Today’s stop on the Bumpy Landings blog tour is by Sheila over at Why Not? Because I Said So.

Can I just say, Wow! What a day. Yesterday was really, really great. I started out with breakfast at Hukilau Cafe, a great little restaurant on the north side of town, near the famous Hukilau Beach.

Readers of Bumpy Landings will recognize this as the site of an important scene in the book. And yes, I had the banana pancakes. Fans of the movie 50 First Dates will probably not recognize this shot, but the interior was used to film the diner scenes.

After breakfast, I went to BYU-Hawaii to drop off posters at the bookstore for my signing with Whitney finalist Susan Corpany. How can you not just love this place?

Later in the morning, Susan and I presented to the creative writing class. It was my first ever presentation as an author, and I think it went okay. Nobody snored or threw rotten fruit, and people laughed at the appropriate places.

Later in the afternoon and evening, I had two research stops for Into the Wind. The first was the La’ie McDonald’s for some dinner. The second stop was the Polynesian Cultural Center, where I was privileged to spend the evening backstage in the Pacific Theater, watching the preparations and production of the night show, Ha: Breath of Life.

My friends, this is an amazing group of people working very hard, and I am very honored to have been allowed access. I didn’t take any pictures, but I took notes. Lots and lots of notes, and I am so very excited to finally write the three scenes that I have identified as taking place backstage.

I’ve been told that the authentic feel of the setting is one of the strong points in Bumpy Landings. Thanks to the fine, generous folks at the PCC, I will be able to continue that authenticity with Into the Wind.

Write what you know. Research what you don’t. And then when you know it, write.

17-Jan Braden Bell
18-Jan LDSWomen’s Book Review
19-Jan Michael Knudsen
20-Jan Krista Jensen
21-Jan Fire and Ice
24-Jan Tamara Heiner
25-Jan Keith Fisher
26-Jan Queen of the Clan
27-Jan Stephanie Humphreys
28-Jan So Many Books, So Little Time
1-Feb Cranberryfries
3-Feb Write Stuff
4-Feb Gamila’s Review
7-Feb Rambles and Ruminations
8-Feb Pink Ink
10-Feb Queen of Chaos
11-Feb I am a Pistachio
16-Feb Temporary? Insanity
17-Feb Why Not? Because I Said So!
18-Feb Elizabeth Mueller
21-Feb Cranberry Corner
22-Feb Tristi Pinkston
23-Feb A Wise Man Once Said…
24-Feb M. E. Cunningham
25-Feb One Cluttered Brain