The newest Nicaragua guidebook title by Randall Wood and Joshua Berman will ship to bookstores across the continent by the end of August, 2006. Moon Living Abroad In Nicaragua is a very different book than their previous title, Moon Handbooks Nicaragua, their debut book which sold more than 18,000 copies and is geared toward travelers and temporary visitors to the country. Moon Living Abroad In Nicaragua was written to prepare potential expatriates looking to live, work, volunteer, study, or invest in Nicaragua, say the authors, who, combined, have spent nearly a decade living and working in various parts of the country. 

According to the book's write-up on Amazon.com, where it is currently available for pre-order, Moon Living Abroad In Nicaragua includes "practical information on everything from buying a home, to finding a Spanish school, to managing your expenses, and uncovering prime living locations. The book also provides a special focus on how and where to volunteer and participate in sustainable community work in Nicaragua."

I was pleasantly surprised to see Nicaragua written up in an unlikely place: Cigar Aficionado magazine. Then again, maybe it's not so unlikely. Nicaragua's been growing great quality tobacco for decades, and the cognoscenti have long admired the rich flavor and full-bodied aroma of Nicaraguan cigars. But it's just the latest in a growing body of literature that has forgotten about Nicaragua's dark years and is looking south with interest for business and for pleasure.

The article is "Under the Volcanoes" by David Savona, and you can find it on page 187 of the June 2006 issue.