I’m of the generation for whom California was irresistible. Interspersed with the Beatles music I adored, I did sing along to “Surfin’ USA” and other Beach Boy hits. I wanted to be “going to San Francisco” with the rest of the hippies.

When I finally got the chance to go in the 1990s, I jumped at the chance. I moved to Santa Cruz, a town with its psyche still firmly implanted in the sixties. I loved the weather, the vibe, and the ocean. I was less enamored with the commute over Highway 17, the real estate prices, or El Nino.

A friend once said people in California drink wine like water, and there is some truth to that. My husband and I got to experience quite a bit of it when we wrote two books on the regions wineries.

California was part of my life for over 14 years before the real estate prices and the recession finally caught up to me. I had already begun the California Coast Romance series when I left. In fact the first full-length novel in the series reflects many events in my life, including being laid off from a major technical firm.

Enjoy the pictures, and if you want to dip your toes into the water, claim your free copy of California Sunshine and join my mailing list for more photos, stories from my RV life, and alerts of new releases and promotions. Simply click here for your free book.