Isla Bonita

Maya is hiding from something she did. Something huge. But here on La Palma, everything is quiet, and maybe she can finally begin to heal.

A series of in-the-moment short stories following Maya and her children as they grow up and live their lives on the timeless isle of La Palma.

La Palma is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It's a Spanish island in the Canary Islands off the coast of Northern Africa, with a hot climate tempered by the cold winds off the Atlantic Ocean. It has hundreds of secluded black sand beaches and, while it depends on tourism for much of its economy, it is much more rural and genuine-feeling than the islands on Tenerife and Lanzarote. The waves can be dangerously high but also gentle and clear, and inland the black rock reaches to stunning heights before dipping into the Caldera de Taburiente, which was left after one of the many devastating volcanic eruptions the island has seen. Lining the winding roads are banana plantations, which are the main produce of the island. It may seem barren as you arrive from the plane, but La Palma is full of vibrant life, from the Little Rainforest to the hot springs and teeming rockpools. It's a writer's paradise, and this story was begun there, because it would take more than mortal strength to merely observe and not try to record this incredible place.

I wish I could be there all the time, but I'm over here, in rainy Britain, so the most I can do is sit down with a cup of tea and a laptop and try to bring a little of La Palma over here.