C.C. Solomon's Blog, page 7

July Newsletter: Down by the Ocean and a Character Profile

This month I do a short get-away recap and a character profile from my Paranormal World Series.

Feature



[image error]

I’m from Maryland but my family is from Florida so it’s not so surprising that I’ve never gone to Ocean City. Until now. I’m a cosmo gal but I was coerced into checking out Ocean City and ending my beach snobbery. So here’s a quick recap of things to do for the beach snob beyond beach lounging (which is great).

Do a nice sunset dinner. We went to The Hobbit where I had one of the best crab cakes ever and the view is very nice.

[image error]

Sing some karaoke at the Sandbar, Full disclosure, we didn’t get to make it here but it was on the list and apparently there is karaoke every night.

Have a crab feast. Check out Higgins Crab House. I had snow crab legs because I like to go against the grain but the boyfriend had the all you can eat crabs. As part of the all you can eat you also get corn, hush puppies, fried chicken and french fries. Be prepared to roll out of there.

Go dancing. Check out Fager’s Island for dinner, another good water view with a gazebo, fire pit area, DJ room and a room with live music. However, don’t leave the O.C. without checking out Secrets. Day or night. It’s huge with many rooms, in doors and out, and different music, DJs (multiple) and live bands.

[image error]

Get a massage for something different beyond miniature golf or outlet shopping.

Visit another nearby beach. O.C. is not too far from Bethany, maybe thirty minutes, and Rehoboth so it might be worth a day trip or split your time.

[image error]

So this trip was no Negril but I had a nice time for more of a local getaway.

Book update: Character Study

As I write I always do an outline of each main character. I write a description of what they look like, their personality and any celebrities or TV/Movie/cartoon characters that I am inspired by for my characters.

This month I’m sharing a character study of Charles Langston. Charles is Amina’s, the main character, younger brother. He’s a bit of a nerd who worked I.T. in the Pre-World (the time before magic). It is ironic that when magic took over he became a technology mage. As a technology mage, he is able to bring electricity and internet back online, since those went out when magic returned and can now only be restored via magic. He also has a specialty of developing magic based weaponry.

He’s gone through significant changes in his life, has a romance with Lisa Xu, a fairy, and is part of the special Six. The Six are a fated group of magical individuals who are meant to save the world from any great threats. Charles is awkward, sarcastic and funny. He is Amina’s rock and only family.

When I visualize Charles here are some of the actors that pop into my head.

Alfred Enoch- I liked him in How to Get Away With Murder and he just has that innocent, well-meaning look to him that I see in Charles.

[image error]

Michael B. Jordan circa the Fantastic Four- The movie was, eh, but the character has an excitement for life and is a younger brother which embodies Charles.

[image error]

Ichigo from Bleach– I’m an anime fan so I had to throw this character in. He fights all the way for his friends and has a high sense of right and wrong. Charles would move mountains for his sister and that’s clearly shown in book one.

[image error]

Thanks for reading. Next month I talk San Francisco and a snippet from my novella, book three!

June Newsletter: Cover Reveal, ARC Readers and Book Soundtracks

Hi Friends, this month we go book heavy as I take a break from my travels. I’ll be talking my new book out this month, pondering book soundtracks and spotlighting indie authors.

Feature

Finally I get to share my new book cover from my Paranormal World Series: Mystic Journeys. Hope you love it as much as I do!

Here’s a summary of the book, out June 25th in ebook on Amazon and hardcopy.

[image error]

Amina Langston, life mage
extraordinaire, is on the verge of a break down. Bent on seeking revenge for
the death of someone close to her, handling her estranged relationship with her
werejackal boyfriend, and defending a friend arrested for murder; she’s at her
end. To add to her troubles, she’s forced to compete in the ultimate magic
competition against her new enemy, Phillip Leal. The loser will have to give up
his or her freedom to the winner and being that Phillip is a cruel and ruthless
egomaniac, Amina can’t afford to lose.

However, Amina and Phillip are magically banished from home with no ability to get back. Forced to team up to survive, the reluctant duo must fight off ghosts, dark fairies and other paranormal beings who were all sent to kill them. Can Amina and Phillip put aside their differences, solve the mystery behind their attackers and get home before they get themselves killed?

I’m looking for a few ARC readers as well. Email me or message me on Facebook if interested.

Book Soundtracks

So, there is no such thing yet but with audio books taking off, I think book soundtracks or playlists aren’t too far off. I know as I write, listening to music is usually a part of it to help inspire me. There are certain scenes in my head that I hear songs that go along with what’s happening. For book one, Mystic Bonds, here are my top songs to read by.

Scenes with the Feels– Not to be confused with intimate scenes this is just for the emotional factor. Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart by Alicia Keys. Very fitting for Amina’s and Phillip’s relationship.

Intimate Scenes– I have to have music to write these appropriately. This song is perfect inspiration for me and the video is intriguing. Two Weeks by FKA twigs

Fight scenes– Now I usually do up tempo when writing fight scenes but there is something about the start of this song that feels like the calm before the storm. In Mystic Bonds there are a few scenes where they are preparing for battle. Runaway by Kanye West (I know, I know, it’s Kanye)

Intro Theme– If this were a TV series this is the song for book one. Every intro has to be a power song. Too Close by Alex Clare

Outro Theme– Like anime, I have to have an intro and an outro. Because I’m an 80s kid I like to throw something in for nostalgia and it’s just a cool song. Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode

Do you use music in your writing or reading?

Author Spotlight

Can’t let this newsletter end without highlighting a new or indie author in urban fantasy or paranormal romance. This month’s spotlight comes from a collection of authors.

Souls and Shadows: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Collection

[image error]

Darkness has risen, and the shadows are calling.
Face haunting new worlds filled with paranormal creatures and breathtaking romance. Journey with beautiful beasts, sexy-as-sin vampires, soul-searing demigods, shadowy necromancers, and unlikely heroes as they fall in love and battle for good in this collection of fantasy adventures.
Will they survive the shadow’s call?
There’s only one way to find out.
Fans of Jim Butcher and Ilona Andrews will get lost in this heart-pounding magical collection of 25 tales from today’s USA Today bestsellers and talented new authors.
One-Click today to summon your copy and see if you can survive the night.

Next month I share a sneak peak from Mystic Journey with a giveaway for a free signed copy and a request for beta readers for book 3! As always, thanks for your support and if you enjoyed Mystic Bonds please leave a rating and review on Goodreads and Amazon!

May Newsletter: Seoul, Mystic Journeys and More!

In this month’s newsletter I do a recap of my trip to Seoul, Korea, talk Mystic Journeys: Paranormal World, Book Two (I’ll be needing ARC readers) and spotlight some books.

[image error]



Feature

Let me start by saying my experience in Seoul was OK. I had the highest expectation for this trip because I’m a lover of K dramas and Korean food.

Things took a bit of bad start because the air quality was not that great. Apparently, there are issues with pollution from nearby China. My traveling buddy got pretty sick from it and it did limit all that we did.

[image error]

Night One: We stayed at the L7 Meyongdong by Lotte Hotel. This hotel is really nice and the rooms weren’t too small. They also have a buffet style restaurant. And if you are a makeup and skincare junkie the Meyongdong area is for you. You can find many products at VERY good prices.

That night we went to the Itaewon district since it was a Saturday night and we wanted to go out for dinner and cocktails. This area is more of the international area where a lot of expats and military people go so its more diversified. It was also recommended as a good nightlife area for the over 30 set as there are bars that don’t allow people over the age of 30 in. However an incident of being turned away because we were over 30 made us not want to take too many chances on other areas at night.

Well, that coupled with the many challenges we had in catching a cab as we were often turned away by cabbies. There is a known history of racism towards Black and Brown people and an overall less than friendly attitude to non Koreans in general. However, this was not everyone. I met some really friendly people but the discrimination did leave a bitter taste in my mouth.

Day One: We went to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and I was as close as I ever plan to be to North Korea.

[image error]

Day Two: We did a full day tour of Seoul and had a really friendly tour guide. Seeing the changing of the guards and touring Gyeongbokgung palace is a must. Also visit the lovely Insadong antique street for shopping and tea houses.

[image error]

Day Three: We went to Seoul Tower and Namsen Park which is a must just for the views alone. Also check out nearby Namdemun for cheap street shopping and yummy street food.

Day Four: We had to do shopping. Listen: When I tell you shopping is serious in South Korea I mean it. You can shop all day AND night. We made the mistake of going to the Dongdaemun district during the day for shopping. There was good shopping there but it really doesn’t come alive until night. Like 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.! So many of the malls weren’t open yet in the area. There are hundreds of stores all in walking distance. Do yourself a favor and go at night.

[image error]

Hope this recap helps. Now I’m focusing on planning my next trip!

Mystic Journeys

Book Two of my Paranormal Worlds series is on the way. I’m currently going through another round of edits after receiving my much appreciated beta readers’ feedback. Here’s a summary of book two:

Amina Langston, life mage extraordinaire, is on the verge of a break down. Bent on seeking revenge for the death of someone close to her, handling her estranged relationship with her werejackal boyfriend, and defending a friend arrested for murder; she’s at her end. To add to her troubles, she’s forced to compete in the ultimate magic competition against her new enemy, Phillip Leal. The loser will have to give up control to the winner and being that Phillip is a cruel and ruthless egomaniac, Amina can’t afford to lose.

However, right before the conclusion of the competition, Amina and Phillip are magically banished from home with no ability to get back. Forced to team up to survive, the reluctant duo must fight off ghosts, dark fairies and other paranormal beings who were all sent to kill them. Can Amina and Phillip put aside their differences and get home before they get themselves killed?

Contact me if you are interested in reviewing the final product as an ARC reader. And if you’ve read book one please leave a review! If you haven’t read book one, check out my new group free books promotion! Also I’m looking for beta readers for book 2.5.

Books to Read!

Fate Forged (Bound Magic Book 1) by B.P. Donigan

[image error]

Growing up on the streets of Boston, Maeve O’Neill learned to rely only on herself. Paying the rent isn’t glamorous, but her life is on a better track—until she starts having agonizing visions of torture. Desperate to rid herself of the paralyzing episodes, she follows her visions to the scene of a murder.

Instead of answers, she gets an unexpected gift from the victim: Magic. With the unwanted power, Maeve becomes the access point to all of Earth’s untapped magic. Now, powerful enemies are after her and staying alive means striking a bargain with an untrustworthy ally with a long-shot plan. Maeve has to keep the magic in check until she can get rid of it, but her control is slipping and everything could go wrong. If the plan fails, her unlikely ally betrays her, or her enemies catch her, she’ll be handing over all of Earth’s magic…and her life.

The Steel Falcon, Book One: Awakening by N.K. Quinn

[image error]

Kalum Walker lives in the shadow of his athletic older brother. Scrawny and prone to panic attacks, he’s a far cry from the superheroes he doodles in his notebook. When his brother steals his meds to help calm his game time nerves, he doesn’t put up a fight. After all, the fate of his family rides on his brother’s performance. But without his pills, Kalum’s blackouts begin getting worse… and a disturbing voice inside his head starts urging him into some dangerous situations.

When a blackout-related encounter with bullies puts him in a hospital bed, he starts to notice mysterious bruises all over his body. As he learns of a masked crusader serving up a new kind of justice outside the Corporation compound, he realizes the vigilante bears a striking resemblance to his superheroic sketches. Locked in a battle with the voice inside his head, Kalum must solve the mystery of the infamous Steel Falcon and save his brother before he loses control for good.

Next month we talk Mystic Journeys and more!

April Newsletter: Tokyo and Book 2 Sneak Peak!

March was a busy month. Book one of my urban fantasy book, Mystic Bonds, was released and I traveled to Tokyo and Seoul! This month I give a quick trip guide to Tokyo, do an author spotlight and share some of Book two in my series with a call for beta readers!

Feature: Six days in Tokyo

Disclaimer: I actually did five days but wish I’d done six days. So the final day recap will be the things I didn’t get to.

Day One: Arrive. If you come in early, fight that jet lag and don’t go to sleep. Walk around the area of your hotel. We stayed in Shinjuku at the Jr Kyushu Hotel Blossom which was a lovely boutique hotel not far from restaurants, bars and the subway. Clean, busy with tons to do. Try some ramen at Ichiran. It’s well worth the wait. Or go for some conveyor belt sushi. Or, hear me out, check out a McDonalds or 7 Eleven. They aren’t the same as in the states and the food level in 7 Eleven is on another tier than it is state side.

[image error]

Day Two: Go on a full day tour of Tokyo and hit the main sights like the Meiji Shrine, Asakusa Temple area for the best street food and some souvenir shopping, Imperial Palace Garden, and a cruise to see the Rainbow Bridge. If you still have energy, check out the weird and crazy Robot Show. I didn’t go but those I talked to said it was a fun show.

[image error][image error][image error][image error]

Day Three: Take a day trip to Mt. Fuji if the weather is good. Luckily it was for us. We also did a trip to an onsen, which is basically a hot spring. Note: If you have tattoos you can’t go in but you can get a private bath for under $20. I did this and it was very pleasant.

[image error]

Day Four: Visit the Harajuku area, especially if you are a shopper (and not just of Harajuku fashion). Shop around Cat St and Takeshita Dori. Eat some fluffy pancakes at Flippers or be adventurous and try takoyaki. Visit a cat café for a little cuteness and calmness boost (there area also puppy, hedgehog and owl cafes). If you have time walk on over to Yoyogi Park for some nature. We went during the Cherry Blossom bloom which was amazing.
If you still have energy that evening go bar hoping that night in Shinjuku Golden Gai area and check out the massive amount of tiny bars and restaurants.

[image error][image error][image error][image error]

Day Five: If you are a nerdy gal like me visiting Akihabara is a MUST. Go for all things gaming, anime and manga and stop by the local chain Don Quijote for everything from Japanese whiskey, electronics, skin care products and more! Then do a little day shopping in Odaiba if you are a shopaholic! That night go bar hoping or grab a drink somewhere fancy in Shibuya but not before walking the famous Shibuya crossing!

[image error]

Day Six: As you know this didn’t happen but if it did I would suggest a visit to the Digital Art Museum for amazing visual art. That night go out for a nice dinner and maybe end your stay with karaoke!

Overall I loved Tokyo and it is easily in my top five places to visit. It’s clean, the people are polite, there is so much to do and it’s really an innovative culture (I MUST have a heated toilet). The downside? Clothes shopping for anyone over a size 6 might be challenging but not totally impossible. Next month I’ll give a guide to my time in Seoul, South Korea!

Beta Reader Request

If you like book one of my Paranormal World Series, Mystic Bonds, and want a chance to read the second book, still in draft form, for free, please reach out to me. I’m looking for beta readers of my edited novel before I finalize it for the summer release. If selected I would need your feedback by May 8th!

Here’s a summary! Spoiler alerts below if you haven’t read book one!

Amina Langston, life mage extraordinaire, is on the verge of
a break down. Her brother was murdered by a hell escapee who had allies she
must uncover, her relationship with the werejackal is estranged, her friend was
arrested for murder, and another friend has gone missing. To add to her
troubles, she was forced to compete in the ultimate magic competition against
her new enemy, Phillip Leal. The loser will have to bow down to the winner and
being that Phillip is a cruel and ruthless egomaniac, Amina can’t afford to
lose.

And if that wasn’t enough, right before the conclusion of the competition, Amina and Phillip are magically banished to another place with no ability to get home. Forced to team up to survive, the reluctant duo must fight off ghosts, dark fairies and other paranormal beings, who were all sent to kill them, while finding a way home and solving the mystery of their magical connection. Can Amina and Phillip put aside their differences before they get themselves killed?

Author Spotlight

If you are craving more paranormal reads until Book 2 comes out this summer of my Paranormal World Series, check out author Katherine Gilbert’s new novel, Unearthly Remains!

[image error]

A werewolf, a witch, and a vampire walk into a murder scene . . .

Sgt. Marilyn Jaye of Supernatural Oversight (the investigative unit for all things which bump a bit too much in the night) is having a frustrating day. What should have been a simple case of a murdered ghoul has spun entirely out of control. It’s bad enough that she’s getting distracted from her investigations by her unreasonable attraction to Henry, a young werewolf with a terrible case of PTSD (Post-Turn Stress Disorder), especially since every Tom, Fang, and Hairy (previously known as her sensible friends) tells her she’s destined to be with him. Worse, her distraction allows a second murder victim to turn up, one of the gentlemanly Victorian vampires who lives in Highgate Cemetery. If that isn’t enough, the vicious werewolf who attacked and turned Henry is still on the loose. London’s creatures of the night seem to be in trouble, and it’s her job to protect them.

Marilyn is determined to find the killer and the rogue wolf, but she’ll need a lot of help. That will include her friends, Hanover (Henry’s handsome Alpha and Marilyn’s ex-lover) and Julius Beer (a vampire who watches over his distressed comrades in Highgate from his ornate mausoleum). Also alternately helping or annoying her are the other members of the S.O., including her powerful sorcerer boss, the eternal spirit of Romantic poet William Blake, her ex-NYPD partner, a pool (yes, an actual pool) of secretarial sirens, and an imp who’s in love with a cat. Even Henry has to tag along. And they better solve the case soon, because the killer has made it clear that she’s the next target.

This humorous, cross-genre paranormal mystery/urban fantasy/paranormal romance will make you fall in love with all of London’s quirky supernatural residents. Find more on the book here!

Limited Book Giveaway

Hey there I’m a part of a limited group giveaway for my new urban fantasy novel, Mystic Bonds. Check it out here and if you like what you read please leave a review in Goodreads, Amazon and/or Bookbub.

Also if you want a free copy as an ARC reader please click here.

Thanks!

[image error]

March Newsletter: My Book is Out and Author Spotlights!

So you’ve been reading me write about my new book coming out and tomorrow is the big day. It’s available now for preorder.

Feature: Mystic Bonds by C.C. Solomon



[image error]

Mage
Amina Langston thought surviving the supernatural apocalypse, which killed
fifty percent of humankind and changed most of the surviving population into
paranormal beings, were the biggest challenges in her life. That is, until she
and her brother go on the run from non-gifted humans who want to steal their
magical blood to make a power-giving serum. Now she’s in search of a handsome stranger
who keeps appearing in her dreams and a secret paranormal city to help free
those still held in captivity for their blood.

During
her journey, Amina befriends several other magical beings also searching for
the mysterious town, including a sexy were-jackal who distracts her from
locating the man of her proverbial dreams. However, when the group finds the
city, it’s filled with dangerous magic and a barbaric were-pack. Facing these
new troubles, will Amina take down her human pursuers and save the other paranormals
she left behind or end up in greater peril?

Fans of Patricia Briggs and Illona Andrews and lovers of graphic novels the Umbrella Academy and The Walking Dead will love this adventure and romance urban fantasy. If you are looking for a series with diverse characters and great chemistry check it out! Available on Barnes and Nobles, Kobo, Amazon  and more. 

For more information on me and my books and my lifestyle and travel blog check out www.ccsolomon.com and subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss any great swag, giveaways, and free stories here!

Fantasy Authors Spotlight:



Fallen by Tamsin Baker



[image error]

Defeating the forces of Hell won’t be easy. Demons are rising… Supernatural enemies, stronger than Gabriel or Kadie ever imagined.

Gabriel is forsaken. His sins against Heaven have earned him a place on earth among the other tortured ones… And there’s only one way to reclaim his place among the angels: He must save the souls of the damned.

But when he meets a young, beautiful woman named Kadie, his entire existence is thrown into question. She isn’t just your run-of-the-mill human girl—she’s a witch, and she just might have what it takes to save the world from the powers of darkness.

Can Gabriel overcome the shame of his fall from grace, and rise to become the hero Kadie, their son, and the entire world needs?

Romantic, heart-pounding and brimming with paranormal goodness, this Adult Urban Fantasy book will keep you turning pages deep into the night. Order your copy today!

Fighting Midnight by JD Dexter



[image error]

Destiny loves to screw you over.

When Finley Tindol’s parents are slaughtered, her life descends into a chaotic mess of bad decisions and worse regrets. She finds herself a pawn in a five-hundred-year-old prophecy.
The prophecy is long on glorious endings and short on how to achieve them. She must kill her biological mother. Find out more here!

Shifted by Tricia Bar



[image error]

Fans of Harry Potter and Twilight, get ready for a world unlike any other! A secret school for shape shifters, a monarchy of vampires determined to exterminate them and take over the world, and a coalition of human hunters dedicated to protecting the world from both.
Rule #1: Never go out after dark.
Rule #2: Never go into large bodies of water.
Rule #3: Stay off of social media.

Join thousands of fans and one-click this USA Today Bestselling novel now!

Four Times Broken by Felisha Antonette



[image error]

Tracey Warren has her last year of high school mapped out–stay focused, graduate in a few months, and get the hell out of Bennington, Virginia. Everything is working out in her favor. Life has finally started to level out, until a car accident sends her plans spiraling out of her control.

Her pedestrian reality crashes around her after an innocuous encounter with a diabolically handsome stranger. Nathan Newcomb has her head and her world altering minute by minute. Soon, she discovers the only cure for the uneasy feelings and abrasive pain is Nathan himself. A man whose very existence balances between violent chaos and rigidly controlled dangers.

Find out more about this YA fantasy here.

Undercover Psychic by Lisa Freed



[image error]

Yes, it’s a cliché but I did it. I won the biggest lottery jackpot in Delaware’s history. I am a psychic after all. The money funded my dreams, a fabulous house in Rehoboth Beach in a gated community complete with clubhouse pool and best of all I opened up a cat rescue, Whisker Kisses. Life couldn’t be better.
That is until my best spirit friend Victor discovered he could possess others and he chose my annoying but attractive neighbor Lance to take over in order to fulfil some dreams of his own, such as taking our relationship to the next level.
Check out more about the author and her books athttps://www.lisafreedauthor.com/

Rush Delivery by Chris Coleman



[image error]

Alecia is called on to make a magical delivery and everything seems to be going wrong. Accusations that she has stolen something important, something people seem willing to kill her for are making her delivery even more difficult.
Can she survive long enough to figure out what has happened and complete her delivery? For more on this exciting YA Urban Fantasy click here

Next month we’ll do a recap of my trip to Tokyo and discuss more on books and the writing process!

Mystic Bonds Book Cover Reveal

[image error]Out March 5th (Pre-orders February 19th)

I’m so excited you guys. I’ve been dreaming of writing an urban fantasy series for years. As a lover of urban fantasy in any format, it always hurt me a little bit not to see more people of color in the fantasy genre, especially as lead characters. That’s slowly changing and I hope this book adds to that growing list of diversity in fantasy!

Here’s a summary of the book:

Mage Amina Langston thought surviving the supernatural apocalypse, which killed fifty percent of humankind and changed most of the surviving population into paranormal beings, were the biggest challenges in her life. That is, until she and her brother go on the run from non-gifted humans who want to steal their magical blood to make a power-giving serum. Now she’s in search of a handsome stranger who keeps appearing in her dreams and a secret paranormal city to help free those still held in captivity for their blood.

During her journey, Amina befriends several other magical beings also searching for the mysterious town, including a sexy were-jackal who distracts her from locating the man of her proverbial dreams. However, when the group finds the city, it’s filled with dangerous magic and a barbaric were-pack. Facing these new troubles, will Amina take down her human pursuers and save the other paranormals she left behind or end up in greater peril?

You can read the first two chapters for free by checking out my two previous blog posts. The book is now available for pre order on Amazon.

Thanks for your support!

February Newsletter: Montreal in Winter and Sneak Peak Part Two of Mystic Bonds

This month we talk the city of Montreal and Chapter One of my new upcoming book: Mystic Bonds.

Feature : Montreal on a Weekend



[image error]

I must start by saying, I love Montreal. I also must say, It was cold in January. Like, freeze your tears cold. However, that didn’t dissuade me on this three night trip.

Stay

We started a little late due to a 3 hour delay via Air Canada (grumble, grumble) but once we got there we quickly got on the move to salvage the day. We stayed at the lovely Lowes Hotel Vogue. The room was nice and the connecting dark and trendy bar/restaurant made great drinks. The biggest plus was location. It was near tons of shopping and restaurants as well as sites like the underground city (more on that) and the Museum of Fine Arts.

[image error][image error][image error]

To Do and See

Shopping was just awesome there. The US Dollar is strong there and prices are very reasonable. Saint Catherine St. hosted a ton of shopping both stateside shops and Canadian shops (check out Dynamite, Roots and Tristan). There is also the Underground City which contains miles and miles of entertainment including tons of shopping and dining. Perfect for when it was too cold to be outside for long. Another area for shopping filled with boutiques is Saint Denis St.

[image error]Check out the free Barbie Expo in the Underground City

In addition to shopping, a tour of the city is always a good idea which we did to get acquainted with the city. The cold tried to take us out but we pushed through.

[image error][image error]

Also while in Canada seeing a hockey game is a fun idea. The crowd was pumped and Montreal has their own hockey music band to get the crowd going. And if hockey isn’t your thing, check out the many art museums and there are tons of festivals (even the Igloo fest in the winter).

[image error]

Eat and Drink

Montreal has so much good food and with the diversity of its people you are sure to find a cuisine you like.
Check out Reubens for breakfast. I recommend checking out Chinatown and grabbing a bite at Chez Chili for delicious Chinese food. And while you’re in the area, mosey on down to Le Mal Necessaire, a speak easy/tiki bar, with great (albeit, pricey) drinks. If you are in the mood for more speakeasies then also check out The Cloakroom, a super tiny space where they have no drink menu and just ask you questions. From there they conjure up a drink to fit your taste.

[image error]

I’m not big on poutine but while in Canada it’s a necessity to give this French fry treat a try. If you are into ramen, don’t miss Kinton Ramen for a quick and cost saving meal. Then walk on down to CChoColat, a chocolate lounge where you can find all things chocolate to eat and drink. I need to go back to Montreal for more to eat.

[image error][image error][image error]

Overall this was a great trip and I can’t wait to go back…in the summer.

[image error]



And Another Thing

As promised in my last post, here is the second snippet from my upcoming urban fantasy novel and series, Mystic Bonds. Next month look out for the cover reveal.

Chapter One

I wasn’t sure where I was. It was
dark. Night time. I was outside in a small park surrounded by streets,
sidewalks, rowhomes, and what looked like a couple of mom-and-pop restaurants
and bars. I was in a neighborhood. Perhaps in the city. What city, I couldn’t
be sure. Nothing unique to identify my surroundings popped out in the dark.

I sat down on a bench at the
perimeter of the park under a lamp post. I looked ahead across the grassy field
at a red, neon “Open” sign on the front of a bar sandwiched between houses.
Music played off in the distance.

There was life around me. I could
feel it, like a minor static on the skin. However, no one was outside and I
heard no buzz of human chatter. I couldn’t tell how late it was. It was
certainly too late to be sitting outside alone. Yet, I didn’t get up.

It was summer, I think, by the feel
of thick heat on my skin and the way I was dressed. I had on an all-white,
A-line, spaghetti strapped dress that stopped at my knees. On my feet, I wore
simple light-brown colored sandals that matched closely to my skin tone. My
dark, brown hair was out in its natural curly state, grazing my shoulders.

I looked like bait for a predator.

A distant roar, like the sound of a
lion, got me to my feet. I spun around trying to locate the origin of the noise
but had no such luck. This was a city; the roar of a lion didn’t match the surrounding.
Then again, neither did me standing out in the dark.

“It’s just someone’s TV playing too
loudly,” I muttered, wrapping my arms around myself. I wasn’t cold but I was
certainly creeped out.

I was being naive, borderline
stupid. Why was I out here? Could I be waiting for someone? Why didn’t I know?

I listened for the animal call again,
yet heard nothing but the music from the bar across the street.

I sat back down carefully; my bottom
on the edge of the bench. The music was comforting. Odd noises didn’t sound so
bad when you had the base line of an old, 90s-era song playing along with it.

Or so I told myself.

Something electric suddenly pricked
the air around me. Goosebumps peppered my arms and made the fine hairs stand
up. I heard a shuffling behind me to my left but didn’t turn around, too afraid
to see the source of what I assumed was the animal roar. The sound grew closer.
Footsteps or paws crunched grass. A shadow appeared on the sidewalk where my
bench and I rested under the street light. It was human shaped.

“Mind if I sit next to you?” The
voice was deep, male, soothing, and familiar.

I looked to my left at the source of
the voice. A few steps in front of me now stood a man, perhaps in his late
twenties, although age worked differently nowadays so one never really knew how
old another person was exactly. He had a pleasant smile on his face and kind, light-brown
eyes, honey-colored skin, and short, wavy, black, hair faded close to his
scalp. He wore dark jeans and an untucked, white button-down shirt that covered
his just shy of 6-foot, athletic frame. On his feet were black and white
Converse that gave him a boy-next door appeal. He was very attractive and his
smile, with full lips and the world’s nicest white teeth, made his face almost
glow.

He smiled like he knew me, like he
had all the answers and was excited to tell them to me. Ease settled in.

“Uh, yeah, sure. I’m sorry, do I
know you?” I asked.

He sat down beside me.

Close.

I could smell his cologne. Like sandalwood
and summer rain on grass with a tinge of something sweet. It was intoxicating.

He didn’t answer, just tilted his
head as if studying me. “I’m not sure. I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere
before. Are you in business school?”

I shook my head. “Law school.”

He nodded slowly. “Platinum Gym,
maybe? I go there a lot.”

I tried not to look him up and down
but it was evident from how his clothes laid on his body that he was fit.

However, I had no gym membership of
any kind. I shook my head.

He squinted his eyes. “Dating app?”

I cracked a smile. “Now that’s
entirely possible.”

He stretched his hand out to me. “My
name is Phillip Leal,” he said. “I’m sure I must have swiped up for you. Well,
back when that kind of thing existed.”

I chuckled, shaking his hand. His
hand was warm and surprisingly soft. “I’m Amina. Langston,” I replied.

“Ah, Amina, Amina, yes, that name
sounds familiar,” he called out, slapping his forehead lightly. “Beautiful name
for a beautiful woman.”

There was just a charm oozing from
him unaided by even words. I’m sure I blushed and was thankful it was dark and
that my almond coloring was deep enough to hide it.

“So, what brings you out in the park,
looking like bait, along with me?” I asked.

“Would you run if I told you I
didn’t know? Sometimes things get fuzzy here for me.”

“You aren’t the only one. Maybe both
of us got hit on the head.”

Phillip turned away and leaned back
on the bench, staring up at the night sky. “Let’s help each other then. Do you
live in the area?”

Did I? I didn’t know for sure but
the park felt familiar. “Yeah, I think so. Where are you from?”

He smiled again. “I’m from Philly
but originally from the Dominican Republic. Came here when I was five.”

Two places crossed off my list of
where in the world was Amina. “So, we know who we are just not where or why
we’re here.”

He gave me a lazy smile that made my
stomach twist. I felt like a 13-year-old with her first crush. It was those
damn eyes. They seemed to connect with me, showing a genuine interest that made
me feel…beautiful. “How—”

He was cut off by another roar,
still distant but just as distressing. It didn’t sound quite like a lion like I
first thought. A bear? I looked at Phillip. “Please tell me you heard that. Hey,
do you think maybe there’s a zoo around here?”

“It’s not from the zoo but nothing can
hurt us here.” His voice was soft and fell over me like a protective blanket. “I
remember, I remember,” he whispered more to himself than me.

I sat back on the bench. Nothing
made sense. Here I was in the dark with a stranger and not bothered by some random,
scary, animal noises. Maybe I was drugged and didn’t know it.

“I know it all seems crazy but it’ll
make sense soon, it always does. You just have to remember.” Phillip sat up
straight. “I don’t always remember. At least not at first. I have to keep talking
and then everything starts falling into place. I just need to ask questions. How’s
your brother?”

Clearly, I was losing my mind as
well because I didn’t recall telling him about my family. If we were close
enough for him to know about Charles, then why couldn’t I remember him? Who was
this guy?

I squinted my eyes again and turned;
fully facing Phillip. “I’m so confused. Have we talked before? I just don’t
remember.” Statement of the night.

His smile left and his eyes went serious.
“You have a brother named Charles. He’s got powers too.”

I moved to the edge of the bench
again. Was he crazy? Was I crazy? Nothing he was saying was registering. “Right,
but how—”

“Did I know any of that? Because
we’ve met before. You always forget until the very end. Which I can understand.
I used to forget too. I don’t know why I started remembering.” He grabbed my
hand in his and looked into my eyes; seemingly searching them. “Listen to me,
Amina. I need you to remember me from now on. This is important. I’m Phillip
Leal. It’s important that we stay connected. I couldn’t figure out how to get
you to remember before, but I think I know now. I’m Phillip Leal. Remember my
name.”

The ground shook and another roar
bellowed with it. The shake was not strong and only lasted a second but it was
enough to disturb me. “Was that an earthquake? And what is making that noise? We shouldn’t be out here,” I
shouted, wanting to get up and run to safety. Home. Wherever that was. Why
couldn’t I remember where home was?

Phillip leaned close to me and
whispered words in my ear that I didn’t understand. It wasn’t Spanish.

“What did you say?” I asked as he
leaned back.

“It’s a spell that I hope works.
You’ll remember me next time. You’ll remember everything we talk about when I
see you again,” he replied.

I didn’t respond. I didn’t know
exactly what to say. I was sitting in a vacant park, at night, with a handsome
but incredibly odd stranger, weird things kept happening, and I seemed to be
the only one concerned about them.

“I’m so confused.” I replied.

A soft smile crossed his lips. “I
know and I’m sorry. I know you so well now and you still look at me like a
stranger.”

“I wish I could remember you. You
seem like someone I’d really like to get to know.” I leaned towards him. “Maybe
inside, where it’s safe? Then you can tell me what the hell is going on.”

He sighed and looked around into the
darkness of the park. “It’s not safe anywhere. They want the gifts you have…”

I frowned. “Who’s ‘they?’ What
gifts?”

He looked up at the sky again and I
followed suit. There were no stars out but the moon was full, giving some light
to accompany the street lamps. “I thought I’d get through it but it’s not
happening.”

“Phillip, I have no idea what you
are talking about.” I touched his shoulder. “You gotta help me here.”

He looked down at me. “You’ll die if
you stay where you are. You have to find a way to get out. And when you do,
don’t go alone. Never be alone. When you see the others, bring them with you.”

Before I could ask him further
questions, the streetlights flickered and I heard an unsettling flapping of
large wings from above. For me to hear the wings flapping I knew it was
something larger than a bird but what? I looked up at the sky, searching, and
saw nothing but the moon. A loud bird’s screech thundered in my ears. I jumped
up and turned around, looking into the darkness.

Phillip remained still.

“What the hell was that?” I yelled
at him as if he had the answers.

Phillip stood up and sighed.
“They’re coming. I gave you some help. When you can, run.”

I stopped searching around for the
invisible bird thing and looked back at him. “What help? Run where?”

“To me.” His brown eyes softened as
he said that and I was touched with an emotion I couldn’t place.

I grabbed his hands. “We need to get
inside; something’s out here. There’s a bar across the street where we can
talk.”

“I have to go, Amina.” He brought my
right hand up to his lips and kissed it softly. “And you have to wake up.”

“Wake up? Huh? Where are you going?”

The roar came again, along with the
bird screech.

This was too much. “The hell!” I
shouted in frustration. “We gotta get out of here!” I yanked at his hand but he
didn’t budge. “Come on, Phillip. I don’t want to stick around to find out
whatever is making those noises.”

“I’m near D.C. in—”

*

My eyes opened to a dark room. I
heard footsteps circling around me.

“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” said a
female voice. Curtains were pulled and sunlight spread through the room.

I squinted, closing one eye against
the bright rays.

My eyes still had a thin glaze of
sleep over them and I blinked it away to see my surroundings clearer.

“Did you sleep well?” The mystery
voice asked.

I looked around the pale green room,
filled with generic light wooden furniture. I was on a full-sized hospital bed
under white sheets. Across from the foot of the bed was a small, flat-screened
TV mounted to the wall. Off to the left of the TV was a door cracked open,
revealing a bit of tiled floor. It was probably a bathroom. I turned my head to
the window on my right. It was a bright sunny day. I could see tops of vivid
green trees, so I knew I was a couple of floors up in a building.

“How do you feel?” said the voice,
coming now from my left.

I turned my head and found a woman
standing in front of me; she was white and in her early 50s with graying red
hair and bright green eyes, with laugh lines at the corners giving away her
regular pleasant disposition. I knew her all too well.

Joanie.

She was checking what I assumed were
my vitals on a machine next to me. She then looked at the IV bag hanging off a
hook; my right arm was stuck with the attached needle.

I opened my mouth to speak, lips dry
and cracked. My throat felt like it was on fire and my head felt like someone
kept flicking me with their fingers in the middle of my forehead. “Like crap,”
I croaked.

“Let me get you some water, honey,”
she said, and poured me a glass of water from a pitcher on the side table. “If
I had some sliced lemon that’d be even better.”

I sat up slowly, still feeling weak,
and took the glass. “That’d give this place a real spa-like feel,” I replied,
through sips of water.

Joanie scoffed. “Hardly.” She sighed
and put her hands on her slender hips. “Hopefully they leave you alone today.
You need to get your strength back.”

I rolled my eyes. “For what, them to
come back again the next day? I’d be better with them just finishing me off.”

Joanie sucked her teeth. “Don’t you
talk like that, honey. There’s always a better day coming. And you’ve got your
brother here. You aren’t alone.”

They want the gifts you have.

Why had that popped in my head just
now?

Suddenly, images of a handsome black
man with kind eyes popped into my mind.

Phillip.

It was all a dream. One that I
finally remembered.

“Feel up to going to breakfast? I
can get a wheelchair if you need help. I think it would do you some good to get
out of this room. See folk. See Charles.”

I gave a deep sigh and tossed the
sheets aside. I swung my sock-covered feet to the side of the bed, scooted to
the edge and stood up. My legs buckled but I leaned onto my IV pole and waited
until I had my balance again.

“You need the wheelchair, darlin’?”
Joanie asked, holding me up by the right arm.

I quickly shook my head.

When you can, run.

I needed my legs. “Just need to
fully wake up.”

Joanie nodded. “Take a shower, get
dressed. Then we can walk over to the cafeteria. I’ll be waiting outside.”

“Thanks.”

When you can, run.

I needed my energy. I was breaking out of here.

January Newsletter: Living Your Best Life

Happy New Year. Hope it’s starting off great for you. This year is going to be a big one for me. An important birthday. Fun trips. Changing to a healthier lifestyle (have to make that a priority). And my books! Therefore, most of my post will center around those themes. However, this month’s feature will be about how to live your best life. My beauty product of the month and a snippet from my upcoming novel.

Feature



[image error]

We can’t control what others do to enhance our life but one of the keys I’ve discovered is that we do have the ability to define our circumstances and write our own narratives. Here are my tips to fight outside influences blocking your blessings.

Bring your best self in all that you do. Even when the situation is challenging. There are many times that stressful situations bring out your worst and if you are constantly in those situations then that’s all others know of you. Be you regardless of what negativity others bring your way. Define what’s important to you. Recently a post on my Instagram of me my boyfriend (ugh, I feel so high school writing that) garnered the most Likes ever for me. I post about traveling, when I’m feeling especially cute, friends, family and my books. None of those pictures got that level of reaction than with a man beside me. While I appreciated the support, it doesn’t devalue all my other parts in life. I decide that.Reflect on what you accomplish or love in life (big and small). Especially when you feel down. Determine if there are highs in life you can revisit more often to achieve greater happiness. This could be just reading good books to traveling more.Plan. Write out what you want to accomplish in the next several months. Then when that time passes determine if you reached those goals and what didn’t go as planned and why. Modify from there so you don’t circle the drain or get discourage. Look at negative situations as opportunities and work out a plan to make the best of it. There are times in life that I think ‘this sucks but it’ll be an inspiring story for me to share with a mentee or niece that might help them’. Bonus: Make self care a priority even if it means seeking help.



[image error]

Beauty Product of the Month

Loving this Je Ne Sais Quoi lipstick from It Cosmetics. Hydrates my lips like a Chapstick or balm but also gives it color for a natural look. As a I get older, I opt for less makeup and more skincare as heavy makeup can age you. Therefore, this lipstick is perfect.

[image error]



Snippet from novel: Mystic Bonds: A Paranormal World Novel

Prologue

“That was the worst town visit we’ve
ever had,” Charles grumbled as he drove our gray SUV down the two-way street at
a snail’s pace, avoiding the rusted cars abandoned haphazardly on both sides of
the road.

“It wasn’t that bad,” I replied,
leaning my head on the passenger side window.

“They were little a**holes. Reminded me of why I hated school so much.”

I chuckled. “You were a nerd back
then, I can understand that.”

“Shut it.”

I laughed even harder. “Kids, they
were just kids.”

“I’ve never seen that. It’s kind of
sad.”

Years of doing bartering in different
towns, and this was the first time we’d encountered a village of only children.
Well, they weren’t all kids. The eldest were perhaps very early twenties. Just
barely what used to be the drinking age of twenty-one. And apparently, people
of that age would be kicked out of the town once they turned twenty-two. Ever
since the world became a magical nightmare, us survivors were pretty low on
trust. It was no surprise that a pool of children, a little under one hundred
of them, had decided to come together and form their own, more civilized Lord of the Flies. It was odd but they
seemed to have structure of some sort.

“They seemed very mature,” I said.

“One of them called me a sh**head.”

“Yeah, but you did call him a little f**ker.”

Charles cut his eyes at me quickly
before looking back at the road. “He threatened to turn my head into an actual
pile of feces. I mean, could he have really done that?”

I shrugged, still laughing. “He was
a wizard so…anything’s possible.”

Charles shivered. “Like I said, that was a town of a**holes.”

“Who had a lot to barter with us, so
stop complaining.”

“Well, someone else can go next—”
Charles suddenly stopped talking.

I turned to Charles. “What’s-”

I didn’t have to ask him what was
wrong. It was suddenly very clear. To the left of us, a group of ten to fifteen
people were scattered about an open field, seemingly running in terror.

They were running from something.

A monster that charged at them from
farther down the field.

It was the stuff of nightmares. I’d
honestly never seen anything like it. Not on TV and definitely not in real
life.

It was over twenty feet tall. Normal
sized, it could have been a dog.

A freaking dog.

It was covered in long, dark-brown,
matted fur with a short bushy tail. I’m no dog expert so I couldn’t determine
the breed. Maybe a Rottweiler. It had sharp, slobbery teeth and bright, red
eyes.

And it roared.

The sound was loud and monstrous. I
didn’t have much experience with roars so the closest I could compare it to was
a bear. Definitely not a dog. The ground shook with the sound.

Some of the people running shot at the monster dog with rifles. No magic was used. They were regular humans. They didn’t stand a chance. The bullets seemed to only annoy the dog rather than injure it.

I looked back to monster dog and saw
it shaking its huge head, the kicking legs of some poor man hanging out of its
enormous, bloody mouth. It widened its jaw again and gulped the man whole. It
didn’t take time to chew before it moved forward and chomped on its next
victim.

I was no hero. I loved scary movies
but there was a limit to my fear level. I didn’t like spiders and I’d run
screaming, butt-naked out of the house to escape a cockroach or a snake. Yet,
something moved me to help. I just thought I could do something.

I thought I could stop it all.

“Stop the car,” I shouted.

“Hell no!” Charles yelled.

“We need to help them! They aren’t
paranormals. They’ll all die.”

“Amina…”

“Our parents didn’t raise us to be jerks. Let’s help them.”

“Sh*t,” Charles murmured as he slowed the car down and pulled off to the right side of the road. “That thing is going to stomp on this car and then we’re going to be dead.”

“Stay here,” I stated, getting out
of the car.

“Yeah, right,” I heard him say as he
opened his driver side door.

I jogged across the street and
stopped at the edge of the field.

“What are you going to do?” Charles asked, beside me now.

“Something,” I replied. I really
didn’t know. After all this time, my magic was still confusing to me. I mostly
learned about what I could do through trial and error. That and just plain
winging it. I would wing it now.

I reached out my hands, to do what I
couldn’t tell you. But I was at least fifty feet away. I wasn’t thinking; just
desperate  to stop this monster from
eating any more people.

I screamed. “Stop! Please!”

A sharp, head-splitting pain ripped
through my brain causing me to lose balance. I had to steady myself with
outstretched arms. The front of my skull felt like it was breaking and my
vision blurred momentarily. My knees grew weak and I stumbled a bit. Charles
caught me before I hit the ground and steadied me.

The disorientation felt like it
lasted for minutes but logically I knew it was less time. Pain always came when
I used magic at that level and although I knew it was coming, it never failed
to knock me back.

The monster stopped just inches away
from an older, white woman who had fallen on the ground.  Nightmare dog turned its head, which was the
size of a monster truck, towards me.

“Sit!” I shouted. It was actually
more of a question but I said it with force so that counted for something.

And the dog sat! However, the
head-splitting pain also returned. A wave of nausea came as well but it was not
long lasting.

Having this momentary diversion, the
woman got up and ran to a man nearby who was aiming a rifle at monster dog. The
monster didn’t move its attention or cloudy gaze away from me.

 “What are you going to do now?” Charles asked.

“Going to send it back to hell where
it came from.”

How I planned to do that, I actually
didn’t know but I decided to think logically. It listened to me when I told it
to stop and when I said for it to sit so… “Die.”

A barrage of pain attacked my whole
body, like every nerve was set on fire. I keeled over and cried out.

Fido tilted to the side and then toppled all the way to the ground with a ground-shaking thud. Its eyes stayed open but were now glazed over, black tongue hanging out of its mouth and legs stiff.

He looked dead to me.

The pain vanished as quickly as it
had come.

I almost fainted from the shock of it all.

It was a pretty uneventful battle.

“Is it? Is it dead?” called a man
off to our left.

“Yes!” I shouted back.

“What are you?” asked the woman I’d
saved from being dinner.

“I’m a witch.”

“You’re very strong,” said the man
beside her, his eyes wide.

I shrugged modestly. “I’m okay.”

“You controlled it just with your
voice. That’s more than okay,” said a black woman. She squinted her eyes and
walked towards us with cautious steps.

“She’s a rockstar,” Charles boasted.

“We could use power like yours,”
said the man on our left, walking forward.

“We’re already part of a village but if you need our help, we’d be happy to—” I started

“Barter,” Charles cut in. “You can’t
be doing all these unpaid services, sis,” he whispered, placing a hand on my
shoulder.

“We don’t need to trade,” said the
black woman. “We just need your blood.”

“Say what—” Charles didn’t finish
his sentence. I heard a gun shot from behind us. Charles arched his back and
dropped to his knees.

I spun around, my hands out to attack. A bullet hit me in my shoulder. I felt a sharp blast of pain spread through me and I stumbled forward but lost my balance, falling to the ground. My vision clouded and I saw several boots walk towards me before darkness washed over me….

Thanks for reading. Next month I offer Chapter one (and hopefully a cover reveal), A book review from one of my favorite urban fantasy writers and a recap of my trip to Montreal!

Cartagena and Christmas Gifts for Travelers, Part Two

[image error]

Colombia is a country that gets a bad rap,
some for valid reasons. But as a resident in Baltimore City, I know about town’s
with bad raps. I also know that, like in any place, there are good spots and
bad spots. Baltimore is not all like The Wire and Colombia is not full of drugs
and violence.

In this second part of my recap I’ll discuss
nightlife and tips to help you prepare and make it a great trip.

Evening
out

I didn’t get to do nightlife like I planned
(the day time activities wore me out most nights)

For a sunset view with drinks check out Café del
Mar. Go to the Café Havana for salsaAlquimico
Bar: received
a lot of good reviews and recommendations. If you are into trendy with a NYC or
LA flair apparently this is the place to check out. EIVISSA CARTAGENA: I was really sad I didn’t get to
this place. A girl loves a good rooftop bar.

Now some noteworthy mentions for your trip.

Safety

Cartagena is probably the safest place in the
country. I didn’t witness crime or feel unsafe. Being that I live in Baltimore
City my spidey senses (RIP Stan Lee) are always on high alert. I felt fine here
as long as I didn’t do anything crazy (like wander down dark alleys at night).  Side note, we went during their independence
festivities so things were a bit more rowdy than usual, especially in my
neighborhood. Watch out for kids throwing firecrackers in your direction. Some
might use that as a diversion to get you off your street smarts game and grab
your wallet or phone. This didn’t happen to me but I heard tales.

[image error]

Also, because of the festivities, many people
were trying to make a buck and made their own makeshift tolls. They cut off the
road with rope and stood in front of oncoming cars, not moving until they were
paid.

[image error]

To us Baltimore people, I got a kick out of
seeing that “squeegee” people are a thing here too. Only they aren’t kids and
teens trying to clean your car windows but grown men, which was more
uncomfortable to see but a sign of the economic issues here.

Weather

Be prepared for the heat. With a humidity
level of 80-100 percent you an break a sweat just looking out of the window.
Most days I wore two outfits because the heat is thick and will lay on you so
you’ll need to shower again. Pick a hairstyle that is humidity resistant (like
braids).

Cost

Things are very cheap there. Once you wrap
your mind around the conversion rates you will be surprised by how inexpensive
things are. My cab ride to the airport was less than ten USDs and most cab
rides within the city were less than four USDs. 
Food was also crazy cheap. There are tons of nice hostels in the area,
especially gentsimani where I stayed, however, our “luxury” hotel was very
affordable too.

Race

A word on race. Cartagena is a Caribbean city
and most of the people are caramel colored to the color of ebony. It was nice
to see so much brown. The disappointing part? Still seeing the colorism. Few
very dark-skinned people worked inside even in retail. If they did work indoors
they were mostly the cleaning people. Further, some establishments weren’t as
friendly to us (and in some cases flat out ignored us) but the attitude shifted
when lighter or white tourists came in. This was a rare experience but one to
note.

[image error]former location of slave auction 

Language

Learn Spanish. My Spanish is pretty dusty. I
tried to dust it off before arrival but clearly not enough. Most people we
encountered did not speak English or spoke very little.

Transport

There are tons of cabs although Uber is
accessible here too. The only frustrating thing? Many cab drivers didn’t seem
to know where things were. Even when we showed them our hotel address or the
address of a restaurant.

[image error][image error][image error][image error]

Out the Box: Gifts for the Traveler in your life, Part Two

In ear translator – there are many different kinds, some that serve as apps to your iphone

Luggage scale- always a good option for those with tendencies to overpack

SteriPen- if you are in an area where drinking water is a concern, using this can come in handy. 

Packing cubes- another good tool to help with making the most out of your space while packing. Learn more here.

Happy Holidays!