Welcome to Rose Island

Thanks to WOW Women on Writing Blog Tours and author Liz Wanic for a copy of Under Cover of Chaos. You can check out my book review HERE. But today I'm answering the tour's writing prompt: Where would you live that’s off the beaten path?

Welcome to Rose Island

As anyone who knows me can tell you, off the beaten path would be the perfect way to describe where I already live. Not just my house but the whole area is...well, off the beaten path. It's not a place many people make an effort to visit unless they have family or friends in the area.

But, despite being off the beaten path, my life is still full of the many distractions of life: jobs, family, friends, chores, a favorite streaming series, appointments, volunteering, hobbies. All vying for my attention along with my writing projects. What I really need is a writing retreat that is (even more) off the beaten path. And I've found the perfect one. The Rose Island lighthouse that you get to by boat, has no WI-FI and day visitors that all head back to the mainland at night. So I might have to take my husband to keep from being too creeped out at night, take the occasional hike with me and share my meals (nothing fancy - sandwiches, yogurt and a few cookies are fine).

He's a birdwatcher so I imagine he'll find plenty to amuse him during my writing sessions. Apparently he can look forward to black crowned night heron, glossy ibis, great egrets, the herring gull, the great black backed gull, American oystercatcher and others.

But let's forget about birds. Imagine a writing retreat with no modern day distractions. Just me and an endless supply of notepads and pens (remember, no WI-FI). And a husband periodically showing up to show me pictures of birds he spotted. I couldn't live there forever but a week-long writing retreat sounds just about right to me.

Want to dream about your own writing retreat off the beaten path? Check out all the lighthouses for rent at United States Lighthouse Society.

More about Under Cover of Chaos

“… a fast-paced thriller that plunges the reader into the morally complex world of a UN humanitarian mission in Bangui...a must-read for fans of thrillers with high-stakes political undertones.”

–Kim McCollum, author of What Happens in Montana and Harriet Hates Lemonade

A serial killer hides behind an untouchable global institution. A broken system fails the victims. One woman vows to uncover the truth.

When young women are found dead in the capital of the Central African Republic, United Nations official Stella Fairmont is reminded of the unsolved disappearance of a friend. As she investigates, she uncovers what may be a chilling pattern: similar deaths in another UN location.

The deeper she digs, the more twisted the view becomes and Stella finds herself up

against a system built on compromise, in which accountability is often an illusion. When

the truth gets blurred and personal histories can be hidden, the only way to survive is to

trust her instincts. But as friendships run thin and time runs out, she must navigate a

minefield of lies, moral complexity, and buried secrets — all while trying to stay ahead of

someone who would kill to keep the truth hidden.

More about Liz Wanic

Liz Wanic worked for the United Nations for almost a decade in New York and in multiple field missions, including Syria, Mali and the Central African Republic before moving into cybersecurity. Her experiences have given her a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of the inner workings of power in complex situations.

Meet the Author

Website: www.lizwanicauthor.com and www.sistersliterature.com

Instagram: @lizwanicauthor

More about Rebekah Wanic

Rebekah Wanic, Liz's twin sister, is a social psychologist, university professor and mindset coach. She focuses on the intricacies of the human condition and the complications of balancing competing demands.

Ready to Read

Amazon  l Barnes & Noble  l Bookshop