Research! Love it or hate it, the chore must be accomplished. Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen, the second book in the Zoraida Grey series, presents a few unique problems. Zoraida, through a series of events involving crystals, comely and well-proportioned Scottish witches, cats, whisky, and of course magic, finds herself in the Caribbean in need of transport. Here’s what I learned from research this week.
Top 5 Reasons You and I NEED a yacht
- To show off! You know that old high school friend—the one who always got A’s and dated the quarterback and was maybe a little condescending to the little people? Wouldn’t it be trippy to call her up and invite her to a little get together on your yacht?
OHSF (in an awed tone with finally shows the right amount of respect) “Back in high school, I never thought you’d own something like this.”
You—“Oh, this old thing? I got it for a song—just $140, 000 for the week. We may keep it for the entire summer at that price.”
- To grow accustomed to the lifestyle of the rich and . . .well, rich is enough.
https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-23011/my-little-violet-photos.htm#yacht-tabs
- To get away from it all.
Some people don’t care for solitude, but the idea of a few weeks far from the madding crowd appeals to me.
- To see things nobody else gets to see.
You’ll have access to unique views and locations like these:
http://wallpapercave.com/wp/sBmF79d.jpg
- To get across the ocean in record time and in fabulous style.
This little number is called The World is Not Enough and she is one of the fastest yachts in the world. Nearly 70 knots is fast even for small boats and The World is Not Enough does it in luxurious style. She belongs to the King of Spain, of course. And she’s one of the models I used for an important sea-going vessel in Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen.
Excerpt from Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen—which should be available by the end of summer 2017 if not sooner.
The Black Magic Woman floats at the very end of the long dock. The closer we get to the yacht, the more luxurious she looks. Three decks stack neatly into the sleek v-shaped vessel. Darkly-tinted, contoured windows peer from the streamlined white hull. At least 140 feet long, the craft may be dwarfed in size by the larger yachts, but an air of subtle sovereignty sets her apart. Aerodynamic and opulent, she is the undisputed queen.
On the upper deck, an imposing black man wearing an open-necked white shirt and spotless white linen trousers lounges beside the polished deck rails. He gazes across the Bayou puffing industriously on a cigar the size of Rhode Island. His neatly trimmed hair and clean-shaven face bear little resemblance to the description Azili provided of a burly, rough-talking shrimp man, and I wonder how long it’s been since she’s seen him. He looks like the captain of luxurious pleasure yacht in the Gulf of Mexico should look: dapper, competent, and successful.
“Captain Pettitpas?” Shea hails him from the dock.
The captain draws his gaze from the wide expanse of water, focusing his wide-set eyes on the three of us. He removes the cigar and smiles genially revealing even white teeth. “A beautiful day, is it not? I am indeed Cade Pettitpas, but I’m afraid I’m not taking charters right now if that is what you seek.”
He regards us doubtfully. Shea wears a t-shirt and pair of flowered Bermuda shorts, thanks to Constable MacCaig’s fashion advice. Al and I look like the Arkansas backwoods people we are in not-so-new cut-off shorts and t-shirts that have seen better days—not the sort of people who charter such a boat as the one beneath Captain Pettitpas’ feet.
I shade my eyes against the bright white glare of the trim ship. “Azili sent us.”
His smile, dazzling a moment before, wanes as though a cloud passes across his face. The tip of his tongue wets his lips, and he considers me with serious brown eyes. “Is she all right?”
“Yes. But she told us you might be willing to help us find someone.”
A mixture of emotions play across Captain Pettitpas’ features: sadness, resignation, a tinge of hope. He motions with the cigar toward the wide platform and stairs leading from the dock to the deck. “Come onboard. We talk in my office. Azili would not want her business discussed in public. Sound carries along the waterfront.”
Exciting times ahead for Sorchia’s Universe. We’ll host our very first guest post next week with more already lined up. With Zoraida Grey #2 close to the finish line, expect giveaways and loud parties in the offing.
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