Friday, December 29, 2017

All Alone Can Be Scary by Diane Burton


FEARLESS FRIDAY

I love Fearless Friday, and today Diane has a fun story that is sure to entertain!

The scariest thing I ever did was to go to Hawaii by myself. That isn’t how the trip started, though. My girlfriend and I were supposed to go together. Then she left earlier to visit friends. I’d met a terrific guy that summer and almost didn’t go. He convinced me that I’d regret it if I didn’t. So, I flew by myself…first time. Upon arrival in Honolulu, my girlfriend told me she was staying with her friends but had booked a hotel for me, just off Waikiki Beach. At $8/night. Can you believe that??? Her friends, who were so nice, offered to take me anywhere on Oahu and invited me to a real luau in their backyard. The food was phenomenal. Still, I was on my own. 

Since my friend had already been to the other islands, except the Big Island, she preferred to stay with her friends, so we would meet up there. I’d never toured anywhere by myself. But, what the heck? I was there, and I’d already booked flights to three islands. I took a bus tour of Kauai. I stayed three days on Maui (again in an $8/night hotel), rented a car, and toured on my own. I even drove the Hana Road by myself. Scary but worth it. My friend met me on Hawaii (the Big Island), again I rented a car, and we had a great time touring. 

I spent two weeks in Hawaii. When I was lonely, I called my boyfriend back home—$15 for the first and third calls, the middle one was $45 (way more than my hotel rooms!). That middle call was after the luau, and I’d woken him in the middle of the night! I knew he was a great guy when he didn’t complain. I had a great time but wished I’d had someone to share the trip with. When I got off the plane back home, he proposed. Told you he was a great guy. That was forty-five years ago. We’re still together. I loved Hawaii, but the only thing missing was being with my guy. I’ll make it back someday. With him, of course. 

Diane Burton’s life has had its ups and downs, but always with her guy. They have two adult children and five grandchildren. They all live in a resort town on the west coast of Michigan, near the Lake Michigan beaches. That resort town served as the model for the locale of her Alex O’Hara mystery series and the Far Haven Tales. Diane also writes science fiction romances. Her heroines are daring and braver than Diane will ever be. Except for that trip to Hawaii. 

Diane’s eleventh and most recent book, Romance Rekindled, is a Christmas double romance, using characters from the Alex O’Hara mysteries.  

Blurb: 

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings? 

Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did. 

Amazon  ~  Amazon UK  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords  

Until January 1st all Diane’s books are either free or half off at Smashwords.




15 comments:

  1. Thanks for hosting me, Brenda. It was fun remembering that trip.

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    1. And fun reading about it. Thanks for being here, Diane. Come back anytime!

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  2. I love this story, especially the happy ending!

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  3. I enjoyed your post. I went to the NYC RWA alone a few years ago to meet, and stay with, my critique partner and one other stranger. I was terrified, (did I mention how much I hate traveling?) but it was exhilarating to do it.

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    1. I've done a couple of minor trips alone. I'd really like to do a major one, Maureen.

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    2. I went to NYC RWA on my own, too. Same with Dallas. But I met such great people who took me under their wings.

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  4. What an interesting story! Hawaii is on my list to visit. Good luck an God's blessings Pamt

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  5. How cool, Diane. I had a feeling that boyfriend would turn out to be more. What a guy.... :-) I've done lots of day trips by myself. I grew up in the NYC area and would sometimes take a bus into the city to visit the museums. But I've never gone on an extended trip alone. Good for you! Sounds like it was fabulous.

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    1. It was great, but would've been better with company.

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  6. Wow! Hawaii by yourself. That's amazing. You're fearless. Good luck to you!

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  7. Kara, it wasn't that I was fearless. I had no choice, since my girlfriend bailed on me. But I made the most of the opportunity. And had fun.

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  8. OMG...love this story!!! He IS a great guy. I was hoping he was the 'boyfriend' you mentioned. :) I like traveling alone, at least driving alone, but once I'm there, it's nice to be with someone. Wow, I wish hotels were still that cheap! Your book sounds great, I MUST read it asap!!

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    1. He's still a great guy. Driving alone is okay. Like you, I like having someone to do things with.

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