Come Fly with me. No Passport Required.
Dear Goodread Friends:
I’m going to tell you a secret. I spend every winter in Key West with Jimmy Buffett, drinking Margaritas and watching the sunset. How? I crank up the SiriusXm radio Jimmy Buffett station up in my car, and away I go to the land of perennial sunshine. To escape the cold, there’s usually a real winter getaway tucked somewhere in February, but this year’s different.
I haven’t let it get me down. In fact, quite the opposite.
The imagination is a powerful tool, so this year, I’ve let it chauffeur me around the world, with no passport required. My favorite spot has been Mallorca. On this beautiful arid island off the coast of Spain, I’ve been chasing swindlers and murders with zany Max and Miranda on “The Mallorca Files” (Acorn TV). It’s a bit like “Moonlighting,” but the rocky coast, mountains, sandy beaches and crystal clear waters are spectacular. I’ve also been on jewelry capers in Paris with “Lupin” (Netflix), and stalked serial killers in Wales with Luke Evans in “Pembrokeshire Murders,” and Martin Freeman in Oxfordshire in “A Confession” (Britbox). My favorite, of course, is frolicking through the Highlands, historic cities and quaint villages of Scotland with Graham MacTavish and Sam Heughan in “Men in Kilts” (Starz). With all the Scottish Whisky they’ve guzzled, I’m surprised they can keep the campervan on the road.
My reading has taken on a time travel bent this winter with terrific books by bestselling novelists. I’ve visited the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression in “The Four Winds” (Kristin Hannah), gone deep sea diving for sunken treasure in “Saving Savannah” (Patti Callahan) and strung up my corset during the social season in 19th Century London in “The Duke and I” (Julia Quinn). I was compelled to read “The Duke” because I’ve binged “Bridgerton” (Netflix) three times and had to know more about virtuous Daphne Bridgerton and sexy Simon the Duke of Hastings. (Thanks, Shonda Rhimes) You can read my full reviews for these books at Booktrib.com.
My wintertime jet-setting has also led to me to fabulous online baking classes. The first Zoom took me back to my old haunt of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I made Butter and Almond Croissants with Zingerman’s “Bake with Zing” classes. You massage the butter into the dough just right, and my pastries came out a little too crunchy. But for my first try, I’ll take a B. The next class, live from Paris, featured French Macarons. The trick is whipping the merengue into a froth before folding in the Almond flour. And I have to say, my chocolate and raspberry-rose Macarons très magnifique. I have a freezer full of them, so if you’re in the neighborhood... stop by!
I realize that most of us are sick of Zoom meetings. However, they have allowed me to travel to London and Seattle for a Julia Quinn interview, continue recording our “Backstage with the Bardavon” podcasts, and speak at conferences, like Murderous March in Albany, NY. (March 19-20). Most of all, Zoom has helped me stay connected to friends and family during these crazy times.
While I certainly would love to visit and hug everyone in person, hopping on a plane or train remains down the road for me. Until then, I’ll live vicariously through books, television and zoom, and I urge you to do the same.
Hang in there!
Read my latest newsletter at http://www.jodesusanmillman.com
I’m going to tell you a secret. I spend every winter in Key West with Jimmy Buffett, drinking Margaritas and watching the sunset. How? I crank up the SiriusXm radio Jimmy Buffett station up in my car, and away I go to the land of perennial sunshine. To escape the cold, there’s usually a real winter getaway tucked somewhere in February, but this year’s different.
I haven’t let it get me down. In fact, quite the opposite.
The imagination is a powerful tool, so this year, I’ve let it chauffeur me around the world, with no passport required. My favorite spot has been Mallorca. On this beautiful arid island off the coast of Spain, I’ve been chasing swindlers and murders with zany Max and Miranda on “The Mallorca Files” (Acorn TV). It’s a bit like “Moonlighting,” but the rocky coast, mountains, sandy beaches and crystal clear waters are spectacular. I’ve also been on jewelry capers in Paris with “Lupin” (Netflix), and stalked serial killers in Wales with Luke Evans in “Pembrokeshire Murders,” and Martin Freeman in Oxfordshire in “A Confession” (Britbox). My favorite, of course, is frolicking through the Highlands, historic cities and quaint villages of Scotland with Graham MacTavish and Sam Heughan in “Men in Kilts” (Starz). With all the Scottish Whisky they’ve guzzled, I’m surprised they can keep the campervan on the road.
My reading has taken on a time travel bent this winter with terrific books by bestselling novelists. I’ve visited the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression in “The Four Winds” (Kristin Hannah), gone deep sea diving for sunken treasure in “Saving Savannah” (Patti Callahan) and strung up my corset during the social season in 19th Century London in “The Duke and I” (Julia Quinn). I was compelled to read “The Duke” because I’ve binged “Bridgerton” (Netflix) three times and had to know more about virtuous Daphne Bridgerton and sexy Simon the Duke of Hastings. (Thanks, Shonda Rhimes) You can read my full reviews for these books at Booktrib.com.
My wintertime jet-setting has also led to me to fabulous online baking classes. The first Zoom took me back to my old haunt of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I made Butter and Almond Croissants with Zingerman’s “Bake with Zing” classes. You massage the butter into the dough just right, and my pastries came out a little too crunchy. But for my first try, I’ll take a B. The next class, live from Paris, featured French Macarons. The trick is whipping the merengue into a froth before folding in the Almond flour. And I have to say, my chocolate and raspberry-rose Macarons très magnifique. I have a freezer full of them, so if you’re in the neighborhood... stop by!
I realize that most of us are sick of Zoom meetings. However, they have allowed me to travel to London and Seattle for a Julia Quinn interview, continue recording our “Backstage with the Bardavon” podcasts, and speak at conferences, like Murderous March in Albany, NY. (March 19-20). Most of all, Zoom has helped me stay connected to friends and family during these crazy times.
While I certainly would love to visit and hug everyone in person, hopping on a plane or train remains down the road for me. Until then, I’ll live vicariously through books, television and zoom, and I urge you to do the same.
Hang in there!
Read my latest newsletter at http://www.jodesusanmillman.com
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