Michael Hodges's Blog, page 5

Wolves in Colorado!

It looks like wolves are poised to return to Colorado thanks to voters and a re-introduction initiative. Although Colorado is home to beautiful mountains and national forests, the state is rather tame compared to Montana due to the lack of native predators like wolves and grizzlies.

Let’s hope this changes very soon.

I took this image of a wild wolf in Glacier National Park last fall, when Wrigley was still alive. It was our last trip into Glacier together. I’ll never forget you, old friend. It was an honor to have you at my feet for almost thirteen years. What a day we had in Glacier.

A wolf in Glacier National Park, Montana.

Writing update, films, thank you Missoula workers.

Well folks, it’s been an interesting time since last March, hasn’t it?  With Halloween approaching (my favorite holiday) I wanted to delve into a writing update, social media update, and a thank you to a few people.

First, I’m sitting on a couple film deal announcements based
on my stories. And I’m very proud of who is making these films. Over the last
two years I’ve slowed my roll and shifted to screenplays and development. BUT…I’m
now working on a new novel based on a short story called “Lost Planes, Lost
River”. I’m exciting to be getting back to writing an epic, along with
finishing THE PULLER screenplay.

People sometimes say to me “you’re lucky you’re a writer,
Covid messed my job up”.  But Covid also
messed my job up. I was down in LA March 20th, and had really cool
meetings set up with various figures in the entertainment industry (along with
a talent agency) and the city was shut down two days later and all my meetings
turned to zooms, and ultimately I ended up leaving LA for Montana even though
the plan was to move to LA. I still remember my agent Lane walking up the
street in the Hollywood Hills with his suitcase, trying to catch his flight.
That’s the last time I saw him in person.

And to the “thank you” section. I want to thank the front
line workers of Missoula for putting their asses on the line to keep this place
running. People like my friend Caitlin, 
a barista at my favorite coffee shop. Or Denton, the pharmacist. Or my
doctor, Dr. Acharya. Or the cleaning crew and front desk staff at my hotel,
like William and Julie.

These are the people keeping this city alive during this
crappy pandemic. And I CANNOT do what I do without them.

Finally, I should mention that Facebook recently invited me
to their fan subscription program. You can sign up @michaelhodgesauthor  for all kinds of unique content, from writing
news to photography to everyday life content.

Thanks everyone. Be well.

Best,

– Michael

Your truly sometime this month in the Montana outback.

Moose in Glacier National Park.

Late fall has turned into winter, and I doubt I’ll be filming my moose friends in the water this year. But hey, that’s the way wildlife photography goes. Each year brings something different, and you roll with the changes.

By the way, moose are a featured species in my debut novel, “The Puller”.

Huge bull moose in Glacier National Park.

Winter has arrived in Montana.

Well everyone, it looks like winter is here. How do I feel about it? the freezing temps and snow are cute for a few days. Then it turns into a relentless grind. It’s character forming, however.

Recently, the Washington Post wrote about the “land rush” here in Montana, and how residents from places like New York and California are “escaping Covid-19”.

They are in for a big surprise. I’ve heard estimates of 35,000 new residents. Many of whom bought houses sight unseen. This weekend, western Montana was slammed with below zero temps and up to a foot of snow. And it’s not even Halloween.

I’m not quite sure why California residents, or Oregon residents are bailing for Montana. The weather here is FAR WORSE than either of those states, both of which you have the option of driving to “new weather” within a half hour drive. This is not the case for Montana. What you see is what you get…for hundreds of miles.

I’m also a little confused as to why California residents would pass up the tens of millions of undiscovered acres and federal land between San Francisco and Montana. That’s a lot of amazing scenery, and much better weather they’re just skipping across.

And finally, I’ve never quite understood why people “escape the cities and suburbs” yet bring that exact property aesthetic to the new place (in this case the Rockies, and in this case cutting down native flora and replacing it with golf course lawns). I plan to write some more about this, and it is of course detailed in a few of my unpublished novels I have set aside for a rainy day.

Anyway greetings from Montana. It’s freaking cold.

Brynne on the way to the Missoula airport.

Out and about in Missoula, Montana

I had a great time this week hanging out with my friend Brynne. She flew out to Missoula from Denver, and we were able to enjoy a couple fine establishments and federal public land. Winter is here, though. Before Halloween even.

The legend of Old Duke, a Montana whitetail buck.

For a long time, a legendary white-tailed buck named “Duke” roamed the western Montana mountains. Myself, and a couple photographer friends were awed by Duke…especially  during late fall when he was more easily filmed.

Duke was known for his especially vertical and massive antlers…like a crown. It gave him a stately look, 
thus the name “Duke”.

For years, we filmed him in late fall with great joy. You could count on him to show up like clockwork.

Then one fall, old Duke didn’t show. And the next year, and the next. Even though I’d visit exactly where I knew he lived.

This went on for years. Every late fall, I’d travel to where he used to be and wish I could film him again.

Yesterday, I was in the western mountains, camera in hand (as always). My goal was to film owls in the cold pre-storm light. By chance, I happened to be in the exact spot where Duke used to roam.

As I walked, I heard a rustling in the branches. I turned, and one of the most majestic bucks I’d ever seen appeared from the brush. His antlers were unmistakably similar to Dukes’.

I realized, then and there, that old Duke had passed on his genes to this amazing new buck.

I won’t look back on Dukes’ old haunting grounds with sadness anymore. He lives on in the western mountains.

– Michael

My cat, Wrigley

I’m extremely proud of this photo of my cat Wrigley and I. We were up at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park, fall of 2019. Wrigley later died on December, 27th from an intestinal tumor. He was fine one day, then a week later, gone.

Wrigley was there at my feet for all my writing, all my novels, all my crazy schemes and ideas. He was everything to me.

Well old friend, it’s been eight months since you died on my lap.

Honestly, I haven’t been able to sit still since. I’ve been all over the country, unable to stay within four walls for long, or a single place. The longest stay was in Chicago and Denver, a month at most.

I’ve dove into my career, dated, hiked, explored, visited numerous great national parks and even caught a beer buzz with a rock star.

But nothing has worked. Nothing has dulled the pain of losing the critter I rescued thirteen years ago, back when he was a sick kitten at the Chicago pound.

The other day I came out of my gym. A silver Subaru Crosstrek was parked next to my car, and it even had a Thule rooftop carrier. I paused for a moment as the sense of loss hit me yet again.

You were an original, old friend.

I’ll keep moving, keeping going until it feels right to settle down. But I don’t see it happening anytime soon. 

Missoula, big elk

As promised, this page now gets a daily update.

I’m currently in Missoula, and it looks like winter has arrived.

I’m writing a new novel with an original concept, and also putting together a new short story collection at my favorite coffee shop.

I filmed this elk last week, and it was 79 degrees. This Saturday it’s going to be 8 degrees. That’s just Montana for you.

Hope you all have a great Sunday.

best,

– Michael

Bald eagle in Montana, and overall website update

Hey everyone,

I had an amazing day in the western mountains of Montana yesterday. So I thought I’d share a photo of a magnificent bald eagle I took.

I also wanted to let you know I’m going to be posting a lot more on this website. From this point on, this will be my writing AND photography website, and I plan to post original content regularly, including writing news, photographs, my opinions on certain matters and so forth.

Thanks for sticking by me over the years, it’s been a wild ride!

Best,

– Michael

Glacier and other news

Hey everyone I said I’d be posting here more often and I meant it.

I was very fortunate to spend the last few days in Glacier National Park and the Flathead Lake area. I met with friends, filmed grizzlies, and went swimming!

I’m lucky to be in Montana. I’m also working hard on several writing projects. In the meantime, check out how AMAZING this water is on Flathead Lake. And yes, I jumped in.