Passenger to Paradise - Love of St. Martin Tainted

Tropical Fish near Caribbean Waters MMSikes

The Passenger to Paradise has long held a love affair with tropical islands of the Caribbean. In recent years, St. Martin, the half-Dutch, half-French island, has been her favorite Caribbean destination. Not only the beaches and beauty of the island beckoned, but also there was a comfortable sense of serenity and safety. With the September murders of a South Carolina couple vacationing in a condo on the island, the atmosphere of St. Martin as a safe destination is no more for the Passenger to Paradise.

Of course, she has created a few murders along the way as parts of her books. But those were not based on real events. Many of the adventures in her books do relate to actual happenings in the life of the Passenger, including her arrival, wet, soggy, and uneasy, to a small island resort off the coast of Trinidad. That story is part of her novel, Night Watch.

For the Passenger to Paradise, travel in the Caribbean has always brought adventure along with the excitement of the journey. A few years ago, she discovered much about Jamaica as an owner of one of the resort chains transported her by private plane and by car from one destination to another all over the island. At each resort, she created a painting to document the essence of that location.

Travel to Guadeloupe was always an experience. One night, she awakened to discover an intruder rummaging through her belongings on a dresser in the bedroom. In a sleepy haze, she mistook him for the dryer repairman she'd requested earlier. "Carlos, why are here now?" she asked. He grabbed her belly pack with everything in it, including passports, money, and tickets and raced away. Her husband took chase but could not catch him. No one at the resort came to their aid. There was no security guard. The Passenger plans not to return to Guadeloupe.

Now, she will probably never go back to St. Martin either. However, she feels sad for the tourism industry there. But there are other places to visit. She understands that nowhere in the world today is safe.

For the Passenger to Paradise, murders are better in fiction. A book can be closed, and it's okay. In real life, that is not true.

--Mary Montague Sikes

Loving Tropical Settings

"On the Lagoon" MMSikes

For years we have loved to travel in the Caribbean. The fragrant scents in the air, the sounds of waves stroking sandy beaches, the casual ambiance everywhere around all have inspired us to return to the islands again and again.

A few years ago, Sint Maarten became one of our favorite destinations. Although the one main highway around the half-Dutch, half-French island is often terribly congested, that island is now one of our preferred vacation spots. It's also a great base for boat trips to Anguilla or to St. Barth's.

If you don't mind the long (especially from the East Coast) airplane flight to Hawaii, that's another wonderful tropical setting to visit. Lush gardens, magnificent waterfalls, and a spectacular Grand Canyon are all part of the magic there.

Recently, during a visit to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, I sat on a deck by a palm tree watching the waters in a lagoon. The perfect temperature and the scenic setting reminded me of the Caribbean. They also reminded me of the settings I enjoy most in my books.

I love tropical settings. What about you?

--Mary Montague Sikes

 Please visit Doug Danielson's The Nautical Muse at
http://www.doug-danielson.com/blog/novels-set-by-the-sea-in-exotic-places/ 
I'm a guest there. Check it out.