Inspirational Adventure - Gold Trap

I'd like to welcome one of the authors from the new Harbourlight inspirational line, Lilly Maytree and her mystery, Gold Trap.

Welcome, Lilly! I have just one question. Is this adventurer really just your alter ego?

LOL My Other Life…

I did not start writing because I had high aspirations of being an author. I wrote for the same reasons I read books. They were a great escape from the mundane, uncontrollable things in life. Having been born the oldest of two brothers and a sister that I often had to babysit while my parents were working, I started "escaping" at an early age.

I remember cooking my own version of spaghetti, when I was twelve (half a bottle of ketchup poured over ground beef and served on top of pasta), and still part in and part out of running through the jungles with Tarzan and Jane. Or, reading THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING under my covers with a flashlight until five in the morning on a school night because I just had to see what happened next to Arthur. Not to mention Nancy Drew, who wore beautiful clothes and got to drive her very own car. Solving crimes, no less, because she was incredibly brainy, too. Writing my own stories just naturally came out of all that fun, when I started dreaming up the kind of adventures I would have if my parents weren't so strict about what girls should, or shouldn't do at that age.

For many years, my made-up characters seemed almost as dear to me as my real-life friends. Maybe even more, sometimes, as they were so much more dependable. But it was a childish habit, I thought, and when I grew up and got married at the ripe old age of eighteen, I tried to "put away childish things." But old habits die hard. My husband wasn't any help, either. He bought me my first desk and my first typewriter (it was a long time ago), and said, "Write." He didn't even mind that I had more books than clothes. He was just happy that I would join him on whatever wild adventures he could think up, as long as I could bring a book and a notebook with me. Before long, I was actually living some of the adventures I had been writing about for so many years.

Now, I realize that my "other life" -- that secret life that I had always escaped to, has not only blended with the life I live today, but it has evolved miraculously into who I dreamed I wanted to be. Glory Be! How did that happen? The only thing I can come up with is that scripture that says, "Whatever you think in your heart, you become." (that's a Lilly paraphrase for Proverbs 23:7). Not only that, I have gotten myself the best of both worlds. I still get to spend many pleasant hours writing down the adventures of my other worlds, because there happen to be others who enjoy them, too.

Now, I have GOLD TRAP, a romp of an adventure -- the kind I like best to read -- and the very first book with my name on it. Something that makes me almost giddy with happiness and satisfaction. So, maybe I wasn't so deprived during my growing up years as I thought I was.

And maybe it was God's idea for me to turn out this way, after all.

Which sheds a whole new light on that scripture… what was it, again? Oh, yes… "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Yes… I like that. Very much.

Well, I can't really speak for others, but I really think there are many who are glad that God's plan included sharing your stories with us! And speaking of sharing...

Here's what's on the back cover:

I simply wanted to step out of my ordinary life and find the Divine Appointment God had planned for me. I’d read about Mary Kinglsey, and it occurred to me that if I truly wanted to share an historical biography with my students, hers was it. So (with much trepidation) I booked the cheapest tour I could find to visit the Dark Continent of Africa. Who knew I’d meet a psychic named Vidalia (after the onion?) — not that I should have been surprised (after all, Bremen Tours specialized in “Voodoo relics of the Dark Continent,” or so it was emblazoned on their carry-alls, one of which I owned). But life got really strange when I met a mad (or was he drunk?) professor, a dashing prince (or possibly, the villain), a village headman (the warrior king? Or the prince of thieves?) and a witchdoctor who was neither witch nor doctor, but rather the sinister embodiment of a charlatan who preyed on tourists...and let’s not forget the man who started the whole mess—an embezzler-turned-kidnapper…of me! And that’s not to mention floating down a river full of crocodiles, two boys who wanted to hold me for ransom, an earthquake, a cave-in, the leopard in my bed, and a pink hippopotamus. In the end, my Divine Appointment from God held mystery, excitement and a whole lot more. Enjoy my adventure, Dear Reader, because I did!

Very short excerpt:

There is a sidewalk cafe in Paris where they say you will meet someone you know, wherever you come from in the world. Not that Megan Jennings was the type to chase after such things. But it seemed fitting that on the eve of her great adventure, she should set out with a bit of fanfare. If such a thing did occur, she would take it as a confirmation that for the first time in her life, she was truly on the right track.

This is the perfect introduction for this story. Open your mind and join Ms. Jennings from this, her starting point as she heads out on her grand adventure (and yours too, if you'd like).

4 ½ star Review

From the beginning of the story Megan Jennings takes you on a grand adventure as she follows the historical path of Mary Kingsley to Africa and tries not to miss “a divine appointment”. Most of us have a list in our head of places we’d like to see, things we’d like to do in our lifetime – Megan has a written “List of Small Things to Accomplish” that she carries with her. Definitely the mind and spirit of an adventurer, but from the troubles she finds herself in, she is obviously not experienced with the ways of the world and the darkness that lurks there.

From the handsome man she meets in the café in Paris, to the Professor and Gilbert, Ms. Maytree takes us on a whirlwind tour where we meet lots of interesting characters and find ourselves in several questionable situations. What a grand adventure it really is! I hope you join her in this adventure!