The Prebook Tour, Book Tour

One of the many highlights of our trip was the opportunity to travel around the home-base of The Tethered World.

I’ve been off the grid for nearly three weeks. “They”—that elusive club of experts—say consistency is the key for building one’s tribe. Yikes! I hope my 2014-09-07_1410085621merry band of followers will turn the other cheek 😉

My family was blessed to take a sizable chunk of August to enjoy a vacation in my beloved Pacific Northwest. Not that I had time to do anything computer-oriented . . . but if I’d had both the time and inclination, it wouldn’t have mattered. I could barely send a text to the person sitting next to me. Not sure what AT&T had against our travels, but it was a bit frustrating to stay connected.

One of the many highlights of our trip was the opportunity to travel around the home-base of The Tethered World. Those same experts also implore writers to “write what you know.” And, honey, I know the Portland/Vancouver area like I know big hair.

See what I mean?
See what I mean?

Of course, the big hair came from the 80’s and so did my mental map of the area. Things have dramatically changed in the many small towns that I lived in (like, they’ve become one sprawling metropolis). Fortunately, the GPS could get us to where my memory could not. The goal of capturing some special places from my novel was accomplished in the larger picture of showing my family the magical place I grew up. Sort of like taking a book tour, before the book hits the shelves. And without any fans. Or sales. You get the idea 🙂

Here’s a quick peek at some of the important places in my story. Shout out if you’ve been there, done that, in the comments! I’d love to get to know my fellow pluviophiles.

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From Buzzfeed. Thank you for sharing, M. Ray!

My main character, Sadie Larcen, learns that her parents’ last known whereabouts was at the nearby burger-joint. Burgerville is a local legend with some of the best fast-food around. It’s where I ate my first hamburger in its entirety (which wasn’t until the 8th grade because I ate like a bird). Here’s Sadie herself in front of the iconic restaurant!

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The next stop on the tour, and in the book, is a mention of Haystack Rock, an impressive monolith in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Yes, those are people speckling the sand in front of it.

Photo: Heather FitzGerald
Photo: Heather FitzGerald

Here’s a glimpse of the breathtaking Columbia River Gorge. Though Sadie has traversed the road along the river many times, her adventure in the book begins one evening along this route—from a very unique vantage point.

Photo: Heather FitzGerald
Photo: Heather FitzGerald

Final stop today: Beacon Rock, Washington. This monolith (notice a theme?) is a very important part of The Tethered World. That’s all I can say for now without leaking top-secret info. You may also be able to pick out Beacon Rock on the upper-left side of the photo above.

It was difficult to properly capture this huge rock up close. I should've clicked a picture when I was across the river from it.
It was difficult to properly capture this huge rock up close. I should’ve clicked a picture when I was across the river from it.

Bonus!  The icing on the cake was that I got to meet a very special person. Someone who has been instrumental in making my dream a reality. My publisher, Miralee Ferrell lives just up river from where I grew up! We were able to meet in person. How cool is that?
 There will be many reasons, I’m sure, to share more pictures in future posts. Doesn’t hurt that several of my friends from the area are the inspiration for characters in the book! Stay tuned as we get closer to launch day . . . February 1st, 2016!

In case you missed it, here’s the cover of The Tethered World. Also known as a shameless plug 😉

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7 comments on “The Prebook Tour, Book Tour” Add yours →

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  1. Oh! I love this! How fun to be able to visit all the places in your book. That’s the only drawback to writing “other-worldy” fantasy, I guess. Though, I may follow your example and start storing up pictures of inspiration. 🙂

  2. I guess I better stop while I’m on top of my game LOL.

    Yeah, let’s continue to perpetuate that rumor for my friends that live there! Funny you say that about the Californians…. I grew up hearing my mom grumble about “those California drivers!” She would explain how they used the huge profits from the sale of their overpriced one bedroom shack to buy a small piece of paradise in her beloved PNW.

    The irony didn’t hit me at the time. She was a Canadian who came to the PNW after she first lived in CALIFORNIA.

    Go figure.

    And thanks for keeping our little secret!

  3. Heather,

    This might be the perfect post. You worked in family, 80s big hair, hamburgers, traveling, and of course your new book. Very cool and I am very jealous. Cant wait until I have the opportunity to meet my publisher.

    By the way, I always have thought that the rumor of rainy days in the Pacific Northwest is just a rumor to keep the Californians away. Every time I have been up there, the sun has been shining and I noticed that all of your pictures confirmed the fact that the sun does exist up there. Don’t worry, I wont tell anyone.

    rob