I spent the weekend in Catalunya, a beautiful region in the north east of Spain (although, Catalans would prefer they were their own country, but that’s a lot of politics and I don’t want to get involved with it). I’ve been to Barcelona many times and it has a special place in my heart. It’s also the home of a few of my vampires, both ones you’ve met and ones you’re yet to see on page. Javier and Andreu, the brothers from my Vampire Erotic Theatre series are from the region, and it’s Andreu’s intent to open his own erotic theatre in Barcelona one day. There’s also a vampire in the Vampires Realm series who lives in Barcelona, in the Barri Gotic (gothic quarter), and you’ll meet him in the series someday.
When I was in Barcelona, the husband insisted we go into a bookstore. I knew what he was up to and I figured it wouldn’t happen. He wanted to find my Spanish translation of the Her Angel novellas, published by Booket. Surprisingly, he actually found a copy in the romance section of the store. We had looked in a really big department store before, figuring I had a better chance of finding the book there than finding it at a smaller independent bookstore. Well, I was wrong. Hubby tracked down a copy in the smaller bookstore and it was exciting to see it there, although embarrassing when he decided to make me pose with the book! I think he was more excited about it than I was… but then, that’s probably because he wasn’t the one who had to look like a crazy lady, posing next to a book!
Not my best picture, and it still freaks me out that Spanish publishers like to have the title / author name running the wrong way up the spine, but cool to see my little book there.
When we were in Catalunya, we also went down the coast to the seaside town of Tarragona. My husband had always wanted to see Castellers, which are teams of people from different towns who create human towers. It’s awesome, and dangerous, and involves everyone from burly men to tiny little girls. I’ll include a picture so you can see it for yourself. We went to a big competition where 20 different teams were competiting at once inside the former bull ring (now an arena) in Tarragona. It was amazing to see it in real life. It’s a very Catalan tradition, but I’ve heard that it also takes place in other regions, such as around Valencia. There were a few instances of falling towers and young girls bouncing off the heads of the men/women who form the base. I don’t think anyone was seriously hurt though. Those towers can get extremely wobbly! This one was a success though. Tower was built and deconstructed perfectly.
I also got to indulge in a multiple foodgasm, having cinnamon (canela) ice cream on three different days over the weekend! Yes, multiple foodgasms are possible for women.
In other news, more related to books and writing, and reading, I managed to get through Larissa Ione’s Ecstasy Unveiled. I wasn’t very taken with it. I swear, half of the book was spent in heads other than the hero or heroine, and that just didn’t work for me. I like books where we get the odd chapter here and there with another character, either one we have had as a hero/heroine before, the book’s baddie, or a future hero/heroine, but this was too much. It made me feel as though she didn’t really have much to say about the MCs and their romance!
I finished the book on the plane and began working again on an idea I’ve had for another vampire romance series. I’ll be writing this one for my agent in place of the Guardians of Hades series. I have some fantastic ideas for it, and some fantastic characters too, so keep your eyes peeled for more news on this one!
