Bookworm Press

Fire in the Vineyard is the third book in the The Wine Lover’s Daughter series. This time, the action takes place on the Central Coast of California, particularly in Paso Robles, Atascadero, Cambria, the Benedictine Monastery of the Risen Christ, and the Cal Poly Campus in San Luis Obispo. The Central Coast of California is one of my favorite areas, which made the research for the novel all the more exciting.

Click on the link below, take a trip from the convenience of your home, and enjoy the pictures.

Fire in the Vineyard, Photo Journey

One of the most interesting aspects of planning and writing a novel is doing research, meaning reading a lot, traveling to the locals where my novels take place, and taking pictures that fuel my imagination while writing.

I love to travel, and I find joy in “situating” my novels in locations I’ve come to know through past adventures or by exploring new destinations. Unlike a casual tourist, my travels are driven by the eye of a researcher, cataloging every detail—the landscapes, the quaint villages, the bustling cities, the local cuisine, and the diverse tapestry of people.

What sets this form of travel apart is the intent behind the journey. I’m trying to capture the essence of a place that will breathe life into my storytelling. It’s a journey where my camera becomes a tool not just for capturing memories, but for documenting scenes that will later inspire my writing.

Let’s take a trip together through my novel, The Italian Sister (The Wine Lover’s Daughter, Book 1). Enjoy the journey from the convenience of your home. Click on the following link:

Picture Tour – The Italian Sister

I’m a writer but also an avid reader and I love to share books and authors I like. Murder in Tuscany (An Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery, Book 1) by T A Williams is a novel which I thoroughly enjoyed and which takes place in one of my favorite parts of the world. Tuscany is also the locale of my own series The Wine Lover’s Daughter.

Here is my review on Amazon:

Newly retired DCI Dan Armstrong was given a retirement present by his colleagues at the force in England—the opportunity to attend a writing retreat at a stunning villa in beautiful Tuscany. While he is grateful for their generosity and the opportunity to finish writing his novel and leave his personal problems, among them a failing marriage, as well as rainy England behind him for a while, he is less enthusiastic about the genre of the literature taught at the retreat—erotica of all things. The somewhat strait-laced former policeman decides, however, to make the best of his time and try to fit in with the group of the other probably crazy writers.

If Dan thinks he left police work behind, he has a rude awakening a few days into the retreat when one of the people is found dead and it looks very much like murder. Together with his friend, the Italian detective, and his sidekick, Oscar, the enthusiastic and exuberant Labrador pup of the owner of the villa, he tries to shed light on the happenings and begins to uncover some very dark secrets among the attendees of the retreat and the hosts.

This is a fun and suspenseful mystery with interesting and quirky characters and vivid descriptions of Florence and the Tuscan landscape, the excellent food and wines. It kept me engaged from beginning to end and I look forward to part two of the series. Highly recommended!