my next novel will be about a professional chocolate taster

In April, just days after finding out I was pregnant with twins, I got a letter notifying me I’d received a grant from the Center for Cultural Innovation to work on my circus novel and do some research in Ensenada. Despite putting a lot of effort into the application, I’d long ago deemed myself The Kind of Writer Who Just Doesn’t Get Grants, so this seemed to be too good to be true. Good news on top of good news. We all know how the first piece of good news ended, with a D&C and an anxiety disorder. But I’m happy to say that at least things are going well with the grant so far. Two words: research cruise.* The posts above are from my travel journal.

*Because I’m a hipster snob, this is the part where I assert that normally I’d never go on a cruise: They’re tacky and pre-planned and don’t let you think for yourself. But more than one friend had cautioned us about driving through Northern Mexico. One of those friends was a woman who was disappointed that, when she’d visited Egypt, she’d missed the revolution by a couple of weeks. So we decided to boat it. And, secretly, pre-planned/no-thinking was exactly what I was in the mood for.

Comments

Peter Varvel said…
Oooh, yay, and congrats!
I've gotta save the other two linky posts for later, but I look forward to reading more details - would love to know your hipster perspective on the whole cruise experience! :)
Tracy Lynn said…
DO NOT EAT THE FISH TACOS IN ENSENADA. They are often made with shark and have unacceptable levels of mercury. I know this because it's Shark Week and if there is such a thing as a shark geek, I am it. Also I love cruises. I do not like to think when I am on vacation.
Cheryl said…
P: By "hipster," you know I mean "person who tries to pretend that artistic poverty is cool and that normally she goes on backpacking vacations through Estonia," right? My take on the cruise experience is HELL YEAH.

TL: Good thing I was still full from my gargantuan breakfast on the Lido deck.
Cheryl said…
TL: Although barrels of syrup probably aren't any less harmful than a dash of mercury.
Tracy Lynn said…
Syrup is natural and therefor healthy. You're welcome.
Claire said…
Research cruise: brilliant! And if you need to write about someone like me tasting lots of chocolates, I'd be happy to show up for some research. ;)

Congratulations on the grant!
Cheryl said…
Maybe I can write about chocolate tasters who live in Hawaii and keep a herd of miniature goats. I feel like my research team will be big.

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