For the next week my publisher is having a Valentine’s Day giveaway.  At first I didn’t think I should participate.  My characters are generally in such desperate plights that romance is the last thing on their mind.  However,  they are all young women and thus it is impossible to avoid clumsy flirtations, heart palpitations, despondency and yes, sex.  Particularly for my youngest, Riley O’Tannen of the Graduation Present, a self-proclaimed klutz who misinterprets a young man’s interest until it’s almost too late.

Riley’s exploits are very loosely based on my own goof-ball  adventures in Europe 40 years ago. In 2014 I came clean in a series of posts listed here:

• Europe on Five Dollars a Day
• Oeufs in a Van
• Nice is not Nice
• A Roll in the Hay, the French Riviera
• Never joke with a Border Guard, no matter how cute he is! (one of my most popular posts)
• The Samwitch Shop
• The Last Ferry to Dover
• Pier Andrea Makes his Move
• Wot the Chuffin Gypsy Nell’re ya speaking?

Three cute French guys and my traveling companion Carolyn from “Oeufs in a Van”

Fortunately I saved many of the letters and pictures from that time.

Carolyn gets carried out to sea by cute German guy in “The Samwitch Stand.”

Yes, as you can probably tell most of our time was spent hanging out with “cute” guys and trying not to get carried out to sea.

Letter from cute Italian guy in “Pierre Andrei Makes His Move”

Sigh. Do you have any embarrassing travel stories?  Fess up!

BTW:  Two other authors I’ve introduced you to on this blog are having give-aways:

Duke Miller’s unforgettable and poetic memoir of twenty-five years as a relief worker

Arleen William’s compelling glimpse into the lives of emigres in America