BE MY GUEST: Author Interview: Cara Bertoia

Today, I am thrilled to host Cara Bertoia, co-author of an amazing travel novel which is as much about romance as it is about travel (the novel is based on their real-life love story). So read on to find out more about the book “Cruise Quarters” and how she met the man of her dreams. You would not want to miss infectious laugh on her witty answers as a bonus! :)

RG: Tell us about yourself and your love for traveling.


I have always loved to travel. Ever since I was a little girl my favorite hobby was reading novels about far away places, on a hot summer day I would be Mary Queen of Scots locked in the chilly London Tower. When I was in college I studied in Mexico for a semester and after that there was no holding me down. There is a German word for that feeling -- torschlusskpanik (the fear of missing the boat). In my case, literally.

RG: I understand that your book is about travel, yet it is a novel! Sounds interesting! Why did you think of penning down your travel anecdotes in the form of a novel and not in a non-fiction style travel narrative?

I just think that it worked better as a novel. I had to move things around and of course enhance things for dramatic effect and then I really couldn't call it non-fiction. I also had to change the names to protect us! My novel was written with the help of my husband Ray. I felt like I had a great story to tell, a true love story played out in some of the most beautiful ports in the world. And the fact that there was a happy ending surprised me more than anybody.

RG: Sounds interesting! What is different about “Cruise Quarters” as compared to other travel books available in the market? What do you think your book offers in terms of “originality” and “uniqueness”?

Well I know that my novel is the first written from the viewpoint of a female croupier, who has over a decade in the casino industry, we give the view from behind the blackjack table. My husband and I also worked on luxury liners for over a decade and so we take the reader behind the scenes of the casino and cruise ship industry. Ray also worked in European countries as diverse as Moscow and England. By shifting the story between us, we offer a story from both of our perspectives. My readers always comment that our description of the places we visited and the adventures we encountered really resonated with them.


RG: In your opinion, how is “going on a cruise” a better way to travel than by air or train?

I will give you a few of the top reasons: the views coming into port from the deck of a ship, not having to pack and unpack your bags, and going to sleep in a comfortable bed in Copenhagen and waking up in Stockholm. Those are just a few of the reasons. I just wrote a blog post on this as well called The Top Ten Reasons To Travel Around Europe on A Cruise Ship.

RG: Name some of the beautiful places that are covered in your book?


To me Venice is always the most beautiful place in the world. Of the many ports in the Caribbean we visited my favorite is St. Martin, an island that is half Dutch, half French, the mixture of the two cultures makes for an interesting island. Our book travels from Europe to the Caribbean, but just when think you can relax we cruise down the Amazon and on to Rio.

RG: Amazing! Your book offers a collage of European and American beauty. There is also a romantic element in your novel which is based on your real-life love story. Tell us how you meet Ray (any juicy tidbits we should know *winks*)

When I met Ray I was hung over, sitting on the floor of the hallway with my hair pinned on top of my head, no makeup, dressed in my crew bar\pajama outfit sorting mail. I saw a cute Scottish guy round the corner but I didn't give him a second look I had sworn off shipboard romances. He said he knew that we would be together from the second he met me, but read our book and you'll know he is just trying to score points.

RG: *laughs* So, it was “Love at first sight” (at least from his side *wink*). List 5 suggestions/writing tips for those who want to venture into writing non-fiction.


1. Do something interesting so that you will have something to write about, I was working on my MFA in writing before I joined ships, and I knew working on a cruise ship would be a great setting for a novel.

2. Read it out loud so you will know if your dialogue sounds right.

3. Do the research, because sometimes your memory can play tricks on you.

4. Be honest, no one is on their best behavior 24/7 and anyway the embarrassing parts are the best bits.

5. But most importantly if it is based on real people besides YOU make it fiction! You can avoid a lawsuit that way.

RG: Those are some extremely useful tips for all writers! Do you think that book blogs play a vital role in getting the books across to readers?

I have seen that articles from our blog get picked up and spread throughout the internet. I also think that people like to read about your background and then they have a good idea about the authenticity of your work. But I believe that the most important blogs are the ones like yours that work to spread the word about new books. With the demise of book reviews in newspapers I think blogs like “The Review Girl” fill that gap.


RG: How much time did it take for you to complete this book? What was your routine for writing?

It took years to write this book. I took notes while I lived at sea. I went to the crew bar every night - but only in the name of research. I started it in a class at UCLA and from there I wrote and re-wrote until I thought every line was perfect then I had my friends from the casino business and the cruise ship industry read it and I wrote some more. When one of my cruise ship friends read my novel, she immediately made copies for four of her friends. That day I knew I had nailed it.

RG: Are you inspired by any particular author? Who is your favorite author?


I really like Charles Bukowski, he made me see that you could write in a clear and concise way and still be entertaining. I also like Steve Martin he writes with a good understanding of human nature. Then there is Lionel Shriver who gives her writing a kick of cynicism. I could never pick one favorite author it changes all the time.

RG: I believe that there are only two categories of books: good books and bad books. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a “good book”?


A good book is easy to read, it entertains you and it just might teach you a little bit about life and human nature. I always like to get inside the head of the character I am reading about and I always hope she is not too nice.

Now, time for some fun questions:

RG: Favorite holiday destination.


I love all the old cities of Europe, Venice, London, Glasgow, my husband and I can walk for hours and just be entertained by the life passing by us. We love to walk and eat, that is why I was known as the food scout on ships. Whenever we cruised to a new city I would walk the streets until I found the perfect restaurant for the casino staff to go to.

RG: Favourite foreign cuisine.

Chinese.

RG: Tell us about the craziest thing you ever did while on a cruise.

The casino staff was locked up in a restaurant while the owner held us hostage demanding more money. I don't want to say too much, that is also in the book.

RG: Any place (romantic island or resort) which you recommend to newlyweds for honeymoon?

I'm American so I think Venice is the most romantic city in the world. Ray said Malta, he's Scottish, go figure. But for an island I would definitely say Bali.

Bali: Crystal clear blue water and tranquility, best place to visit for some romance!

RG: How do you relax when you have free time? 

In my free time I listen to political shows like The Daily Show, and Real Time. I also work out, but I hate that, just trying to be able to eat more. On our days off, when wanderlust hits us, we love to travel to San Diego and Los Angeles and just walk around, and of course eat!

RG: Complete these sentences:


* Love is...easy when it's done right.

* Life is...here and now, this not a dress rehearsal.

* Writing is...torture, rewriting is a blast.

* Travelling is...accepting where you are, for what it is and getting the most out of it.

RG: Your statement on writing is a debate in itself. For me, it is the other way around: writing is a blast but re-writing is a torture! *laughs* Thank you for such a lovely interview. It was a pleasure having you on my blog. Wish you all the best for your book. 

About the Book: 

Cruise Quarters - A novel About Casinos and Cruise Ships

The # 1 cruise ship novel is a fun, fast paced tale of working in the casino aboard a Regal Cruises cruise-ship. It is based on a true story and was written by authors who have over a decade of experience working on luxury cruise ships.

Sarah Seldon is a croupier on the luxury liner. After many unhappy endings, and burnt out on shipboard romance, she is determined to forget about men and concentrate on becoming a casino manager. On land women face a dearth of GOOD men but on a ship giving up men would take willpower. The mostly male crew exist to serve her every need. Handsome Italian waiters bring her food, the Filipino steward cleans her room, English officers play poker with her and the Welsh plumber fixes her sink. She leads a cushy life, sleeping 'til noon, eating gourmet food, and the topper - she gets to wake up in beautiful new place everyday. All because she works in a casino, a place so bad it has SIN in the middle.

Book a cruise and travel with Sarah and the crew as they work, play, feast, and fall in and out of love, all while the ship sails around the globe, stopping at exotic ports of call. Along the way, from Venice to Barcelona sight-see in the Med, shop in St. Martin, take an eco-cruise down the Amazon, and feast in Glasgow. Let the crew tell you their own stories as they sit in the hallway in the wee hours of the morning. While the ship travels to new destinations, tired and tipsy they share tales of love and betrayal. – (Book Blurb Courtesy: Amazon.com)

Click the link to find at Amazon.com

Click the link to find at Amazon United Kingdom

Click the link to find at Amazon Germany

Click the link to find at Barnes and Noble

Click the link to find at Smashwords

The link to the paperback at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Cruise-Quarters-Novel-About-Casinos/dp/1461010470/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

To know more about the authors of this book, visit these blogs:

http://carabertoia.blogspot.com/

http://casinosandcruiseships.blogspot.com/

Do you like to read travel books? Are you a travel junkie like Cara? Do you have any interesting/fun incident to tell about your travels? Feel free to share in the comment section below. I would love to hear your thoughts.

BE MY GUEST: Travel Review by Author Barbara Conelli

Guest Post: 

Travel Review: Prague (Czech Republic) 

Author/Travel Writer: Barbara Conelli

As you know that writers who love to travel and tell their amazing travel stories, stop by here on my blog, to share about their unique experiences, sometimes, fun and at other times, quirky. So, let’s read and find out what Barbara (Author of “Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita”) has in store for us about her memorable and romantic summer in Prague. 

French Summer In Prague 

Maxim was a charming Frenchman and a born Parisian who never forgot to mention that his family came from the correct, wealthy bank of the Seine. Actually, to be precise, it concerned only his mother. His father’s presence in the family was considered an unpleasant social slip which had been held against him bitterly all his life.

Maxim, with a sweet apologetic smile, often interrupted his colleagues’ English classes when he passed through the room in order to get into his office. He always left behind him the intoxicating smell of his luxurious perfume, of coffee and dark chocolate. He enjoyed showing off his carelessly elegant walk and the perfect manicure on long, sinfully sexy fingers that evoked even more sinful ideas in every woman.

“I’m looking for an Italian teacher. Would you happen to know any?” said Beautiful Maxim during one of his flights over the English class. He had a voice of the Marlboro Man and spoke English with a cute French accent.

“I would, myself,” I answered in French which obviously surprised him very pleasantly.

“And would you like to teach me?”

“Of course, if I manage to find some time.” With a professional look on my face, I took out my diary and started looking for “the last available gap in my schedule, only because it’s you”. But in my mind, between the lines of the diary, I envied the silver Parker pen that his fingers softly played with.

As Beautiful Maxim refused to indulge in the secrets of the Italian language in the mundane environment of his office, our regular, even more regular, and finally daily meetings were transferred to secluded cafés, bars and restaurants, over French wine, seafood and chocolate fondue. To conversations about how he loved when the wind blew through my hair, about my perfume making his head spin and about how adorably I sipped cappuccino from my cup. He had no male vices, he always called when he promised to and looked most dazzling over a glass of red wine with a cigarette in his hand. His perfect fingers surpassed all expectations and he seemed to be one of the last few specimens of the disappearing stock of French charmers and lovers.

“My aunts are coming tomorrow,” he said slackly in front of the cracking fireplace of his apartment, naturally on Parisian Street, on a rainy November Tuesday twenty minutes past midnight.

“They want to take care of the last details of the wedding because my fiancée is not coming from London until next week.”

I started to laugh at his wonderful sense of humor, and as I didn’t want to ruin all the fun I asked playfully: “And when are you getting married?”

“Next week of course. Don’t tell me you didn’t know that.”

I started to panic. There must be something wrong. Beautiful Maxim who walks like a lion in the bush and whose eyes are gloomy like the sky in Marseille is only mine. I’m sure of it; he loves my perfume, my hair in the wind and all my gestures, his famous fingers know every curve of my body. He cooks excellent dinners, whispers into my ear and his laugh makes me feel butterflies in my stomach. He’s MINE!

During the following twenty minutes, I listened in a sort of trance to his lecture about the hard life of a man who had decided to sign a lifelong deal and enter holy matrimony with a blond Swedish girl who was deeply loved and adored by his Provence aunts, his Dijone grandmother and both banks of the Seine. About his brave life decision to give up other women forever because the arrangement between family clans, sealed by their marriage, could not be broken. What would his deaf granduncle Hugo say, and what about his cousin Agnes who dragged her irritating pinscher everywhere and who wanted to give them a set of 19th century family porcelain for twelve people, and what would...

“Hang on, you’re really serious? C'est vrai? C'est possible? And what about me?”

“What about you?” He looked at me, baffled. “You... You are like a chocolate tart.”

“Excuse me?!”

“You know, SHE is like a raspberry cake. A homemade cake that is always handy, that is good and tasty, and that neither offends nor thrills anyone. But you... You are like a chocolate tart. A luxurious chocolate tart that melts in the mouth, that we savor with delight but treat ourselves to only a few times in our life. A sumptuous dessert, passionate pleasure, the last adventure before I become a responsible man and the head of the family.”

A few months ago, I ran into Maxim in Paris. We said Hi, and Maxim assured me that he was going to call next week and that we’d have lunch together. He hasn’t called yet. It’s better this way. I don’t know if he really got married, if he keeps the deal, if he’s happy with his raspberry cake and if he renounced chocolate tarts forever. I don’t know, and whether it was true or not, I don’t really care. Simply because all sinfully beautiful, wicked and damn irresistible Maxims of this world enter our lives for one single reason: To fly through it like the spring wind over a lavender field in Provence and leave behind that bittersweet taste of chocolate noir.

About the Author: 

Barbara Conelli is an internationally published bestselling author and Chiquenist on the mission to bring Fantastic Fearless Feminine Fun into women's lives. In her charming, delightful and humorous Chique Books filled with Italian passion, Barb invites women to explore Italy from the comfort of their home with elegance, grace and style, encouraging them to live their own Dolce Vita no matter where they are in the world.

Barb lives between New York and Milan, and as a real globetrotter, she's always on the move, accompanied by her adorable and very spoiled beagle. Barb's motto is: "When life gives you twists and turns, Chique Yourself Up in Italy." To her, writing is like breathing, and she's currently working on her new book. To know more about her and her writing, visit her website: http://www.barbaraconelli.com

About her Book: 

Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita - "Put on your Borsalino and swing those hips, baby."

Charming, poetic, delightful and humorous travel and life stories about extraordinary Milanese women, men who have succumbed to their temptation, and the art of living your own dolce vita no matter where in the world you are. An entertaining storyteller, Barb has a unique ability to capture the magical atmosphere of the places she writes about.

Through the pages of her books, Barb takes your hand and guides you through the irresistible beauty, captivating secrets, unrepeatable spell and fugitive moments of Italy. She makes them come alive easily and spontaneously, and her writing is like a magic carpet that carries you to Italy and back in the blink of an eye. She introduces you to fascinating women who have created the face of Italy, lifts the shroud of their mysteries, and reveals adorable places off the beaten track where the authentic Italian heart hasn't stopped beating.

To buy this book, click on the links below:

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Paperback

Note: The pictures and illustrations seen in BE MY GUEST are compiled by Review Girl.

Book Review: Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita

Book: Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita

Genre: Travel narrative/ Non-fiction

Author: Barbara Conelli

Cover Critique: 

A sketch of a bohemian chic girl with a big Italian hat and funky travel bags on the cover is good enough to understand that this book is about a girl’s journey to the fashion capital of Italy, Milan. The lemony background is bright and lively in sync with the zest of life which this book promises to talk about.

I just love this glamorous shiny cover!

Review:

“Chique” means stylish and hip girl. “Dolce” means ‘sweet’ and “vita” means ‘life’ in Italian, so the title suggests that the book is quintessentially about knowing the secrets of living ‘a sweet life’ in a stylish way – more precisely, the Italian way! The writer has used a mix of Italian words and phrases here and there, which makes the stories of Italian people, sensually sweet and fascinating to read. The book starts with these words which perfectly sum up the gist of life as well as the theme of this book, “La vita e bella, life is beautiful and the most amazing wonders of this world often hide in the simplest things.”

There are sketches with every chapter which help you visualise the things, scenery or people which the writer talks about in detail. The book is not a travel guide with maps and locations to tour Italy; it explores further into the lives of common people and tells the stories of simple Italian men and women from fashion designers to small village bakery shop owners. It does not just tell about Italian art and its awe-inspiring museums and galleries but about life in general and how to make the most of it by being aware of who you are and by appreciating the people and the place around you. It is more like a “self-discovery” than just being able to witness the lifestyle and the rich culture of Milan.

It helps the reader appreciate the breathtaking ‘sights and sounds’ of Italy while reading about the hidden aspects of its cultural heritage and legacy, apart from ‘fashion’ and its famous ‘nightlife’. The chapters are short and words used are irresistibly sweet filled with the warmth of Barbara’s heart and made me feel the heat and soul of Milanese. For example, while telling about Brera, she personifies this Milanese quarter near La Scala, by calling it a “capricious woman” who “gets under your skin, whether you like it or not”. In another chapter, she talks about a mysterious saxophonist who plays in the streets and how she later finds out about his real identity. There is so much passion in the stories infused with elegance and wit that it made me finish this book in one sitting.

I have never been to Italy but after reading this book, I want to go there and witness everything from my eyes especially the places that Barbara describes in this fantastic book and maybe meet that sixty years old lady who has been working at a local silk factory for past 30 years or perhaps go to eat Da Gancio’s famous polenta with butter and home-made cheese along with a glass of home-made rose wine. The diversity of famous Italian food made me sigh with temptation and filled my mouth with the unknown flavours like those of delicious home-made saffron risotto. Ah! The gourmet pleasures!

At the end of each chapter, the writer concludes one secret towards achieving that ‘tranquillity’ and finding ‘happiness’ from within. It is like a spiritual journey and reminded me of the pulsating energy I felt when I used to listen to Ricky Martin’s “Livin La Vida Loca”. The book does not teach or preach with moral lessons but states a philosophy, a way of living which is “to stay young at heart, forever, no matter where you are or what you do”.

I highly recommend this book to people who love to travel and unravel the mysteries of different cultures and who are open to learn and experiment new things in life, without any inhibitions. I enjoyed this book a lot and being a sucker for travel books, I have already read it three times. For me, it serves like meditation. It does not matter whether you have been to Italy, you will never go to Italy or you live in Italy, the book still offers something for every kind of reader. Just read it, you will love it for sure!

Review Girl Rating: 10/10

“I would like to thank Barbara Conelli for sending me a free copy of her book, “Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita” for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog. To buy this book on Amazon in Kindle or Paperback, click here.”

BE MY GUEST: Travel Review by Author, Lyn Fuchs

Guest Post:

Travel Review: Zihuatanejo (Mexico)

Author/Travel Writer: Lyn Fuchs

I have been thinking to add “travel section” in my “reviews”, so you can enjoy and know about different places and cultures. I wanted to make it fun, so I requested this awesome travel-writer, Lyn Fuchs, to share some of his crazy adventures, in this travel segment. A gentleman that he is, he readily agreed and sent me this wonderful and soul-stirring piece, which I am so pleased to share with all my readers. His bold style and his sublime sense of humour reflect in his writing style. Read on and enjoy!

The Winter of Our Content

An Internet site that described Zihuatanejo as “a small fishing village just south of Ixtapa” was packed with stunning photos, but what can I do here for a whole week, I wondered. The pirate Francis Drake once parked in this cove to keep an eye out for Spanish booty. “Well, shiver me Freudian timber!” I quipped, “Sounds like a plan.”

My rental condo had a beach view from the window and a pizza delivery sticker on the fridge. Damn near paradise in my book. The décor was typical tropical: Casablanca fans and terra cotta tile, mahogany closets and calla lily sofa. I’d stocked the kitchen with papaya, yogurt, oats, and beer—all part of a complete breakfast. As the sun rose over banana trees, I headed out for a stroll along the surf.

With sandals dangling from my hand and foam swirling around my feet, I pondered the many historic footprints that had been made and erased on this spot. Doctor Timothy Leary conducted psychedelic LSD experiments here in 1963. Author Zane Gray caught a 135-pound world record sailfish here in 1924.

Still, I was more intrigued by the countless, nameless indigenous lovers who had no doubt left their marks on this lunar-powered etch-a-sketch, where every night the silvery moon draws hearts together then draws waves to obliterate all tracks. The very name Zihuatanejo stems from the Aztecan language Nahuatl and means “place for women.” Nothing says amorous rendezvous like a beach.

In my past wanderings up the Pacific, I’d seen the coconut-strewn crescent bays of Huatulco and the dope-smoking nude surfers of Zipolite. What could be so special here? I rounded a promontory and there she was, sitting on a tidal rock, squeezing water out of long dark hair.

I asked her name. Chocolate eyes sparkled and native cheekbones flushed, but the voluptuous lips said nothing. (Generally in Mexico, guys are expected to show a little more effort; what Gringos call stalking, Latinos call unrequited love.) Pleasantly shitfaced, I tested a ridiculous line, “I know you’re Azteca, but I hope you won’t rip out my heart.”

She didn’t even blink, “I know you’re Americano, but I hope you won’t invade my territory.” I grinned sheepishly; she laughed playfully. Five minutes later, we were conversing as friends. When a pelican dove for something eye-catching by the water and crashed headlong, I was relieved that his fate apparently wouldn’t be mine.

As the breeze changed direction and came in off the ocean, I sensed the fresh wind a beautiful woman can usher into your life. The next few days were as perfect and hazy as those rock islands shimmering across the turquoise bay. We swam offshore for hours, talking and fucking to the rhythmic shoves and tugs of the sea. 

Waves are the music of the planet. Combined with the polar magnetism of boy meets girl, they constitute a primal symphony. Art is the pursuit of beauty. Hand led by a bikinied silhouette into a shining ocean, one transcends mere hedonism for an earthly apprenticeship in the heavenly forms.

Alas, I’ve metamorphed from a normal guy into a wannabe poet. Blame the tropics. While the northern turning leaves mark the passing of years and urge productivity, the southern rolling waves hint of changeless eons and instill contentment. Whatever my future might bring, I was satisfied just to be there and seize that day.

She and I now live in different worlds—worlds forever different from each other, as well as from what they were before we met. Whenever I stroll on the coastline of any ocean, the breakers seem to emanate from a distant shore, a shore where my Azteca forever sits on a tidal rock.

 

About the Author: 

Lyn Fuchs is a travel writer who may be found in the Canadian rainforest or the Mexican desert, but you won't find his by-line on anything that doesn't captivate and inspire. His travel writing has appeared in Outdoor Canada, The Dalhousie Review, Eclectica Literary Journal, Traveling Stories, The Best of Bluefoot Publishing and other publications. When he is not writing or travelling, he works as a professor of communication at the University of Papaloapan in Mexico with Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Communication and Philosophy. To know more about him and his writing, visit his blog: lynfuchs.blogspot.com

About his Book:

Sacred Ground and Holy Water: Travel Tales of Enlightenment

The book is a collection of seventeen stories filled with humour, tragedy, adventure, sexual innuendo and spiritual insight. Author Lyn Fuchs should be called Lyndiana Jones. He has survived enraged grizzlies, erupting volcanoes, Japanese sword fights and giant squid tentacles. He has been entrapped by FBI agents and held at gunpoint by renegade soldiers. He has sung with Bulgaria's bluesmaster Vasko the Patch and met with Mexico's Zapatista Army commander Marcos. He has been thrown out of forbidden temples in southern India and passed out in sweat lodges off the Alaskan coast. His navel has been inhabited by beetles and his genitals have been cursed by eunuchs. He has shared coffee with presidents, beer with pirates and goat guts with polygamists. He has contracted malaria, typhoid, salmonella and lovesickness around the world. All these adventures and more are found in this extraordinary work. – (Courtesy: Amazon.com)

To buy this book, click here.

Note: The pictures and illustrations seen in BE MY GUEST are compiled by Review Girl.