Our Preface
The Next Passage began as the natural meeting place of two lifelong loves: books and travel.
Inspired by fantasy, gothic, and mystery novels that transport readers into rich, atmospheric worlds, Kimberly began to imagine a place where that same sense of wonder could live beyond the page. A place where a book could spark not only the imagination, but the desire to experience the landscapes, history, and atmosphere that made its story unforgettable.
Today, The Next Passage brings that vision to life through a curated online bookshop, literary journeys across Ireland, Scotland, and England, and reading retreats that bring book lovers together to slow down, connect, and celebrate the stories they love. The book comes first. Then the journey. We build the kind of place we couldn't find anywhere else.
It was created for readers who have ever closed a book and wished they could step a little closer to the story.
Kimberly
Kimberly has spent more than 20 years helping people discover the world. Her career began in leisure travel before expanding into corporate travel, where she managed complex global travel programs. She later spent more than two decades in hospitality sales, partnering with athletic teams and associations to coordinate group travel and event accommodations, giving her a deep understanding of both the logistics and the personal details that create exceptional travel experiences.
A lifelong reader, Kimberly has always found herself inspired by the places hidden within the pages of a great book. She has a habit of finishing a novel and immediately researching the castles, villages, and landscapes that brought its world to life. That curiosity eventually led her to create The Next Passage, where she combines her love of stories with decades of travel expertise.
Today, she helps fellow readers discover books worth savoring, journeys worth taking, and experiences that keep the magic of a story alive long after the final page.
Founder & Novel Destination Specialiast
Cindy
Cindy came to literary tourism from both directions at once. A lifelong travel professional and cozy mystery author, she brings together decades of experience helping travelers explore the world with a storyteller’s love for place.
Her career began in 1982 after graduating from McConnell Travel School. Over the past four decades she has worked with agencies such as Red Carpet Travel and Spartan Travel and supported corporate travel programs at Neogen Corporation, helping travelers plan journeys around the world.
Group Travel Coordinator & Author
A cozy, mystery‑tinged journey through Ireland and Northern Ireland, following in Molly’s footsteps through colorful villages, dramatic coastlines, ancient ruins, and warm Irish hospitality.
Featured journey: the Molly McGuire mystery trail
Inspired by the Molly McGuire series by Cindy Kline
Ireland, however, has always held a special place in her heart. That love eventually found its way into her writing through the Molly McGuire Irish Mystery Series, which brings Ireland’s villages, folklore, and landscapes to life on the page.
As a travel advisor, Cindy loves leading small group tours to Ireland, where she gets to watch travelers experience the same sense of wonder that first inspired her stories.
Helping others discover that feeling is what continues to inspire her work today.
View the full itinerary
ROMANCE isn’t DEAD
fury bound
I finished Dire Bound and immediately ran headfirst into Fury Bound, the next book in the Wolves of Ruin series. And somehow, I’m loving it even more than the first. I’m trying to pace myself since the final book doesn’t arrive until summer 2027, but apparently self-control is not one of my strengths.
What I'm Currently Reading