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Although being a travel writer has its negative aspects – as I explained in a recent post on my American Nomad blog – I must admit that having the chance to sample various cuisines and other tasty treats isn't one of them. While researching my recently published Moon Florida Keys guidebook, for instance, my husband, Dan, and I devoured everything from mojitos and crab-stuffed artichoke hearts at Key Largo's Coconuts Restaurant and Night Club to tempura lobster tails at Pierre's Restaurant in Islamorada to blue cheese chips (pictured here) at Sparky's Landing in Key Colony Beach to “kinky” key lime pie at Key West's romantic Better Than Sex dessert lounge. The only trouble is that, once the book was published and I began promoting it through blog posts, radio interviews, and the like, I was forced to relive all those wonderful memories – and long for another taste of Florida's culinary delights, especially some classic key lime pie.
Of course, it's at such moments that I realize how lucky I am to be in New Orleans right now – a city whose cuisine is, after all, legendary. So, pass me a plate of raw oysters, please, and I promise to stop wishing for what I don't have. Honest.
While I know it's not true, it often seems as though I'm never not working. Whether writing or promoting travel guides, working on articles and blog posts, or helping my husband, Dan, with one of his film fests, it feels as though I never make much time for fun – whether that might be reading a book, going to the movies, listening to live music with Dan, or writing some purposeless fiction. I often have to remind myself – due, in large part, to my husband's prodding – that fun is a necessary part of every day, which is why I appreciate creative outlets such as Come In Character, where authors are free to write through their characters' voices, no matter if they're from published stories or works-in-progress. Unfortunately, I haven't had much time for CIC as of late – in fact, I'd been on hiatus since before the holidays – but last week, I decided that the hiatus had lasted long enough. On Friday, I posted the start of a group story – a winter's tale, to be exact – and while my fellow writers have already begun contributing, the story's not over yet. So, if you find yourself overworked at the moment, and in need of a story break, feel free to stop by, too!
While I'm extremely proud that my latest guidebook, Moon Florida Keys (Avalon Travel, 2011), is now available in bookstores across the country, I'm especially proud of the fact that most of the photographs included within its pages were taken by either me or my husband, Dan. Not only do these images make this first edition feel even more like a labor of love, but they also allow us to relive our incredibly memorable research trips to the Florida Keys. Of course, seeing our photos in print also means that it's easier to miss that famous island chain, especially the food down there. This photo, for instance, was taken by Dan on the night we first tasted the delicious key lime pie (incidentally, my favorite dessert) at Mrs. Mac's Kitchen in Key Largo – and all I can say is... I sure wish I had more than a picture right now.
P.S. If you're curious about the Florida Keys, consider “liking” my Facebook page. Thanks!
My husband, Dan, and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary this past weekend at a romantic little restaurant in the French Quarter – and while I'm still happy to be with my sweetie after all these years, I find it rather hard to believe that more than a decade has passed since we exchanged our vows in that little chapel on the Las Vegas Strip. As with most people, I just can't believe how fast the time has flown. Of course, when I reflect on all the places we've traveled together since meeting in early 1999 – from Chicago to London to Yosemite National Park to many towns in between – it does seem a bit easier to fathom, and all I can say is that I look forward to many more years with my favorite traveling companion. Happy anniversary, Danny!
In my last post, I told you about a trivia contest that I was running on my American Nomad travel blog at Moon.com. Well, I'm happy to report that there were two winners – Sean Landon and Shannon Edris – each of whom won three of my guidebooks. So, congratulations, you two!
To ring in the new year, Moon.com is hosting yet another travel giveaway. One lucky reader will win a $250 Southwest Airlines gift card in exchange for answering a simple question: “What U.S. city, town, or national park do you most want to visit in 2011?” For a few ideas, check out my list of the best places to travel in the U.S., which features everything from Santa Barbara to Chicago to Washington, D.C. Good luck, fellow travelers!
Last week, on the heels of wrapping our fourth annual Big Easy International Film Festival – an independent film festival that my husband, Dan, and I operate in downtown New Orleans – I discovered a wonderful surprise at my mailing place in the French Quarter. Behind the counter, amid other packets and packages, lay two boxes, each addressed to me and filled with numerous author-allotted copies of my brand-new Moon Florida Keys guidebook, the first edition of a mainstream travel guide about that unique archipelago in southern Florida.
Soon after lugging them back to my apartment (and rubbing my sore arms back to life), I cracked open one of the boxes and perused the guide with Dan. Following the rather lengthy research, writing, revision, and proofing process that had resulted in the production of this guide, I must admit to feeling a great sense of pride as Dan and I turned each page, taking in every photo, map, and callout box in the 375-page guide. Especially rewarding were the photographs, most of which were taken by either me or Dan and all of which reminded us of our latest Florida Keys adventure.
In celebration of this long-awaited delivery, I posted a trivia contest on my American Nomad blog. The first person to correctly answer all five questions – the answers of which can all be found in my Florida Keys guide – by 11:59 p.m. CST on New Year's Eve will win three of my signed guidebooks: Moon Florida Keys, Moon Michigan, and Moon Baja RV Camping. If you're curious about any or all of these amazingly diverse destinations, give the contest a try! Except for a bit of time spent Google-ing the answers, what, after all, do you have to lose?
As usual, I find myself stretched a bit too thin to post here on a regular basis, and as I've expressed before, I really miss the time I used to spend surfing the blogosphere. But, despite my myriad duties and projects as of late, I know I'd be remiss if I allowed Thanksgiving week to pass me by without expressing my heartfelt gratitude for my friends and loved ones, including my blogging pals.
Lately, though, I've felt most grateful for my four grandparents – all of whom were a huge part of my life, especially during my childhood. Although they're never far from my mind, they've been even more present in my thoughts this year. Perhaps that's because I lost the last two – my paternal grandfather and my maternal grandmother – within the last six months. My grandpa (pictured here with my dad and stepmom), whom I called Paw-Paw Al as a child, passed away in mid-June, just a few days before Father's Day, while my grandma, otherwise known as Maw-Maw Deanne, died less than two weeks ago, just 10 days following her 88th birthday.
While I love and miss each of them greatly, losing Deanne (pictured here with me and my mom) was perhaps the hardest blow – and not just because she was the last to go. She was also, if truth be told, my favorite. Her house – which was lost in Hurricane Katrina – always felt like home to me. While growing up, I spent countless hours with her, reading books, watching our favorite shows, eating our favorite treats, singing our favorite songs. We were so close that we even had a shared tune – “You Are My Sunshine” – which, appropriately enough, was written by former Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis.
Of course, I could easily fill a hundred posts with all the adventures I had with my grandparents as a child. But, for now, I'll just say that, while losing each of them has been devastating to me – especially given my atheistic belief that I'll never see them again – I realize how fortunate I am to have known, loved, and been loved by them. And, though their absence saddens me and sharply reminds me of my own mortality, I'm grateful that they were such an important part of my life – and I know without a doubt that they'll always be a part of me.
Although being a travel writer has its negative aspects – as I explained in a recent post on my American Nomad blog – I must admit that having the chance to sample various cuisines and other tasty treats isn't one of them. While researching my recently published Moon Florida Keys guidebook, for instance, my husband, Dan, and I devoured everything from mojitos and crab-stuffed artichoke hearts at Key Largo's Coconuts Restaurant and Night Club to tempura lobster tails at Pierre's Restaurant in Islamorada to blue cheese chips (pictured here) at Sparky's Landing in Key Colony Beach to “kinky” key lime pie at Key West's romantic Better Than Sex dessert lounge. The only trouble is that, once the book was published and I began promoting it through blog posts, radio interviews, and the like, I was forced to relive all those wonderful memories – and long for another taste of Florida's culinary delights, especially some classic key lime pie.
