Tote Bags 'n' Blogs: Arizona

Friday, July 18, 2008

ARIZONA, COWBOYS OR BUST!

I love research when it takes me to special places. It's the best of both worlds, a little vacation, a lot of research and a tax write-off. What could be better?

When I got the idea for a Desire mini-series, I knew I wanted the stories to revolve around three Tempest Hotels, locations with such appeal and character, that they would take on a life of their own, much like secondary characters. From the deep russet canyons of Arizona, to southern jazz and historic plantations of New Orleans to the bending palm trees and tropical ocean breezes of Hawaii, each Suite Secret story lures you into a new and exciting world of love and revenge, deception and redemption and of course, secrets!

Five-Star Cowboy launches the Suite Secrets Series this August. Set in the fictional locale of Crimson Canyon, we get Arizona at its sizzlin' best!

I remember visiting Sedona, Arizona and knew one day I'd fashion a contemporary story after that scenic location. As we drove through red rock terrain and jutting mountains in shapes of coffee pots and bells, I started to get an idea for a "different" kind of hotel, a dude ranch with all the expensive luxuries of the Ritz Carlton and Tempest West was born in the fictious locale known as Crimson Canyon.

Now, the only thing I needed was a cowboy! Since I'm partial to cowboys, I had no trouble imagining gorgeous, sweet-talking Trent Tyler to take the reins, so to speak! He's smart and saavy in the business world, yet a man who's just as comfortable in a saddle as he is in a Porche.

My kind of man!

Whenever I research, I try to visit the state capital. We were lucky enough to spend the afternoon in the old capital building in downtown Pheonix last March. Here's a few pictures that really helped me get a feel for the state, the art and culture. I simply LOVE Arizona!

The Capital Building

The State Symbols

Old Town Scottsdale

Loved the galleries and museums.

We couldn't miss Spring Training. Our L.A. teams were playing- Dodgers vs. Angels. Hey, that's research isn't it?

So what's your favorite place to read about? Do you love to learn about the area you're visiting? And if given a choice, would you stay in a Five-Star luxury hotel or a dude ranch in a stunning mountain setting?

Win a copy of the prequel to Suite Secrets, The Corporate Raider's Revenge (or any of my available books) and a sexy cowboy handfan to cool the summer heat!