This week’s question for Romance Writers Weekly authors is from A.S. Fenichel.  “Where is your favorite place in the world and why? Share some pictures if you can. Does this place wind up in your books?”

Hope you’ve already visited Jenna Da Sie who is ahead of me on the hop.

Fortunately, my favorite happy place is nearby. Only seventy miles south of home lies the Outer Banks, affectionately known as OBX.  The beautiful and serene string of barrier islands, begins at the southeastern coast of Virginia and and continues along North Carolina. The two hundred miles of islands are linked to multiple Sounds that receive water from the Atlantic.  The Outer Banks has been my vacation spot and weekend getaway since I was a teen.  Although the various small towns have boomed over the last four decades, hosting millions  of visitors a year, the Outer Banks will always be my favorite place in the world as well as my home away from home. With a small lottery win, I’d make it my retirement home!

I based my novel, Hot as Blazes, in the town of Nags Head, where we stay during summer vacation. I love the rangy dunes on the less commercial beaches of the area. From your quiet beach house getaway you can drive five minutes up the road and have a choice of a smorgasbord of restaurants and shopping experiences.

Over the years, we’ve stayed on the same street as have many other families who have become our beach family. The kids have grown up together and I wouldn’t be surprised if the tradition continues when they have families of their own.

My love of the Outer Banks, it has become part of my author brand, prompting my Seaside Heat Romance series. Hope you’ll check out Leslie Hachtel’s  favorite place. Here’s some pics of my favorite place, OBX.