I’ve been looking for just the right home for The Photograph — it’s a time travel that has my kitty MaiTai in the cast of characters and some other familiar names and faces. I had a blast writing it and doing some of the research for it.

I really enjoy the research part of writing. Well I like the writing too, but the research part seems to turn me on to all sorts of interesting avenues and ideas for future books. I live about a half hour from Napa County, California. Miles of open space, wineries, fruit vendors and a city posing as a quaint little town. When I started writing The Photograph three years ago a friend went with me to Napa and we prowled around the antique shops, homestyle restaurants and bookstores. We spent an entire afternoon combing through the streets and shops as well as the outlet mall. I found the house that my character “lives” in and it sure got my muse in high gear!

I’ve been back there a few times over the past couple of years — it’s a nice community, some place I’d like to live. I was offered a contract with Under the Moon publishing last weekend and jumped at the opportunity to place this book with a very innovative publisher. My publisher totally understands where I want to go with this series and knows some of the nuances that will really make it shine.

Today I needed to go back over to Napa and it was the perfect day to do it. I missed the turn I usually take and had to go in what is actually the front way and with little traffic traveling down the two lane nighway I was able to enjoy a gorgeous blue sky, see the water fowl take off and land and enjoy the majesty of the Butler Bridge in the distance. I went by the population sign and was surprised that the city has 75,000 residents. I really thought it was more like 25,000 — but that gives me a bit more dimension for the book and lots more opportunities for my characters. I checked out a few more shops, saw some new construction and made notes for the stories that will follow in the series. Going by the house I picked out for Carrie Taylor, the heroine, got me back in touch with why I chose it in the first place. It’s a fairly large Victorian complete with turrets.

I took the back way home, through the winery lands and pulled over a few times to check out the buildings, chosing one that will make a grand castle. The timing of the road trip was perfect for digging into the edits when they land on my plate…..we’re set for a September 2009 release in e and print in December! I do believe several more trips, and including going by the Falcon Crest house are in order between now and then.

Sometimes you need to just get away, to take a day road trip by yourself to get some perspective. Napa Valley California is an awesome place to do just that.