Hi! Welcome to the Danger Zone. I’m Shelley Munro, and I live in New Zealand. One of my favorite past times, when I’m not writing, is to travel. Just ask Mr. Munro. He gets nervous every time I pick up a travel brochure. One of the highlights of all my travel over the years would have to be spending time with gorillas in Rwanda. Adjectives can’t describe the magical experience.

Here’s an excerpt from the travel journal: Gorillas in Rwanda

One of my most treasured memories is seeing mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Mr. Munro and I were part of an overland group undertaking a trip from Zimbabwe back to England. The trip took just over seven months. At one stage it looked as though we’d miss out on seeing the gorillas because of civil war in Zaire (Now Democratic Republic of Congo). After much discussion it was decided to vary our itinerary and go into Rwanda via Uganda and see the gorillas there.

We made our way to Parc National Des Volcans and camped outside the park. The weather was wet and misty when we set out in our small group. The whereabouts of two groups of gorillas were known at the time, and Mr. Munro and I ended up in the group searching for the group way beyond and away from the road where we left our truck. We walked and we walked and we walked. The guides used huge machetes to clear some of the undergrowth as we tramped through the wet foliage. We walked for two and a half hours and the wet gave way to humid heat as the day advanced. We climbed up hills and the view below was incredible - lots of trees of varying colors of green and a slight mist. There was huffing and puffing and groans from all. Where were these gorillas? Were we going to be one of the unlucky groups who arrived back at the camp without seeing a thing? The lead guide whispered for us to stop and to halt our chatter. He glided forward in a silent manner that I remember admiring since the rest of us sounded like a herd of elephants.

Then there they were. A family group of about seven, but they were in the undergrowth and it was difficult to see them. We were all disappointed since we wouldn’t be able to take our photos. Definitely no coercion allowed! We were there strictly to observe.

Five minutes later they moved out from undercover to forage. It was magical. I remember all the sore muscles and aches and pains fading. Mr. Munro took this photo of me and one of the other girls, and the expression on our faces brings everything rushing back. We were privileged. It was SO exciting.

There was a baby in the group. He was as curious about us as we were about him. He climbed halfway up a spindly tree and stared at us. It wasn’t far from where I was sitting, then he reached out to touch, but before his little hand hit me, his mother grabbed him and placed him at her side, out of harm’s way.

The gorillas moved on and we followed. The silverback male was huge - very impressive with the silver streak along his back. He looked at us and suddenly charged because he’d decided we were too close. We all immediately sat so we looked like less of a threat. The silver back stopped so close to me and one of our friends that he almost sat on us. My heart pounded - heck it almost stopped - but the silverback decided he’d done his job and he ambled off.

Our hour with the gorilla family finished and we had to leave. We left with much chatter and excitement only to run into a border patrol from Zaire. Immediately we were shushed. Our guides replied to the calls cautiously then we were asked if we had any sweets. Evidently the border guards had a sweet tooth.

We arrived back at camp, tired and very muddy and had to queue for showers. My butt was stinging awfully and when I was in the shower I realized during the silverback charge, I’d sat in a nest of ants. These are horrid big black bull-type ants. They bite and when you pull they off they break in half leaving their jaws in your skin. Nasty, I can tell you! Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention the stinging nettles. Several of us had close encounters with them too, but didn’t notice in the excitement of spending time with the gorillas.

Would I visit the gorillas again? In a heartbeat. It was the most magical experience and we have the photos to prove it. There’s another gorilla photo at my website, along with other travel photos if you’re interested. Just click on the photo tab.

Adventure into Romance with Shelley Munro

Welcome to the
Danger Zone Authors Launch!

Welcome.
I am Charlene Leatherman, the first of the Danger Zone Authors to officially blog.
We are eight writers who specialize in writing Action and Adventure. If you explore this site you will see Exciting Books for your reading pleasure, Adventurous Interviews with people who are the Real Action Heroes, Intriguing Discussions between the eight of us on topics that you may not find elsewhere, Perilous Contests in which you win or lose, and always something interesting.
I write about Strong Mythical Women. I write Adventurous Romances. The stories I write put strong women to the test, make them fight to save their men, and also save the day. I hope you have as much fun reading them as I have writing them.
I would like to do a mini introduction of each of us. I am sure each author will tell you about herself in depth. But for now, I introduce (in no particular order):
___________________________________________________________

Lise Fuller
She is an Author and Adventurer who writes Romance, Suspense, and Adventure.
She asks:
“How much danger would you face for the perfect romance?”

N.D. Hansen-Hill
She is an Author of fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, horror, and romantic suspense.
Her motto:
“Act – don’t think.”
She asks:
“In the hands of heroes: deliverance, death, or disaster?”

Cyndi Friberg
She is an Author of suspense, futuristic stories, science fiction, paranormal romance, and fantasy.
She says of her writing:
“Anything but Ordinary”

Aubrey Ross
She is an Author of suspense, urban fantasy, vampires, elemental magic, science fiction, space pirates, and capture fantasy.
She asks that you indulge in:
“Sensual Flights of Fantasy”

Denise A. Agnew
She is an Author of romantic suspense, contemporary, historical, and erotic romance, paranormal, time-travel, and romantic comedy.
She says that her writing is:
“Suspenseful, erotic, edgy, thrilling, romantic and adventurous.”
She asks that you:
“Step off the edge… Into dark, delicious adventure.”

Marianne La Croix
She is an Author of contemporary romance, fantasy, futuristic, historical, shapeshifter, time-travel, vampire and paranormal books.
She says she offers you:
“Romantic Adventure that Sizzles.”

Shelley Munro
She is an Author of contemporary, paranormal, futuristic, historical and science fiction.
She invites you to:
“Adventure into Romance.”

I recently read a book of Shelley Munro’s.
Talking Dogs, Aliens, and Purple People Eaters is a book in the Talking Dog Series. If you enjoy rolling in the aisles laughing through the whole book, you have got to get this book. It is a fun read that you can’t put down. Click on over to the Library Page and check it out.

Thanks for dropping by. Hope to see you real soon.
Charlene
Defeat the Villain, Destroy the Monster, Deliver the Hero, and Never Break a Nail.

PS. My favorite quote is:
“A strong woman is a woman who loves strongly and weeps strongly and is strongly terrified and has strong needs.” - Marge Piercy

We are busy getting set to launch this weekend. Be sure to stop by Sunday for our first official post from author Charlene Leatherman.

To continue our opening, here are a few loop chats we will be doing:

May 12th - Ellora’s Cave Reader Chat  loop 10-1pm EDT

May 13th - TRS Reader loop 1-3pm EDT

May 19th - CerridwenChat loop 10-1pm EDT

We also have our own loop and will be popping in all the time to chat about our favorite action and adventure books, movies and hunks… Come and join us!

Enter the Danger Zone!

As in any good execution, prep work is always important! If you’ve caught the site before our launch date — May 11th (Mother’s Day) then great! But we are still under construction, so beware!!!

Now, who’s up for the new Indiana Jones adventure, “The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”? The adventure beings in 35 days!

~ Lise

Hey everyone,

I went to the Southern Lights Conference this past weekend in Jacksonville, FL. OMG it was great. I had so much fun and made some great networking connections. I was asked to send partials by 2 editors and an agent. I am busy at work on one and will send off before RT. I will get the second done right after RT. Successful weekend all around! I feel the big break is on the horizon.

Yes, as I mentioned, I am going to RT. I am already gathering all my promo items to pack and lug on up to cold Pittsburgh. I do hope the snow is done up north by the time the conference comes. I don’t know if I am being shuffled to the Omni yet. At this point, no news is good news, I guess. I am going to invest in one of those rolling carts though. JC Wilder suggested it to ease the carrying-everthing-around-the-conference mode.