenzie's release of her new YA novel, Sudden Secrets.  I brought my Kindle with me to Costa Rica expecting to read Sudden Secrets but I have a confession to make... I had no extra time to read!!  But Sudden Secrets is at the top of my list.
2. I polished off two of my children's book manuscripts last week.  I had them on the backburner for quite some time now but I would really like to see them published, asap.  Of course, there will be tons of edits for them to go through.  I am on my 4th picture book as we speak and this idea came to me during my vacation to Costa Rica.  I am still feeling the story out but this is what I love about writing children's books.  I love to see the story and images unfold together as I imagine them inside my meandering head.
3. I had a school author visit on Thursday of last week.  I seriously can't thank the Universe and God enough for providing my soul with these incredible blessings.  I absolutely adore spending time with the children, especially when it comes to presenting and storytelling.  The kids had a blast and I will share a couple of photos below=)  I have another visit in a couple of weeks and I am also teaming up with United Way for the 2nd year in a row to read to low income schools.  I can't wait!
4. I wanted to share some of my photos and adventures from Costa Rica with all of you.  Hopefully, they will inspire you to book your tickets for a future trip there.  If you haven't had a chance to visit, I highly recommend checking it out!

Monday Feature 

Sudden Secrets by C. Lee McKenzie

 

 

 

BLURB

One Secret 

Cleo has struggled to heal after her baby sister’s death, but the flashbacks to the accident won’t go away. With the move, she vows to keep her tragedy a secret and avoid pitying looks. 

One Mystery

Something’s strange about the abandoned house across the street—flashes of light late at night and small flickers of movement that only someone looking for them would see.

Everyone says the house is deserted, but Cleo is sure it isn’t, and she’s sure whoever is inside is watching her. 

Another Secret 

In one night, Belleza’s life changes forever. So famous, her only choice is to hide her secret from the world so she can silence small town bigotry.

Then Cleo happens.

 

AMAZON BUY LINK: http://tinyurl.com/qbeh3fg

 

You can enter to win a copy of Sudden Secrets during C. Lee's 20 book giveaway!!  Just click here: 

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/120893-sudden-secrets

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Author Visit

 

 

 

 

 

Costa Rica Photos

View from our suite

Sun setting over the mountains outside of our hotel

Me kayaking off the beach of the hotel

Monkeys were all over the resort

Our hotel, the RIU Guanacaste

Frogs were also all over the hotel grounds

My friend and I stumbled upon a sea turtle burying her eggs on the beach

The dear and me with another sea turtle

Pablo was such an awesome tour guide that he gave us a private tour of the Rincon Volcano where we zip-lined, bathed in volcanic mud, horseback rode to a gorgeous waterfall, toured hanging bridges in the jungle and swam in natural volcanic hot springs

Rincon Volcano

Hanging bridges... my face did not look like this at the end!!  I was so scared by the time we got to the 15th bridge!

Whitewater rafting with new friends from our hotel along the Tenorio River, class III/IV

We flipped over the first drop, sadly enough!  It was still such a rush!

12 foot drop

I'm cheering because we didn't flip!

We made some more friends at the hotel and hired our tour guide, Pablo, to take us to a surf town, Tamarindo.  We had such a blast!

Making friends with the locals who are some of the nicest people!

The Mariachi band stopped to sing and take a photo with us

Lazy day at the gorgeous pool.  It was so big that you never had a problem getting a chair or swimming with lots of room

Sunset on the very last day of our vacation.  We laid on the beach and I had tears in my eyes, lol

This photo is the inspiration for my 4th children's book which I am going to start writing this week.  I am very excited and will have this photo in the background while working=)

 

 

As sad as I was to leave Costa Rica, at least I had a school author visit to warm my heart back up and I look forward to reconnecting with all of your blogs.  How is your writing going?  Are there any vacations you plan on taking over the next year?  Will you be adding Sudden Secrets to your TBR list?  It's on mine!