Karen Harper | What I Did On My Summer Vacation--(and How It Inspired My Novel)

Several years ago my husband and I took a two week trip to Alaska, one week by bus and train, one by cruise ship. I was surprised how much I loved "America’s Last Frontier," and realized it would be a great place to set a romantic suspense novel. Not only was the scenery awesome, but it could easily become dangerous, especially if-hm, let’s say a south Florida heroine visiting there is somehow swept down a wild river. And then, what if Mitch Braxton, her former fiancé, who owns a lodge nearby, risks his life to rescue her in a kayak, but then they are stranded in the wilderness... Ah, yes, the eternal "what if" of a fiction writer.

During our trip, I met and interviewed many unique Alaskans, some of whom thought nothing of holding down two or three part time jobs for the privilege of living in their beloved state. Besides meeting the human denizens, we were astounded to see so much of nature up close and personal: moose walking down the street; bears grabbing migrating salmon out of a wild river.

The salmon themselves, fighting against overwhelming odds to return to their breeding grounds inspired part of the plot and theme of DOWN RIVER. Despite tremendous odds, Lisa Vaughn, attorney and sun-and-sand lover from Ft. Lauderdale, must overcome great odds to save herself and to learn she can handle the Alaskan wilderness and the wilderness of her own heart. And, oh, yes, did I mention there is a human killer on the loose?

Needless to say, I returned to flat-land, calm and cozy Columbus, Ohio with a lot of ideas. As the book grew in my mind, I soon came to see Alaska as another character, in addition to Mitch Braxton and the woman he could not forget, Lisa Vaughn, in addition to Christina Tanaka, the Inuit housekeeper at Mitch’s lodge, who has her own tragic secret and her own romance. Alaska becomes a character which is dangerous and threatening to Lisa in the beginning-almost a villain-but a challenge she overcomes with courage and comes to love with great respect.

That’s the way I feel about Alaska too. Though I live both in Ohio and Southwest Florida, I must admit, I’m still as much in love with wild Alaska as my hero and heroine come to love that rugged, regal place-and each other.