​I’m so excited to have a new book coming out. So it's the perfect time to share the inspiration behind the scenes in my new Maximum Exposure series. This series has three stand-alone, heart-thumping, romantic suspense novels all set in a wonderful remote location that I’ve visited.
 
The first book - Out of Reach, is set in Mexico’s Yucatán jungle. I've been to Mexico five times and in 2015, I went to Chichén Itzá, which is a UNESCO World Heritage listed, 1400-year-old complex of Mayan ruins in the middle of the Mexican jungle. Chichén Itzá was one of the largest mythical Mayan cities and I found it hard to believe something so magnificent was abandoned and left to be swamped by the relentless creep of the voracious vegetation. But it was.

My visit to the temple, was just one of approximately 1.4 million people who visit the ancient site each year. And whilst the bucket-list experience was truly incredible, it had me pondering how wonderful it would be to be the first to discover an ancient temple. Can you imagine that? Well, that was the initial thought that inspired Out of Reach.

The step pyramid contains 365 steps, one for each day of the year. The ancient Mayan's were very talented stone masons and one incredible feature on this temple is the illusion of a snake body that only shows up when the late afternoon sun strikes at the Spring and Fall equinoxes. How they did that is beyond me.
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​Oh, and how’s this for amazing, at the top of one of the ancient buildings was three windows. Each one has been positioned perfectly for viewing other planets like Venus.

Check out these rows of intricately carved columns depicting warriors and astronomical signs. They once supported a roof that led to a broad stairway at the The Temple of Warriors where human hearts were once offered to the Gods. I love this stuff, don't you? 

​The demise of this ancient city is yet to be truly established, although one theory had me fascinated. The Yucatán Peninsula is pockmarked with natural sinkholes called cenotes and the Sacred Cenotes at Chichén Itzá is an impressive 70 feet deep and 200 feet wide well. It was the major water source for the city inhabitants. But, during a time of severe drought, the King ordered human sacrifices to convince the Gods to bring the rain. Archaeologists found the skeletal remains of dozens of children and six-foot warriors at the bottom of the Cenotes. Trouble was, by tossing the sacrificial humans into the well, the silly buggers were also poisoning their only water source. Woops.

​So there you go. I hope this travel blog has inspired you to visit this incredible New Seven Wonder of the World. Hopefully you’re also interested in reading my new book.

Please also check out more of my travel blogs and stories that inspired my books. Next time, I’ll take you deeper into the Mexican jungle where only ATV’s and crazy people like me go.

Oh and hey, I love hearing from you, so drop in a comment below and I'll get right back to you. Cheers and happy reading.

I call myself a method writer, as in I like to draw from experience when I create my scenes. In writing Lost in Kakadu I had a huge amount of research to do and short of experiencing a plane crash I like to think I totally stepped out of my comfort zone with most of my research.  

But not all of it was bad. Yes I did sit in the pouring rain, eat witchetty grubs that I dug from my garden and create as many meals as I could with just four ingredients, one of which being baked beans. 
One of the fun things I did was create a sling shot with my bra! 
Fortunately our figure-shaping-torture-devise has most of the minimum requirements to make this deadly contraption. Yes ladies, your sexy lingerie may save you one day, literally. With stretchy elastic straps and a flexible cup, the only other necessity is a forked branch.

So as this device is integral to several scenes in my Lost in Kakadu I promptly set about converting one of my boulder holders into a crude hunting device. Fortunately for me, I had scissors, string, a stapler, sticky tape and many other construction helpers at my disposal. Despite all my additional equipment my first attempt was rather pathetic.

The realization that I was cheating had me rethink my objective. After all, I was trying to experience a scene for my book. My characters merely had a pocket knife, an axe, some wire and a selection of Abigail’s rather expensive lingerie.

So next time you’re lost in the wilderness, don’t despair ladies. A weapon or hunting device is just a quick flick of the fingers away. However I do suggest that from now on, you invest as
much money as you can on quality underwear, you never know when it’s going to come in handy.

Want to know more about the crazy research I did?  CLICK HERE

 I also imagined reasons why she was so horrible. I gave her tragic moments in her life that shaped her and to some degree justified her despicable behavior. Of course I don’t think she had any excuses, she was just a nasty piece of work.

But now, as I reflect on those last six months of working hell, I realize that I’m lucky. Because without that experience I would never have created Abigail Mulholland, the heroine in my book:  Lost in Kakadu. Abigail is a rich pretentious bitch who survives a small plane crash in Australia’s rugged wilderness. Learning to live in such a brutal environment takes Abigail to shattering point.

But as the weeks thread into months her Botox fades, her makeup runs out and the physical labor shapes her body into a lean sensual figure that she's proud of. As she gathers the pieces of her sanity she discovers a new woman within her who's not afraid to wield an axe or eat snails in order to survive. The pompous façade disappears and a strong, passionate and resourceful woman emerges with a wicked sense of humor and a fierce determination to live.
         
I love this character, she has incredible depth and I hope my readers enjoy and feel her personal growth too. And unlike the real woman who inspired my character, I love who Abigail becomes. Authors get the best revenge... don't you think?

So… have you ever hated your boss? 
Now that you know what inspired my character, I would love to know your thoughts on Abigail Mulholland in Lost in Kakadu.

Lost in Kakadu -
"A thrilling, captivating, deep, adventurous and memorable read"

Or is a Hunky Hero more your thing?  Check out my other leading character.  Mackenzie is no crocodile Dundee, but he is handsome, sexy and can cook a mean snake kebab. 
Check out Mackenzie Steel HERE.