I’m thrilled to welcome Marcia King-Gamble to my blog today. As an author previously published by several New York publishers, she has now taken the leap to indie publishing.

Take it away, Marcia.

I’ve got the bug – travel bug that is! (By Marcia King-Gamble)

At age eight I left the tiny Southern Caribbean Island where I was born and headed for the United States. I was excited and nervous and never once left my plane seat. I was completely awed by the clouds whizzing by and thrilled to be on a plane (my first time ever,) heading for a new life. Never did I imagine that this trip would be an entrée into a world that was highly addictive.

14 years later, I was offered a position as a flight attendant for an international airline. I’d made the cut, even though speaking a second language was a stretch. Flying was, and still is, the best finishing school I ever attended. I learned about foods, wine, and resolving challenging situations. Even more important, I learned to think on my feet.

Wouldn’t you think with travel being my work, vacations would entail staying local and close to home? No, a whole new word had been opened up to me. Every penny of disposable income was squirreled away for the next international adventure. I was having an incredible heady love affair with people and cultures so different from me.

Oh the sights I saw, the experience I had and the people I met. I went to places like Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Singapore and Tokyo. I salmon fished in Alaska, visited a Gentleman’s Club in Hong Kong, danced with Queen Elizabeth’s secret service in India and met Nelson Mandela and his then wife, Winnie. I still carry these wonderful experiences in my heart.

When author and good friend, Michelle Monkou came up with the idea of writing Mardi Gras themed short stories, I jumped on it. These countries were places I’d been and partied. Carnival was a part of my island culture so writing about revelry was a natural for me.

Seducing Circe, my first contribution to the series is set in New Orleans. The Big Easy has something for everyone. It’s a city of mystery, tradition, culture and fun. Perfect for a story filled with suspense and adventure.

Mardi Gras can be traced way back to medieval Europe. In the 17th and 18th centuries the French introduced Boeuf Grasor Fatted Calf and the colonies got with the program. Society balls quickly became the norm in New Orleans. These segued into today’s Mardi Gras balls. Then a full one hundred years later, the first street maskers appeared, setting the stage for today’s raucous parades!

Seducing Circe captures the excitement and decadence of a New Orleans Mardi Gras. Imagine what can happen when a sexy, Cajun hero meets a savvy, slightly jaded New Yorker. Worlds collide and a steamy relationship ensues.

I encourage you to pick up the first in the series, set in exotic Trinidad. Carnival Temptress is penned by talented author, Michelle Monkou. Both novellas are available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Seducing Circe is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Thanks so much for visiting with me today, Marcia. I’ve never been to Mardi Gras, but New Orleans is one of my favorite cities.

You can learn more about Marcia and her books on her website or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.