Passport to Plotlines Behind-the-Scenes Travel Peru is a land where history breathes through stone walls and mountain fog. Before medical school, I traveled there on a medical mission—treating patients in villages outside Cusco, working in a humid lowland jungle community, and eventually making the breathtaking pilgrimage through the mountains to Machu Picchu. Later came the shimmering blue waters of Lake Titicaca, where legends cling as tightly as the thin mountain air. It was impossible to stand among such ancient wonder and not feel the whisper of stories waiting to be told. Those whispers became Sharp File, where bodyguard Santino and determined archaeologist Ava Sharp race to uncover lost Inca ruins—while running from enemies who would kill for treasure, vengeance, and secrets buried beneath centuries of stone. Cusco — A City Holding the Past in Its Bones Cusco feels like stepping into living history. Cobblestone streets trace the paths of ancient foundations, Spanish colonial architecture rests atop Inca stonework, and markets burst with color and culture. While treating patients in the highlands, the air was thin, crisp, and full of possibility—as though every mountain peak kept watch over forgotten truths. In the novel, Ava passes part of her expedition here, pouring over ancient maps and local legends. But beneath the tourist energy and the hum of modern life lies tension: eyes watching, rivals shadowing her steps, and Santino poised to intervene when danger closes in on them. Into the Jungle — Where Secrets Thrive From the mountains, I ventured into the lowland jungle, where humidity clings to your skin and every rustle hints at unseen life. Green stretches endlessly, vines twisting like the stories villagers shared—tales of spirits guarding sacred land. The sense of mystery is thick enough to feel. Ava and Santino push deep into similar jungle terrain, hunting ruins that have been lost to time and tangled roots. But ancient puzzles aren’t the only danger. There are those who would trade academic rivalry for bullets, and mercenaries who care more about relics' black-market value than history’s dignity. Danger slithers as silently as a viper through underbrush. Machu Picchu — Majesty Above the Clouds Reaching Machu Picchu was unforgettable. The steep climb, the swirling mist lifting like a curtain, and suddenly—there it was. Carved stone terraces, dramatic peaks rising around like jagged guardians, and a stillness that felt holy. It's a place that convinces you there must be more mysteries hidden in the mountains. Ava feels that same electric awe, though her path is more perilous. Where tourists marvel, she hunts for clues etched into ancient stone. Where I found serenity, she finds danger—shadowy figures trailing her and Santino staying just one heartbeat ahead of disaster. The mountain doesn’t just hold history—it tests who deserves it. Ava seeks truth and legacy; Santino seeks to protect her—even from ghosts of their pasts that won’t stay buried. As they climb, dig, run, and fight for survival, romance sparks in stolen glances and whispered confessions—just as deadly threats close in. Some ruins should be found. Some secrets should stay hidden. And some hearts refuse to be lost—even in the wildest, most dangerous corners of the world. Pack your gear. The Andes are calling. 🏔️❤️🔎 
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Passport to Plotlines: Behind the Scenes In Gray Horizon, Dr. Lillian Whyte lands in Reykjavik—a city where dramatic Nordic sky meets colorful charm and whispers of Viking legends swirl on the sea breeze. When I wrote the scene where Lillian wanders the streets, I imagined the crisp air, the hush of the harbor, and the quirky energy of Iceland’s capital. Then, lucky me—I got to walk those same streets in person in August 2025. And let me tell you… Reykjavik did not disappoint. Hallgrímskirkja: The Watchful Giant First stop: the cathedral. Hallgrímskirkja—yes, it’s a mouthful—rises like a basalt mountain, all sweeping columns and austere beauty. It’s impossible to miss; the tower stands sentinel over the entire city like a guardian carved out of glacier stone. In my book, Lillian pauses beneath its soaring presence, feeling that curious blend of awe and insignificance that only grand architecture can inspire. I did exactly the same. Walking up to it, I felt small in the best way—like the universe was reminding me how big the world truly is. Inside, the organ pipes stretch toward the rafters like they might break into song any moment. Outside, the view from the top delivers a panorama of tin-roofed houses in cheerful reds, blues, and golds, hugging the shoreline like they’ve braced against centuries of Atlantic wind. Talk about mood-setting perfection for the start to a suspense thriller with global stakes. A Cozy Pause at Loki Café After soaking in all that grandeur, even fictional heroes need a lunch break. Enter Café Loki—a charming spot directly across from the cathedral (image below) and named after Iceland’s favorite mischievous deity. (Yes, that Loki.) In the book, Lillian stops here to observe the locals and gather her thoughts. The café is warm and unpretentious, with the kind of mismatched charm that makes you want to curl up with a notebook (or secret intelligence file, depending on your life choices). It has a view of the cathedral, making it a perfect perch to people-watch and imagine what secrets travelers might be hiding beneath their knit scarves and wind-tousled hair. Where Fiction Meets Footprint Exploring Reykjavik in person gave me an even deeper connection to the scenes in Gray Horizon. The city is small but spirited, quiet yet electrifying, grounded in ancient sagas yet pulsing with modern art and culture. Exactly the kind of place where an unsuspecting doctor might stumble into international intrigue. 😉 If you want to wander Reykjavik’s streets through Lillian’s eyes—and maybe discover what danger follows her there—you can dive into Gray Horizon [link] and join the adventure. Until the next stamp in our story passport-- Skál! 🥂 Iceland, thanks for the inspiration.
ADVENTURES IN KENYAPassport to Plotlines - Behind-the-Scenes Travel Before I published my first thrillers, I was a young pre-med student stepping onto Kenyan soil for the first time—wide-eyed, idealistic, and ready to help on a medical mission. That journey didn’t just shape me as a physician; it gave me the geographical authenticity I needed for Black Gold. In real life, I spent my days treating patients in urban Kibera and isolated rural. In fiction, Dr. Lillian Whyte does the same at a camp near the coast—until her world turns upside down, danger shadows her steps, and her humanitarian mission becomes a battleground for greed and power. Lucky for me, I simply came home and finished my book. Lillian? She… got kidnapped. (Sometimes being the author has perks.) Nairobi: Grit, Grace & Humanity Nairobi is a city of contrasts—glass towers and bustling markets rising alongside sprawling informal settlements. Walking into Kibera, the slums outside the city, is something I’ll never forget. Corrugated tin roofs rusting in the heat. Narrow dirt paths winding like veins through crowded neighborhoods. Children laughing and chasing makeshift soccer balls, despite hardship pressing at every corner, while a choir chorus can be heard from a nearby church. What struck me most wasn’t the poverty—it was the strength. The resilience. The sense of community and hope nestled in a place the world often overlooks. In Black Gold, Lillian sees that same mix of beauty and struggle. She steps into the heart of the country to help, but instead finds herself entangled in a deadly plot surrounding stolen oil and desperate criminals who see her mission not as mercy—but as opportunity. Where I carried stethoscopes and antibiotics, she carries determination and a dangerous secret someone is willing to kill for. Rural Kenya After Nairobi, our mission brought us to Lenana and Methega where the locals worked the land with limited to no access to healthcare. This beauty, this vulnerability, this reminder of how precious life is—those emotions wove themselves into the pages of Black Gold. For Lillian, Mombasa is not a peaceful coastline, but the backdrop to betrayal. Her medical camp is attacked. Lives are threatened. And instead of ending the trip sipping coconut water on a beach, she finds herself at gunpoint, learning that hope can be stolen just as quickly as relief can be given. The Safari I Took, and the One She Missed 🐘🦁🦓 When the mission ended, I traded my scrubs for binoculars and headed into the savannah. We spotted the Big Five—elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, and buffalo—moving across golden grasslands like scenes from a nature documentary come to life. Sunset painted the horizon in molten gold, and the earth felt ancient, untamed, and breathtaking. Meanwhile, in Black Gold, Lillian never makes it to the safari jeep… She’s busy escaping captors and uncovering a dark network of oil thieves threatening not just her mission, but lives around her. Fortunately, CIA agent Sean—a man as steady under pressure as he is secretly smitten—heads into Nairobi determined to track her down, expose the criminals, and save the woman who never wanted to be anyone’s damsel. Their love story ignites in the middle of danger and dust, because if you’re going to fall for someone, why not do it while taking down an international oil smuggling ring? 🖤🔥 Real Places, Real Emotion, Fictional Danger Kenya gave me more than memories—it gave me a story rooted in compassion, courage, and the clash between human need and human greed. It showed me beauty and hardship living side by side, and it showed me that even in the darkest corners, hope rises. I wanted Black Gold to honor that—through danger and devotion, heartbreak and heroism, and a journey that transforms both the character and the reader.
 Passport to Plotlines Behind-the-Scenes Travel Iceland has a way of making you feel small in the best possible way. Wide-open skies, jagged volcanic hills, and glaciers that seem to stretch forever—this is the land where The Shadow Guardians have their epic showdown. I was lucky enough to visit in August 2025, and standing there, I could almost feel the magic of Norse legend humming in the wind. A Battlefield of Fire and Ice In the series finale, six warriors—each wielding Norse powers—face the reincarnation of Hel and her genetically-brewed army of the undead. The volcanic hills provide a stark, molten backdrop for sparks to fly and battles to ignite, while icy peaks glimmer under a moody Icelandic sky, creating a chilling contrast to the fiery chaos. The terrain itself becomes a character: jagged rocks for tactical advantage, snow-dusted ridges for stealth, and geysers of steam that obscure both heroes and enemies at the perfect dramatic moment. The combination of fire and ice mirrors the stakes of the battle: life and death, past and present, love and vengeance. It’s urban fantasy romance with teeth—where every footstep could be your last, and every magic-infused strike counts. Trolls: Iceland’s Friendly Folklore Cameos While trolls didn’t make it into the book, anyone who’s visited Iceland knows how alive the folklore is here. Legends of hulking creatures hiding behind rocks and emerging at twilight feel almost tangible amidst the volcanic cliffs and shadowy ridges. In the spirit of trolls, I asked ChatGPT to give me a fictional troll name and backstory... Ljósvaka Lyfseiðr Pronunciation: LYOHS-vah-ka LEEF-say-thr Meaning: “Light-Breather, Spell of Healing” Origin story: A troll born from moonlight and glacier breath, Ljósvaka travels between worlds — writing in the air with her glowing staff. Each tale she writes restores the light of weary souls. It’s said she can summon auroras by whispering old poems to the wind. Godafoss: Waterfall of the Gods I also had the chance to stand in awe of Godafoss (image below), the “Waterfall of the Gods.” Even though it doesn’t appear in the book, being there gave me a visceral sense of Norse power—the relentless roar of water, icy mist on your face, and the way sunlight refracts into a faint rainbow. It’s exactly the kind of place that could inspire a dramatic magical showdown, and it helped me picture the energy Icelandic landscapes bring to a battle against otherworldly forces. Where Real Iceland Meets Fictional Magic Writing The Shadow Guardians, I leaned into the extremes of Iceland: volcanoes for fire, glaciers for cold, and hidden valleys for secrecy. It’s the perfect stage for six warriors with powers rooted in myth to clash with an undead army and shapeshifting wolves. Walking those landscapes in real life gave me a deeper sense of scale and danger—and a vivid picture of how love, courage, and magic can shine even in the darkest, most dramatic corners of the world. If you want to journey through volcanic hills, icy peaks, and face mythic powers alongside the Guardians, the adventure is just a page away…
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CB SametWriter. Dreamer. World-weaver. Archives
January 2026
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