Five Miles Up: Janet Evanovich slugs it out on vacation

(Photo: Roland Scarpa)

Today is the day. Evanovich fans who’ve been waiting for the latest installment of her Stephanie Plum series can now get their hot little hands on Takedown Twenty. Who is bounty hunter Plum tracking down now? A notorious mob boss from Jersey. Though the Garden State is a character unto itself in the novelist’s tomes, we’re willing to bet some of Evanovich’s inspiration comes from her travels. There were, after all, those slugs she uncovered in British Columbia

What’s something you never fail to pack in your suitcase?
Pilates pants. They stretch, so no matter how big my ass gets, I've always got something that fits.

Carry-on or check-in?
Both.

Window or aisle?
Aisle. I don't want to have to climb over someone to get out of the plane when it crashes.

What’s your idea of the perfect vacation?
Staying home and watching Anthony Bourdain travel for me.

Tell us about a vacation you’ve taken that’s come close thus far.
I had four hours last week after I handed my book in.

What’s the worst vacation you’ve taken?
My husband and I were camping in Prince Rupert, B.C. with our two kids, ages 1 and 3, our pissed-off cat and not too bright beagle. It was pouring rain and my husband got a migraine. I checked him into a motel, broke camp and had to scrap wall-to-wall slugs off the bottom of our $60 Kids’R’Us tent.

Where’s your favorite destination for practicing your profession?
I have a home office in Naples, Fla. If I could get Jersey pizza there it would be perfect.

What's the most unusual souvenir you’ve ever brought back from a trip?
I hauled a rotting, smelly lobster trap home from a trip to Maine. What was I thinking? Coffee table??

Ever try a food you wished you hadn't?
I have this fantasy that I'm a really adventurous person, but the reality is I go to Amsterdam and eat at McDonalds, so chances of having projectile vomiting are mostly eliminated.

Favorite boat you've ever stayed on?
Alaska State ferry. We slept on the deck in sleeping bags. Awesome!

Favorite restaurant you’ve discovered while traveling.
Cracker Barrel.

Biggest regret you've ever had vacation-wise.
I've never had a road trip in an RV, but it's not too late, right?

The one thing you're willing to splurge on when traveling above all else.
A hotel room with top-of-the-line Japanese plumbing fixtures.

Three songs on your travel playlist?
Brainbug’s Nightmare (Club 69 Remix), Alexandra Stan’s Mr. Saxobeat (radio edit), Kaskade’s Step One Two (Strobelight Seduction bonus track version).

Where would you take someone visiting your hometown for the first time?
Right now my hometown is Naples, Fla. I always take visitors to the beach and then to 3rd Street for a margarita and ribs at Tommy Bahamas.

You only get one more trip in your lifetime. Where will it be?
Vegas, Baby. London is a close second.