I checked up on an author-friend of mine the other day to see how she was doing. Turns out she’s got a new book in the works and she’s donating proceeds from the sale of that new book, Steps to the Beach, through the end of 2022 to the Florida Disaster Fund to help people in her own community get back on their feet.

When I first came upon Christine Lemmon‘s books, I was visiting Florida with my Dad. He liked to spend the cold month of February in the warmer climes of Fort Myers Beach with regular trips to the gorgeous beaches of Sanibel and Captiva. I bought one the first year and the other two the next. And then I kept waiting for another. Finally, she has released a new book. And in a few days, I’ll have my very own copy.

Christine’s books, all delightful and uplifting novels, are little love letters to her adopted hometown of Sanibel and the neighboring Captiva Island. The settings are warm and inviting. The characters are strong, sometimes a little nutty, and well-drawn. I couldn’t put any of them down. Not Sanibel Scribbles. Not Sand in My Eyes. Portion of the Sea, however, was by far my favorite. And the one I’ve read several times.

In 2015, I interviewed Christine for an article for my travel blog, A Day Away Travel. She advised me to get around by bicycle and told me about all her favorite places, from restaurants like the Mucky Duck to Lighthouse Beach. Christine even recommended the red velvet cake from the Bubble Room on Captiva. That’s their cake recipe in Sanibel Scribbles. 

“Everything about this island inspires me to write,” she told me.

If you’d like to take a vacation from winter, and help some folks knocked down by Ian, I suggest you find your way to Sanibel, via Christine’s sweet novels.