via GIPHY

Well, did you know you can explore the Galápagos virtually, right now, from your very own home?

via GIPHY

To scratch that travel itch and dive deeper into the magical backdrop of Shipped, I’ve created a list of my favorite resources to help you virtually explore the Galápagos Islands. So put on your explorer’s cap (or your comfiest pair of pajamas) and let’s go!

1) Dive into Galápagos with a Documentary

Why not start by kicking back with a bowl of popcorn and indulging in a documentary about the Galápagos? There are several excellent choices. Below are three I recommend—two I’ve seen, and one that looks promising—so take your pick!

Galápagos (2006)

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video (available for purchase)

Why I love it: narrated by Tilda Swinton (enough said, right?), this three-part miniseries is the documentary I recommend for an engaging, thorough introduction to the Galápagos. If you don’t want to spend $7.99 on the full miniseries, consider at least watching episode 2, Islands That Changed the World (individual episodes are available from $2.99 on Prime Video).

Watch the trailer here.

Galapagos: IMAX (1999)

Where to watch: Hulu (free with subscription)

Why I love it: At a brisk 40 minutes, this documentary is an accessible, enjoyable journey through the Galápagos with Smithsonian marine biologist Dr. Carole Baldwin. It was originally released in IMAX theaters, so the visuals are stunning.

Watch the trailer here.

Wild Galapagos (2019)

Where to watch: CuriosityStream (currently available to watch with a free 7-day trial, but $2.99/month after so don’t forget to cancel if you don’t want the subscription)

Why I’m intrigued: This is the most recently filmed documentary on Galápagos I could find, and I like that it’s a 2-part series, giving ample time to explore the wonders of Galápagos. I haven’t watched it myself yet, so if you do tune in, be sure to drop me a line and let me know what you think!

Watch the trailer here.

2) Experience a Virtual Expedition to the Galápagos with Lindblad Expeditions

In case you’ve never heard of Lindblad Expeditions, this small ship adventure cruise line has a partnership with National Geographic, and with 50+ years experience bringing travelers to the Galápagos, they lead the way in responsible travel, sustainability, and harnessing the power of travel for good (plus, they’re my personal favorite cruise company and the inspiration for Shipped‘s fictional Seaquest Adventures).

While the pandemic has temporarily halted travel, Lindblad Expeditions has put out some wonderful virtual resources to connect folks with wild places like the Galápagos Islands. Watch the video below for an awe-inspiring highlight reel of the famed wildlife of Galápagos (many of which make an appearance in Shipped!)

If you found yourself gasping while watching that video (because wow the wildlife is incredible!), check out some of my other favorite virtual expeditions from Lindblad below:

• Wildlife of Gardner Bay (where Henley & Graeme snorkel!)
• Ahhhh Moment: Galapagos Giant Tortoises
• Visiting Puerto Ayora, Galapagos

Bonus! For any parents out there feeling YIKES about potentially homeschooling in the fall, Lindblad Expeditions also has some fun, educational resources for kids on their website such as Virtual Expedition Kids’ Corner: Galapa-guess, How to Make Paper Beads (like artisans in the Galápagos), and more.

3) Discover Darwin’s Living Laboratory with Google Maps

If you want an on-the-ground exploration experience with 360 degree imagery, maps, and resources galore, Google Maps has you covered. Check out their Galápagos Islands Google Earth page for a fabulous place to start.

Some of my favorite Google Earth treks in Galápagos include:

• Post Office Bay (featured in Shipped!)
• Tortoises in the Morning
• Tortoises at Night
• Champion Island East Snorkeling
• Marine Iguanas

4) Immerse Yourself in the Beauty & History of Galápagos with a Book

Want a book that will look spectacular on your coffee table while also introducing you to the Galápagos Islands through beautiful photography and informative text? Look no further than…

Galapagos: Islands Born of Fire

Tui De Roy

A renowned photographer who grew up in the Galápagos, De Roy captures breathtaking scenes and her book is one of my favorites about the Islands. I recommend this updated 10th anniversary edition.

More book picks…because you can’t have too many books!

Some other fabulous books about the Galápagos I love are:

Galápagos: Life in Motion

Walter Perez and Michael Weisburg

Another eye-catching photography book that any Galápagos aficionado would love to have on their shelf.

Galapagos: A Natural History, Revised and Expanded

Michael H. Jackson

For anyone looking for a thoughtful, complete, academically-oriented natural history guide to the Galápagos, this one’s the tops.

Island: A Story of the Galápagos

Jason Chin

A gorgeously illustrated journey through the geological and biological history of the Galápagos, perfect to share with young readers.

5) Explore the Charles Darwin Foundation’s Research Collections Online

If you want to venture down the rabbit hole of scientific research in the Galápagos from species names and IUCN status to climatology to maps, check out the Charles Darwin Foundation’s (CDF) dataZone. This collection of online databases is the product of 60 years of research in the Galápagos.

The mission of the Charles Darwin Foundation and its Research Station is to provide knowledge and assistance through scientific research and complementary action to ensure the conservation of the environment and biodiversity in the Galápagos Archipelago.

Charles Darwin Foundation, About Us

What do you think? Are you ready to explore the Galápagos? Let me know which of my suggested resources was your favorite by commenting below!

*Pssst* And if you haven’t yet, be sure to pre-order Shipped! The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game in this enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy set on a Galapagos cruise. Coming from Gallery/Simon & Schuster (US) and Headline Eternal/Hachette (UK) on January 19, 2021.

The post Explore the Galápagos Islands—from Home! appeared first on Angie Hockman.

I needed to get away.

My salvation came in the form of an unexpected work trip to the Galápagos Islands (perks of being an independent contractor for an eco-adventure travel company, yo).

Before I continue, there’s one thing you should know about me: I love to travel. It’s an essential part of who I am. There’s a whole, wide world out there and I only have one lifetime to see it. And I want to see it and experience it all.

I crave experiences that change my perception of the world, allow me to engage with people, learn about geography and history and culture, and appreciate the sheer beauty of our planet.

Travel feeds my soul. And for the past year and a half, I’ve been starving.

My recent trip to the Galápagos happened to dovetail with the completion of a major rewrite on my novel, The Hustler. I’d been cranking it out at warp speed for the past nine months with barely any breaks and I needed some breathing room.

So I saved my manuscript, sent it to a couple of trusty beta readers, packed my bags, kissed my husband and son, and set off for South America.

What did I find when I got there? An exquisite, utterly unique environment unlike anything else on earth. And my own restoration.

The Galápagos, in case you aren’t familiar, is wholly unique. A volcanic island chain 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos is home to creatures that came there millennia ago and evolved to suit their environment. Like the finches, for example.

Sound familiar? Yep, this is where Charles Darwin conceived of his theory of evolution by studying the finches on various islands. What a thrill to see evidence of that theory in person.

The Galápagos is also at the confluence of three ocean currents, so there are creatures from what seems like all of the world. There are penguins from the south, sea lions from the north, and birds, reptiles, and tortoises from mainland South America. And because the islands are so remote and the wildlife evolved largely free from predators, animals there show no fear of humans, only curiosity.

Can you imagine walking among sea lions or colonies of seabirds, and none of the animals are afraid of you? It’s an astounding experience.

And seriously, there’s nothing more restorative to the soul than swimming with mother-freaking sea lions. And penguins. Oh my god, the penguins. So adorable it hurts.

Over the course of a week, I immersed myself in this unique environment, appreciated the beauty of nature, and reveled in the wildlife. When I left, I was refreshed.

Now that I’m home, my life no longer feels like a hamster wheel. Sure, the household chores, work, and family obligations are still there, but my attitude has changed. I’m challenging myself to find the joy in the little moments.

And by taking a break from writing and focusing on me, I’m returning to my projects with a renewed sense of purpose and some much-needed perspective.

Life can be overwhelming sometimes, and we all need to take time for self-care. It won’t always be a trip to the Galápagos (but if you can go, do it!); even if it’s just taking a few hours to do something you love, you need to relax once in awhile and find your slice of wonder in the world.

In other words, don’t do what I did. Don’t wait until your soul is starving before you feed it.

The post Recharge, Renew, and Don’t Forget to Feed Your Creativity! appeared first on Angie Hockman.

It’s been a few weeks since I returned from Chicago-North RWA’s 2016 Spring Fling writers conference, so I’ve had some time to synthesize my experience beyond “SO AMAZING BLERGH-AHHHH!!!!” It was my first writers conference of any kind, let alone my first romance writers conference, and it was So. Good. Not only did I learn a ton about the craft and business of writing, but I left feeling truly inspired by the power of romance.

Here are some of my favorite moments from the conference:

• Opening keynote from headliner Courtney Milan ripping apart the notion that “all happy families are alike” and therefore romance novels are unoriginal (you’re wrong, Tolstoy). Favorite quote: “We aren’t happy because bad things don’t happen to us, but in spite of, or because of, them.” Also a poignant plea for more diversity in the romance genre.
• Meeting fellow writers and making new friends. I know I’m a cheeseball, you don’t have to say it.
• Headliner Robyn Carr on her secret to avoiding writers block and getting through that first draft: “I’m perfectly willing to write crap.”
• Workshops, workshops, workshops. In particular, Sarah M. Anderson‘s “What to Expect When You’re Revising” and Briana MacPerry‘s “Plotting Through Characterization.” Thrilled to come away with many concrete ideas/skills to apply to my own WIP.
• Popping my pitch cherry with two literary agents…and receiving manuscript requests. Huzzah!
• Swag. Free, glorious swag, including books. So many free books.

  

• Keynote speech by Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, aka Christina Lauren, one of my all-time favorite writers. Earnest, funny, charming accounts of their journey toward publication and on to becoming international bestselling authors. I laughed, I cried, I had all the feels.
• Book signing. Did I mention Christina Lauren are my faves?
• Author Sonali Dev‘s take on why we read and write romance, in one word: the “heartgasm.”
• Writer & book reviewer Bobbi Dumas deconstructing romance genre stereotypes. Be proud to read romance!
• Pre-Gala Dinner drinks and conversation at the hotel bar with new friends.
• Robyn Carr’s final keynote: to be successful at writing romance, “make them feel.”
• The Gala Dinner. And not just because the Fire and Ice contest results were announced and my entry won first place in the romantic suspense category (although that was amazing). There was also delicious food, boppin’ tunes, and memorable company: the perfect capstone to an incredible weekend.

The post Spring Fling Fever: Favorite Moments at My First Romance Writers Conference appeared first on Angie Hockman.