I don’t know about you, but I could certainly use a little escape after this past week! Want to take a journey with me to two very different beaches?

My second novel, Where Shadows Grow, includes a wide range of settings. Seattle is still the home base, but some sections take place in the arid Yakima Valley, and others are set in several coastal spots that I’ve traveled to over the years.

Lopez Island

First up is an island I last visited over a decade ago. Lopez is located in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State, just a stone’s throw from Canada’s Vancouver Island. (Well, I guess you’d have to be VERY good at throwing stones to actually hit it, but… it’s really not far away at all.)

While there, we stayed with friends in an adorable cabin. I had been to Orcas Island before, which was a lot more touristy and developed, but loved the rural quiet of Lopez.

We spent a lot of time that trip exploring the beaches and forests. It was truly a magical place!

Santa Barbara

For a brief but wonderful time, my dad lived in Goleta, a suburb of Santa Barbara. I visited him every chance I got. Between the lovely weather, sandy beaches, warm waters, and picturesque downtown area, it kind of felt like a fantasy land – a place that almost couldn’t be real.

I really miss visiting that place!

Your Thoughts

Are you dreaming of escape right now? If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?