Lake Dora and Mt. Dora were named for Dora Ann Drawdy, an early settler of the town.
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| The boathouse at Lake Dora. |
The elevation here is 184 feet above sea level, giving rise to the amusing tee shirts proclaiming, “I climbed Mt. Dora.” But mainly, this place is known for small town charm, a quality it has in abundance. The downtown is filled with tiny, one-of-a-kind shops, and dining places tucked away in nooks and alleys.
Linda and I ate dinner at the Goblin Market, which pays homage to the Christina Rossetti poem, and has a romantic/gothic ambiance.
In truth, the poem is a thinly veiled reference to the temptations of self-indulgence, and I showed a similar lack of restraint when it came to ordering fried green tomatoes, braised pork loin, and caramel crusted cheesecake.
Inspired by the new surroundings, we dragged out our notebooks and cameras. Ideas flew at us like bats rush out of a cave! We managed several character sketches and plots for a new series.
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| A selfie that I took while Linda was making notes. |
The next day, David Bishop shared a practical and well-thought-out assessment of how to sell more books as an indie author. He was generous with his knowledge, and we tried to share what we’d learned.
This weekend was a tonic. I feel rejuvenated, inspired, and excited. I can’t wait to get home and back to my writing!
Tell me, what rejuvenates you? Please share your ideas with me! I'll choose one lucky commenter and send him/her a copy of my newest book Love, Die, Neighbor.
