how’s that for a view?

I’m blessed with a great day-job as a trademark paralegal. I work with wonderful people, have kind and respectful clients, and make a lucrative salary. But let’s be real—I love being on vacation!  I haven’t worked since Wednesday, May 20^th and it’s been awesome. On Thursday, May 21^st, I left for a six-day trip to Barbados with some girlfriends and I returned on Tuesday, May 26^th just in time to greet my author peeps who were in town for Book Expo America (“BEA”). Held at the Jacob Javits Center this year, BEA is the leading book and author event for the North American publishing industry. I didn’t attend the conference myself, but I spent most of the week catching up with my talented writer and blogger pals and it was (and continues to be) fantastic.

my vacation-mates 🙂

When I decided to delay my return to work until Monday, the 1^st, I fully intended to spend my days writing and my evenings with my friends. The first half of that plan was a complete and utter fail. This blog is the first thing I’ve written since the Saturday before I left for vacation, when I handed over my latest novel, Novel Girl, to my final beta reader. I’m feeling a bit rusty (and more than a little lazy) so this blog might be heavy on photos and light on text. For the most part, what happens in Barbados stays in Barbados, and what authors talk about amongst themselves might be boring to non-book people – reviews, marketing, agents, publishers, Amazon rankings, blah, blah, blah. Who am I kidding? We totally talked about sex.

Let’s start off with Barbados.  Aside from a very occasional sprinkle, the weather was fantastic, the food was delicious, and the company was highly entertaining. The hotel staff was so friendly and the locals were a little (a lot) too friendly…the beer was cheap (4 beers for $5), the happy hour often (11:30-12:30 and 4:30-5:30 every day), the sunblock used in excess (I still managed to burn my back), and the debates regarding the talents (or lack thereof) of Taylor Swift and Rihanna heated. Between the six women, we participated in countless water activities. I wasn’t brave enough to water ski like two of my friends, but I did attempt to paddle board. I failed miserably, but I would try it again. I thoroughly enjoyed the banana boat and alternated between laughing hysterically and screaming in terror while sitting on an inflatable couch and dragged along the waves by a motor boat. The driver attempted to “fear shame” my friends and me by insisting he was driving the boat slowly but he was full of #$%#!! He was NOT slow!! The vacation was a success and no one was itching to return to our “real lives” when the trip came to an end.

local beers – two thumbs up!

seafood tower – DELISH!

swimming with the fishes for real.

a couch on the ocean – not as relaxing as it sounds!

I might have needed an anti-depressant upon my return to New York City if it weren’t for the serendipitous timing of the BEA conference. Almost the moment I bid adieu to my vacation-mates, I got to say a face-to-face hello and hug the heck out of some of my favorite people from my “other” life—my life as an author— and it did not disappoint!

TO BE CONTINUED.