When Amanda Tru told us our assignment was to “write about travel troubles,” I just sat there. Dumbfounded. How on earth was I supposed to choose between the trek across New Mexico in the back of a pickup truck? In July? Without sunscreen (why did I think “tanning oil” was protection from the sun instead of frying oil for my skin? #because15. That’s why)? Or would it be the time we drove home from North Dakota across Montana, down through Idaho and Utah (no, those aren’t adorable little Mormon girls, folks!), into Nevada, and across the desert to home… in July. With the HEATER BLASTING because we had the mistaken idea that it might keep our car going (turned out to be five $0.49 parts. “Fusible links,” the mechanic called them.
Maybe I should tell about the time I flew to Grand Rapids for a meeting with my publisher… and was on three flights before my plane even took off from LAX. My luggage didn’t arrive with me (shocker), and then I got stuck in the Grand Rapids Airport for 14 hours until they took pity on me and sent me to a hotel to try again the next day. Oh, and when I finally DID get to LAX… guess what? The jetway wouldn’t work, so they had to bring a fire truck with a ladder to help us get off the plane. No joke. First, they won’t let me out of there, and then they want to keep me on the tarmac. FOREVER.
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Your Heart Might Be with Your Treasure, but There’s Trouble There, Too
Hmm… I think we all get the issues with airports, so I’ll go with the time I was sitting right there in sight of the door to the jetway and never heard them announce my flight.
Yep, you read that right. There I was at the American Airlines terminal at Sky Harbor when I looked up to see… emptiness. Not a soul. And the plane was backing out away from the jetway. WHAT?
Seriously, you know how it is in airports. They’re constantly calling names, demanding that “Joe Doe hurry up because the doors are closing.” I have excellent hearing. I didn’t hear a word. Not. One. Announcement.
At first, I thought it was just me. Then I found out my niece and her family were all in the same airport on the same day at the same time… and nearly missed their flight as well. The American Airlines sound system must not have been working.
I got me set up on another flight the next day, got me a hotel room, and got me a shuttle to the hotel. Author Perry Kirkpatrick found out I was stuck there and drove over to spend a few hours chatting with me (made it worth the hassle, let me tell you!).
I got to North Carolina. Got to my writing retreat. Got on a plane. Got back to Sky Harbor, and folks! I am not kidding you. It nearly happened again. The doors were about to close, I was sitting RIGHT THERE. I heard nothing. I got up and walked over to see why everyone was gone and the gal said, “We’ve been calling for you.”
I was like, “Um… I’ve been sitting RIGHT THERE. Your system still isn’t working.”
She gave me a look like I was nuts, but I didn’t care. I got on the plane and got home, and um… I think you’ll understand why I won’t go through Sky Harbor on American Airlines until I KNOW they’ve fixed that issue. #becauseduh!
So why did Amanda Tru make us all share travel stories? Well… the first OFFICIAL book of the Suamalie Islands series released on Tuesday! And we’re all having a BLAST with the release fun! What’s it about? Well it’s a split-time novel you won’t want to miss!
Where Treasure Lies by Amanda Tru
Two stories…thirty years apart. Will solving the mystery of the past provide the key to the present?
Scott Connelly arrives in the Suamalie Islands determined to acquire property for his father and leave as soon as possible. But he doesn’t count on the animosity of the residents, the fascinating local legend of a sunken Spanish treasure ship, or the highly unavailable waitress who comes to his rescue. The fabled treasure promises to buy his freedom, but even seeking it may be a dangerous risk.
News of her father’s death precedes Tavia Connelly’s arrival in the Suamalie Islands. Despite the hatred of the island residents, Tavia’s determined to settle her father’s affairs and return immediately to assume her role as head of the family company. But her father’s wishes require her to find out what happened long ago, given only Scott’s mumbled clues, crazy rumors, and a centuries-old fable.
Tavia should be safe after all those years, but her presence attracts a lot of resentment, and the ghosts of Scott’s enemies may still lie in wait for someone to come searching for a treasure that may have never existed.
But what if it did?
Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.
