I probably shouldn’t admit this because it makes me sound like someone on the run, but I’ve lived in 13 states and traveled to 32 countries. Thanks to six years in the Air Force, I made unforgettable trips to Saudi Arabia and Greenland. While working for a global manufacturer, I shot videos in Japan and Thailand and TV ads in New Zealand. I also made a business presentation in Switzerland one morning and then drove to Austria that afternoon, stopping in Liechtenstein on the way. I like to see new places.

As a Utah native, my early travels were with my family to some of the best national parks, including Zion, Bryce, Arches, Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Despite an unyielding love for Utah’s mountains and red rock country, I enjoy living in Louisiana because of the authentic people, unique natural beauty and great food. I also love my job—teaching public relations classes at Louisiana State University.

When traveling with me, you need to wear comfortable walking shoes because I explore on foot. At times, my walkabouts have lasted longer than expected due to navigation challenges, which led me to borrow Daniel Boone’s line: “I can’t say as ever I was lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.”

I look for hidden gems when traveling, with some of my favorites being the beautiful mountains and lakes in Arkansas and the lighthouses of North Carolina. I also like going places where there’s an important connection to my heritage and values. With my family history strongly linked to Italy, my husband knew it would be the perfect destination for our honeymoon. As a daily Bible reader, I loved going to Israel and touring places that brought Bible stories to life.

Besides not overpacking, my travel advice is to chill out when things don’t go flawlessly. One of my favorite travel photos is a shot of me standing on a dock in Alaska with rain pouring down so hard that it appears I’m in a shower. For some reason, I’m smiling in the photo.

Born in New Orleans and educated at Louisiana State University, I started my human resources career in the state, but I left for a couple of decades to work in Georgia, New York, Iowa and North Carolina. By traveling with Arla, I’m getting to know my home state and its neighbors better.

I travel to turbocharge my imagination and help me write mystery and suspense novels. I’m always thinking about my next book and know that the setting plays a role as critical as the main character when telling a story. I look for places that inspire me by filling in the blank in this statement: “Somebody could get ________ here.” Words that have come to mind include murdered, kidnapped or drowned.

Most of my trips take place near my hometown of St. Francisville, La., and usually don’t extend beyond Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. I like locations that come with legends of hauntings such as the Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana, King’s Tavern in Mississippi and Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. I also love treacherous terrain, including the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge and Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area in Louisiana. Wherever I go, it must engage my imagination and bombard my senses with new sights, sounds and smells.

As an avid reader, I spend time with the classics such as Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” and Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” I also enjoy the work of contemporary writers. When drafting a novel, my goal is to inspire and challenge the reader through delivery of an entertaining, memorable story.