Everyone loves going away on holiday, whether it’s two long weeks in the sun or a short weekend break, or even just an overnight stay. It’s about getting away from the daily struggle to five o’clock and spending some time at a slower pace or in an unfamiliar location. So, what are the ten best things about writing holiday romances like The Paradise Cookery School - Sunshine & Secrets?
Sunshine and Secrets
The sunshine – has to be top of my list. I’m a sun worshipper so if I’m going to write a holiday romance it definitely has to be set on a sun-soaked island. Sunshine & Secrets is set on the gorgeous island of St Lucia where a daily dose of sun is guaranteed, and when it does rain the locals call it ‘liquid sunshine’. For me, it’s so much easier to envisage love blossoming amongst the palm trees than beneath an umbrella.
The people – Whenever I’m on holiday, I love to explore places that are off the beaten track, to talk to the people who live in the villages, to ask questions about their lives, their loves and what gets them hot-under-the-collar. Like most places, St Lucia has its fair share of issues which I’ve touched on in Sunshine & Secrets, but I’ve focussed on the fabulousness of the island as a backdrop to Millie and Zach blossoming friendship.
The Food – Writing a holiday romance means you get to research the kind of food your characters might sample. This aspect was even more pertinent for me because the story is set in a cookery school where Caribbean recipes were being showcased. I spent hours researching the myriad ingredients used in the cuisine of St Lucia, and I even tried out a few recipes. Cocoa is grown on the island and so there were plenty of chocolate-based desserts to research and taste-test, a favourite being chilli Chocolate brownies.
The Drink – It’s not all about the food when we’re on holiday, it’s about the drinks too. Wherever a holiday romance is set there’s the opportunity to try out the drinks that the local prefer. So, if I was writing about Greece - as I did in Sunshine After the Rain - I had to make sure I included references to their favourite tipple - ouzo. The Caribbean is, of course, famous for its rum production. There’s a bar in the story – the Purple Parrot - that produces the most delicious cocktails, including the owner’s signature cocktail, Andy’s Blast, made with the flesh of the cocoa pod.
The Activities – Often when we’re on holiday we like to try out new things that we might never consider at home, such as surfing, or Scuba diving, or taking a flight on a zip wire. I love sending my characters on a fun activity – it’s a way of seeing how they react when under pressure and is often a catalyst for bringing them closer together, a must when writing romance.
The Sights – I truly believe that a book is more enjoyable if there is a strong sense of place so that the reader can ground their view of the world the characters inhabit in reality. There are many beautiful sights to see in St Lucia; the Pitons that protrude from the Caribbean Sea like the spines on a dinosaur’s back, the Diamond Waterfalls that disperse a rainbow of colour as they fall from a great height, the Botanical gardens. These virtual sightseeing trips may help to evoke memories of the reader’s own favourite holiday which will connect them to the story from the outset and, hopefully, enhance their enjoyment of a book.
The Music – No novel set in the Caribbean is complete without a backing track of reggae and calypsos rippling through the story. I just love this kind of music; every time I listened to a St Lucian steel band a smile spreads across my face and my spirits edge up a notch – it’s just such a happy sound that can’t fail to enhance a romantic story.
The Architecture – When I write about a place, I like to really immerse myself in every aspect and that includes researching where my character might live. Holiday romances can be set in a wide variety of buildings; hotels, villas, apartments, homes. In Sunshine & Secrets, the Paradise Cookery School is housed in an dilapidated cocoa plantation, high on the hillside above Soufrière, overlooking the red-roofed settlement at the base of the Pitons. A perfect place to fall in love!
The Current Affairs – one of the ways I research my holiday romances is by reading the local newspapers to find out what the issues of the day are for the people who live there to make sure that the characters that will feature in my story are authentic.
And finally, the Feel-Good Factor – when people are on holiday they relax, become a happier version of themselves, free from the stresses and strains of the work place. We feel lighter, more energetic, more open to lengthy conversations about things that matter to us or to enjoy an afternoon in silent contemplation. When we’re on holiday we can do exactly as we wish and because of that we smile more. Many people meet their long-term partners whilst on holiday - there’s just something so romantic about strolling along a beach, hand-in-hand, the waves tickling your toes, the smell of coconut oil lingering in the air. Holidays are something most of us look forward to all year, but they whizz by in a flash – so why not fix yourself a drink and pick up a fun-filled, uplifting book that can transport you back to those sun-drenched, carefree days until the next chance to escape comes around?