The Inspiration for Sleuth on Safari

The below is from client A. R. Kennedy, whose new series features a traveling sleuth. The first book in the series comes out March 24th.

In January 2015, I went on the best vacation I have been on, to date.

Since doing a report in grade school on giraffes, I’d wanted to go on a safari. And in July 2014, a Travelzoo email advertising a luxury South African safari appeared in my inbox. It wasn’t a last-minute, extraordinary deal like my character Naomi’s, but it was a good price and itinerary and I booked it within days. (Side note—Lion World is a phenomenal agency and Cheryl assisted me in booking this awesome trip.)

I was blessed to travel with a lovely group of travelers. None of them were like the travelers Naomi is paired with. And I traveled alone.

When you read the book, you’ll experience some of the sights, sounds, and tastes that I did.

The treehouse—yes, I did that by myself.

The leopard—yes, it got very close to us.

The bitter lemon soda—yes, it is that good.

The zebra scene and baby buffalo scene—nope, that’s fiction, but I did see it on a YouTube video.

This is the trip that inspired the entire Traveler Cozy Mystery series. I was halfway through writing the Nathan Miccoli Series. The idea for Saving Ferris was still floating around in my head. But this idea hit me as I sat eating one of our last meals on safari. I didn’t see any hyenas on my game drives but after a disturbing discussion with a guide, thoughts of them would not leave me.

My trip consisted of staying at two luxury lodges (and, yes, that treehouse!). I merged the best of both into the Lonfte Lodge that Naomi and her sister stay in.
The food is based on the meals that were served at the lodges—although Naomi is a far more adventurous eater than myself. All those photos of my plates at meals really came in handy!

In a critique letter, Lourdes wrote, “Your books make me want to travel to the places you’ve described so far!”

​I hope it does the same for the readers.