If you find the island blog too short, don’t worry, I have more fiction in the works and in the form of the next novel. I’m also plotting out a few short stories which I’ll be entering in a handful of contests between now and February. If you’re lucky, I’ll post some short excerpts soon!

In my most exciting news of late, I’m now in the collections of the Fairfax County Public Library! Please checkout a book today, if you don’t own one already!

“Crazy! I hope at least their A/C works!”

Ethan motioned towards the car. “Let’s see if we can help.”

We closed in on the idle vehicle. I could hear the cries of circling black birds from above. Perhaps there was some nearby animal carcass off in the shrubs of the desert about to be lunch. Ethan and I leaned forward in our seats as we slid past the vehicle, eager to determine the cause of the breakdown. “Oh shit!”

“Fuck!” Did I just see that? No, that can’t be right. I looked again from the road to the vehicle, this time through my side view mirror. It was real.

“Keep going, don’t stop.”

“Shouldn’t we see if…”

“No, they’re definitely dead, there’s no way.” Ethan’s breaths were rapid and his face switched from the deep summer tan he’d developed over several weeks vacationing in the Yucatan into a shocky and pale mask. “What the hell happened?”

I knew there was a chance, about a one in a million chance, that one of them might still be alive. I could tell the one sitting in the passenger seat was irreversibly dead. His head had nearly decapitated and was resting on his shoulder, blood still coagulating on his button-up shirt. The female in the driver seat was sitting wide-eyed and staring straight ahead. Her blood, which was splattered on the windshield, was bright red. “Oh God.”

No promises here, but I’ve possibly stumbled across several short story ideas for my next book. Here is a sample of what you might read about next, from the shelf of Sarah Bowman:

A little bit mystery, a smidge thriller, and a dash of spooky.

Enjoy SCUBA Diving or reading about the fantastic underwater adventures of others as they swim across radiantly colored reefs with exotic fish and corals? For the main character, it’s their dream vacation to spend several days or weeks SCUBA Diving in tropical waters, exploring a new dive destination. While on a relaxing trip abroad, what would you do if suddenly, while diving, your gear mysteriously malfunctioned? What if you started seeing ghostly figures swim past, only to realize it’s only you and your dive buddy on the bottom?

A unique mixture of suspense and laughter. Oh, and it’s also a little bit whacky.

Strolling along the beach, carefully treading between towels and sunbathers, your toe catches on something. It’s a pair of flip flops. Most people would keep walking. Not Stephanie, she insists on putting on this stranger’s pair of flip flops. You’ve heard about walking in someone else’s shoes, but what if putting on someones shoes actually transformed you into that person?

What happens next for Stephanie is a little bit magical, hysterical, and even a little bit bizarre.

Interested to know what happens? Let me know!

After these past few signings in Alexandria in June, I’m ready to branch out and confirm dates and locations for upcoming signings elsewhere in the United States and Virgin Islands. Have a location you’d like to see me next? Let me know and I’ll add it to the book tour!

After today, the next stop for me will be in the Virgin Islands. I’m very excited to be moving to the tropics. Most people avoid the Caribbean during the hotter summer months. Not me! I’ll enjoy the off-season, in lieu of hurricane season and temperatures in the mid 90′s. The beaches will be just as white and sandy, and therefore, a blast. Where else in the world can you find an underwater snorkeling trail!? While I’m living in St. John I will be spending most of my time as an intern for the National Park Service for the Virgin Islands National Park. When I’m not on duty with the park, I will either be working on my tan or setting up a seaside book signing. Hopefully I’ll find success with tapping into the Caribbean market.

I’ll be in the Virgin Islands until mid-September and I’ll keep updating the site with signings as they are scheduled. Once I’m back to Virginia, I’ll start darting across the country, stopping in a town near you.

Buzz Bakery is probably where I spent most of my time writing the novel, filling in bits and pieces of the book while sipping on soy lattes and indulging on sweet confections. There’s nothing quite like fitting the cliche of a writer tapping away on a keyboard at a coffee shop.

Grounded is the actual location where I officially published my book (since everything was done online, all I needed was a wi-fi and the final digital file). One February morning, I ventured away from my home office and headed towards Grounded. I still remember sitting at one of their lovely cafe tables and hitting the final buttons to submit my manuscript to request the proof copy. Later in that same week, Grounded is where I was when I returned to the same site and confirmed acceptance of the proof and officially entered White Vacation into the world.

The first bit of the morning was quite busy and Buzz Bakery had a good flow of customers. Now that the evening is rolling into place, the action has come to a lull and should pick up again shortly, in time for the evening and lounge crowd. I have seen the traffic lights and do-not-walk signs flash through their cycles of multi-colored illuminations for a solid seven hours.

I’ve also interacted with neat collection of people that find deliciousness here at the bakery, either in the form of coffee or cupcakes, or both. I’ve had some folks come up to me, amazed that I was able to publish my own novel. Some other folks were in attendance, seeking advice on how to pursue their own writing endeavors. I have had about an equal number of female and male buyers today. I suppose another marketable factor for my book is that it would make a great gift as a beach read.

I look forward to tomorrow’s signing at Grounded Coffee Shop. The surrounding neighborhood is quite different and I had a slightly different marketing plan, so we’ll see what hapens!

I’m currently using the following methods to help share the success of publishing White Vacation and post updates on upcoming book signings and other news:

Facebook
- become a fan of “Sarah Bowman” today!
- become a fan of “White Vacation by Sarah Bowman”
- friend me on facebook (but unless you’re really my friend, it’s probably better just to be a fan)

Twitter
- BooksbySarah

Blog/Website
- Booksbysarah.com

Retail websites
- https://www.createspace.com/3372146
- http://www.amazon.com/White-Vacation-Sarah-Bowman/dp/1441470972/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

Retailers
- Amazon
- Target
- Createspace
- A Show of Hands

Book Signings
- Buzz Bakery, 901 Slaters Ln., Alexandria, VA, Sat., 6/6, 10:30 a.m. -6:00 p.m. Free. (703) 600-2899
- Grounded Coffee Shop, 6919 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria, VA, Sun., 6/7, 9a.m. – 2 p.m. Free. (703) 341-6612

As this is my first novel and I’m self-published, I’m the one in charge of all the publicity and marketing for the book. If you see there is some other way for me to boost my marketing plan and whip my sales into better shape, by all means, add your comments and share your thoughts!