While in Huanchaco I spent some time trying to get a few words onto paper. I managed to force my way 
through to the end of chapter 3. Ronin still has more of his story to tell but I’m going to stretch it out over several chapters and involve a couple other characters. I got a good start on Chapter 4. It takes place back in Lima. Eugenia is in the hospital visiting Fredo after his surgery. This chapter will pull in one of my sub plots for this book. This book isn’t coming into focus as quickly as book one did. That may have something to do with the fact that I’m writing this 
one alone or maybe not. I’m hoping that the further I get into the book, the quicker the words will come. For the rest of this week, I’m going to go 
through the suggestions my friend Deb sent me. My little laptop is just too small for that work so I didn’t accomplish anything while on vacation. During that time I need to write a query letter, a synopsis of the book and format the first 50 pages to send to the agents I have selected in trying to get it published. I hope to have all that accomplished by next Sunday. I can tell already I’m not going to enjoy the business end of writing. But, if I want to be successful at it, I don’t have a choice but to do it and do it well.
I enjoyed my time in Huanchaco immensely. I went with the idea of getting a lot of writing 
done but ended up spending most of my time relaxing, taking naps and thinking about where I was going to eat my next meal. The beach front was beautiful and the town is very quiet and relaxed. There are lots of people enjoying surfing there. They come from all over the world and Peru to ride the nearly perfect waves this beach has to offer. Everyone was friendly, with smiles, nods and verbal greetings as I walked around town. Vendors sold souvenirs, snacks, cold drinks and snow cones. You could watch jugglers, a tight rope walker or have 
your photo taken with a monkey or paso horse in full regalia. Most visitors chose to lie on the beach and worship the sun, rotating slowly to develop that perfect tan. You could rent a caballito del totora (a kayak like boat made of reeds) and paddle yourself around the bay. A large church sits 
atop the hill to the back of the town overlooking the bay. Named the Iglesia Virgen del Socorro and it is the second oldest church in Peru, built between 1535 and 1540. It’s worth the long climb up the stairs for a close up look and a visit to the cemetery that lies on the North side of the church. Landscaped terraces lead up to the church offering a beautiful photo opportunity. This town is just north of Trujillo where the archaeological sites of Chan Chan, the Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna lay just on the outskirts. If you come to Peru this is another must see place. I wrote a travel article for LiP which should be published soon.
We made it back in to Lima at 9pm New Year’s Eve. I was exhausted from a lack of sleep the 
night before so I went to bed almost immediately. At midnight the fireworks started and went till at least 2am. It sounded like they were igniting large sticks of dynamite right outside my bedroom window. So another sleep deprived night meant I spent New Year’s Day exhausted. Top that off with every store in Lima (grocery stores) being closed and I was forced to eat at restaurants again. I did get my good night’s sleep last night though and am now caught up on food shopping and laundry, time to get back to the books in a serious way. I hope all of you have a magnificent New Year full of happiness, love, peace and prosperity. Pax Vobiscum!