Читать книгу Into the Wild - Beth Ciotta - Страница 2

Dear Reader,

Every time I see a film like Romancing the Stone or any one of the Indiana Jones or mummy movies, I always imagine myself in the shoes of the heroine (and the arms of the hero). How exciting! How romantic! Except…I’m not sure I’d have the guts, wits, strength and stamina to face and conquer all the physical and mental perils. Still, that doesn’t keep me from imagining and pretending.

When I wrote Out of Eden and introduced the heroine’s brother, a hunky celebrity treasure hunter, I knew my romantic-treasure-quest adventure was just a book away. Into the Wild afforded me the chance to live and love dangerously. I based Spenser and River’s quest on an actual legend—the lost treasure of Llanganatis. Though I couldn’t actually travel to Ecuador, I did research heavily and fell in love with the country. What started off as a jungle adventure in the Amazon stretched on into the Andes Mountains. Although I tried to stay true to the region and the legend, remember this is a work of fiction and I have quite the imagination.

As an aside, this past year I traveled to Wyoming with one of my sisters and had my own mini adventure in the wild. I drew from many of the challenges I experienced (altitude sickness, unpredictable weather, strenuous climbs into mountains) when I wrote this story. And most of all, the determination to push beyond your physical limitations as well as conquering (or at least taming) your fears.

As for the romantic aspect of this tale, all I can say is… Be still, my heart. Brace yourself, folks. You’re in for a wild ride!

Cheers,

Beth