Brazil: One country. Five regions. One Girly Books blog post.

 Ladies and gentlemen, we are ready for takeoff…

Even though we don’t actually read this line everytime we read a romance novel, it’s safe to say that a lot of times we hear it in our imaginations. Or perhaps I do, anyway. Hey, stranger things have happened in my life. But now, let’s talk about traveling—through books!

As a reader, I love to go places I haven’t been. As a writer, I love to feature some of my favorite destinations in books. In A Vengeful Affair, my hero and heroine share arguments, discoveries and a sizzling attraction in London, Paris and Switzerland. In the upcoming Heating Up Hawaii…well, do I really need to say it? J

But today, as part of the fabulous Girly Books BlogHop, I’ll be taking you to Brazil, where my untitled WIP is set. Of course, ithelps that Brazil is also where I’m from originally, even though I’ve lived in Austin, Texas for the last ten years. Brazil is such a resourceful, diverse country that I’ve been wanting to use it as the backdrop for a romance novel for a while.

In Brazil, there’s something for everyone. To givey ou one example, my WIP starts in glamorous and internationally known Rio,filled with breathtaking views and gorgeous beaches. (It’s also one of my favorite cities in the world.) But then we go to Northeast Brazil, which is a completely different area—especially because I take the readers to the land of a Brazilian Indian tribe. Yes. Other things come into play, such as environmental and cultural issues and howvulnerable these tribes are nowadays, with Brazil’s economy booming and modern life swallowing their traditions and customs. I wanted to bring up a subject that’s taboo even for Brazilians. There is so much more to my country than Carnaval and  women in G-stringbikinis. Really. 

A little bit of a geography lesson here, because I know that’s what you’re craving. (I promise it won’t be boring!) Brazil is divided into five main regions: North (think the Amazon and tons of river, lushforest and internationally debated environmental shenanigans), Northeast (a region rich in folklore, music and cuisine…think yummy seafood and beautiful beaches), Central West (sparsely populated with dry weather; it includes Brasilia, the country’s capital), South (very developed both rurally andeconomically; think gauchos—Brazilian cowboys—plus tons of German descendants and world-renowned steakhouses) and Southeast (highly industrialized cities like Rio and Sao Paulo; it’s the region where most of the country’s population resides). Each of the regions has a rich history complete with unique accents, delicious local dishes and more. My plan is to turn my WIP into a series, and each romance will have a different area of Brazil as its background.

How about you? What place captivates your interestas a reader, writer or traveler?  Please comment for a chance to win a copy of A Vengeful Affair.

Oh, and don't forget to continue hopping for some fabulous prizes!