Michael Hodges's Blog, page 6

New adventure car, moose paddles, film, fan subscriptions, social

So, there’s a lot going on. Novels, film, photography, social. I’m working hard on several really cool projects.

My official Facebook now has a fan subscription option, which has been amazing. I’ve featured a new Yellowstone photo series, “Land of the Log Walkers” and it’s been neat to see how the fan subscription works.

I recently licensed one of my moose images to a paddle company. Check out the final product. Proud of this one, and love how the antlers come off the paddle.

This is Hamilton, a rescue dog of a friend in Colorado. And the car is my new subaru Forester adventure car, which I’m excited about. 32mpg highway, AWD, 8.7 inches of clearance.

This is an image of comet NEOWISE over Grand Teton National Park from a week ago. Truly one of the most unique moments of my life. The comet won’t return for another 7,000 years. This was such a moving scene for me to witness. Worth the effort.

Last week in Yellowstone I had a beach to myself. Think Wrigley would approve of the new adventure car?

I had a cool date recently at the oldest hotel in Denver, the Oxford. Super vintage.

Brynne.

And finally, I shaved my beard. It’s hot and it’s summer so off it goes. Taken in Grand Teton.

Love you all. Hope you and yours are safe and healthy.

Best,

– Michael

Loving the new car.

Although I’m still sad that I lost my beloved Subaru Crosstrek in a brutal accident with an elk in Grand Teton (that should’ve killed me), I’m enjoying the new Subaru Forester. A big thank you to Don K Subaru in Whitefish for hooking me up with such a great deal on a new Forester.

I’m down in beautiful Colorado working hard on writing projects, and doing a little house shopping. I have cool news coming on the writing and social media front, so stay tuned. I’m posting a few recent images below, along with descriptions.

So, I bought a new Subaru Forester. As an adventure photographer, the vehicle I choose is important. The Forester’s easy-clean interior, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, full-time AWD, roof racks (with cross bars), tow hitch, touch screen console (the stereo ROCKS), 32 MPG on the highway make it the ultimate modern expedition vehicle. I will NOT drive a gas guzzler in 2020. Not to mention Subaru dominates safety tests. They are literally the safest vehicles on the road. I walked away from a collision that would’ve killed me in another vehicle.

The new adventure car in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado! It’s always sunny here.

At Don K Subaru in beautiful Whitefish, Montana. Professional and knowledgeable folks.

Two friendly horses next door, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Fort Collins, Colorado.

The only thing that survived the Crosstrek wreck was the Thule roof top cargo carrier. Barely. I had to drive all the way back to the collision center in Grand Teton to retrieve the damaged Thule. After working on it for a couple hours, I was able to get it functioning, and I drove up to Yellowstone happy to have salvaged at least something from Wrigley and I’s adventure car.

I honestly have no idea how to work the huge touchscreen center console. Luckily I have people in my life who understand it, haha. I do know it can connect a lot of phones. Still trying to figure out all the other apps.

My office on the lake in Fort Collins, Colorado. My time in Colorado has been amazing.

As soon as I meet the deadlines for two writing projects, I will be heading up to the Gallatin National Forest and Yellowstone for a month to capture wildlife images and camp. Hey, it’s summer after all.

I can’t thank you all enough for sticking by this writer and photographer. The last two years have been pretty darn incredible. As always, I plan to explore, learn, and evolve. Surrounding myself with intelligent people who also seek growth is so important for that.

All the cool stuff that’s happened this year, and coming soon, is dedicated to Wrigley. I miss you, old friend. You were my everything.

Best,

– Michael

As if things couldn’t get any crazier

Last night I was graciously invited by Facebook to their Fan Subscription program. It’s an invite-only program for popular influencers, so I’m kinda honored and a little shocked.

It’s been a crazy last two years! I’m still trying to wrap my head around things, and this is definitely one of them. Everything just keeps moving forward, growing, and evolving and it’s pretty cool.

At the top of my official Facebook Page, you’ll now find a “Become A Supporter” button. If you choose to support the page, the monthly recurring subscription is $4.99

Here’s what you’ll get:

1. A supporter badge on all your comments.

2. Ten to twelve posts a month specifically for fan subscribers, and no one else.

3. Free phone backgrounds and laptop backgrounds.

4. Discounts on short stories, prints, and E-books.

5. Exclusive behind-the-scenes, unfiltered content of my adventures and writing news.

It’s been one wild ride, and I can’t thank you all enough. Looking forward to the future, and continuing to learn and explore! Stay tuned for fresh writing news.

Yours truly in Grand Teton National Park three weeks ago (and showerless for three days, haha).

Walking away from a brutal crash in Jackson, Wyoming, and totalling my car.

I shouldn’t have survived.

On May 23rd, while heading from Yellowstone Park to Jackson for a date, I hit a giant elk and destroyed the most reliable,tough car I’ve ever had. The elk was so massive that I saw no sky behind it.

The windshield shattered, the radiator cracked, the engine bent and smoked, spewing fluid onto the Thule and breaking that, too.

The hood saved my life.

Upon hitting the elk, I thought its back legs were going to crash through the windshield and kill me. But the hood crumpled into a shield, blocking the elk. And saving my life.

Wrigley’s collar was still wrapped around the rearview mirror…right where the hood acted as a shield and the glass stopped shattering.

I’m sore and a little beat up. And I shouldn’t be alive. But someone was watching out for me. I still see the impact in my mind, can feel it, can smell the steaming coolant.

Ten days later, I’m still a little shaken. And I feel so LUCKY to be alive. And yesterday, I bought a new Subaru Forester in beautiful Whitefish, Montana. There’s been so much death and destruction lately. And for me personally, I’ve never been big on couches and walls. I put myself out into the world, and these are the kinds of dangers that result from that.

It’s been a long time since I posted here, thanks to a growing audience on my Facebook. But I hope to post here more often. I’ll be working the national parks and forests until late October, filming wildlife and focusing on writing projects.

Thanks everyone for sticking by me. I appreciate you all. It’s been a wild ride. Literally.

Goodbye to my Crosstrek, which *not once* left me stranded in 130,000 miles despite being used for much, much more than going to Costco. It took a thousand pound elk to stop that car.

Best,

– Michael

The Crosstrek at the collision center. Note Wrigley’s collar.

The new Forester.

There is no goodbye

There is no goodbye.

Missoula. The Hollywood Hills. Santa Monica. Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Six Rivers NF. Klamath NF. Redwood National Park. Mt. Shasta Wilderness. The Hollywood Loews. Willamete NF. Deschutes NF. Colville NF. Idaho Panhandle NF. The Davenport Grand (haha). Lolo NF. Flathead NF. Bitterroot NF. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Rogue River-Siskiyou NF. Flathead Lake. The Pacific Ocean. Lake Couer D’ALene, The National Bison Range. The Mission Mountains. Glacier National Park. And campgrounds, parks, trails, and roadways too numerous to mention.

We saw moose, wolves, grizzlies, elk, bison, walruses, seals, eagles, foxes, black bears, owls, chipmunks, waterfalls, peaks, endless forests and glorious sunsets. We were free. Each morning brimming with possibilities.

20,000 miles in 8 months, together. Somehow, we wrote the perfect ending even though I never saw it coming. You never showed me even the slightest symptom my friend, until twelve days before you left my side.

–

Last week, Wrigley died peacefully on my lap as I pet him and told him I loved him.

He went out on top.

12.5 years ago, I adopted Wrigley with my friend Sarah from the Chicago pound. Strangely, he’d been left alone in a large metal cage in the pit bull section. He had numerous infections, and would throw himself at the cage bars when we walked past, purring intensely. When Sarah and I walked away from his cage, he’d make sure we heard him. He never gave up on us. He chose us.

Many of you have seen him adventuring with me on social media, and he’s gained quite a following. The thing is, Wrigley didn’t have an owner, and I didn’t own him. He and I simply had a 12 year bromance.

He displayed a level of beauty, awareness, and intelligence I have yet to see matched by another animal. He was a beast, too! More like a lynx.

I’m in shock at how fast all this happened.

Thank you all for the kind words of love, support, and encouragement regarding this situation. Wrigley was there for the creation of all my novels…there for all the cool stuff…there for the adventure. There by my side, always.

But most of all, above everything else, Wrigley was an original. And his loss is a void that simply can’t be filled.

I still see him out of the corner of my eye, still expect him to come running when I emerge from the shower, still expect to see him happily putting his paws on the center console and staring at the highway with big eyes as if to say, “where to next? This is fun!”.

He *fascinated* me. He was a light that people were drawn to. When I took him on walks, people immediately approached, their faces filled with wonder. “He’s so huge and handsome” and “his eyes are amazing” were the compliments he received the most. That’s just the effect he had. He was a joy.

I hope I had that effect on him.

Before leaving on this crazy adventure, Wrigley would sometimes “yowl” in my Missoula house during the early morning hours. After researching this behavior on the internet, I found that yowling means a cat is bored.

Wrigley didn’t yowl once in the last eight months.

Last September, Wrigley and I drove Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park at 1am. We had the park to ourselves. As we climbed the winding road to Logan Pass, the roadside trees kneeled in the wind as leaves pirouetted in the headlights. I parked at Logan Pass and got out, fighting the wind as I opened the door. I slung Wrigley over my shoulder and we looked towards the sky. To the west, lightning flashed across the horizon, illuminating nearby peaks. To the east, the sky remained clear and braced with shimmering stars. We stood there in the night, feeling the wind, watching the universe, hearing the distant rumble of thunder.

My travels will never be the same…will never be as joyful. Nor will my writing days.

But I know Wrigley would want me to try.

I won’t say goodbye, my friend. There’s no such thing. We are all one in the end.

Wrigley adventuring in Northern California, March. That’s 14,000 foot Mount Shasta behind him.

Black Friday and BookBub

Hey everyone, I hope your Thanksgiving week has been amazing.

My novel BLACK FRIDAY has been accepted by the editorial staff at BookBub for a holiday season feature, starting December 2nd.

It’s not easy to get into BookBub, and I’m proud and excited the novel will be presented to their huge audience.

If you haven’t purchased a copy of the book yet, and have interest, now is the time to do so. You can grab a copy here. Horror Novel Reviews summarized the novel better than I can, lol.

Black Friday is a glorious work of literature. The characters live and love and breathe and think and speak. They are visceral entities with powerful backstories and fallible moral compasses. Hodges’ characterization takes these human beings by the hand and forces them to evolve into spectacular shadows of their former selves. He uses exquisite prose to carve out detailed thoughts and emotions.

The Wolf, the Wilderness, and I

A unique and incredible thing happened in late October. While hiking in Glacier, I had a once in a lifetime encounter with a wolf.

Due to the weather, I was lucky to have this portion of the park to myself. As a copse of pine trees kneeled in the wind, I had a deep sense that creatures were stirring other than me. My thoughts evolved beyond my self-involvement, to thoughts of ecosystem and planet. There was no Hallmark Card sentimentality, no self-improvement jargon, Just me, in a promising wilderness breathing clean air.

I decided to hike in a rugged wildlife corridor I’m familiar with. Visibility was poor in the falling snow. A half hour into this corridor and brutal wind, I caught a glimpse of movement along a stand of leafless aspen. At first I didn’t quite understand what I was seeing. I knew it was an animal. My first thought was “coyote” as the animal exited the tree line into the meadow.

A moment later I knew better.

A wolf stared back at me. Looked me right in the eyes.

There in the falling snow, in the Glacier wilderness, the wolf gave me thirty seconds. I had my camera out and was able to fire off a couple dozen images. However, at the end, as the wolf continued to stare at me, I let my camera fall to my side.

And I just enjoyed the moment.

An unspoken understanding occurred between us. Man and wolf. We had just the right amount of space and respect. I never felt fear. Just admiration for a truly special animal…admiration for an original.

I blinked snow out of my eyes, and when I opened them the wolf was halfway back to the aspens.

In the fading visibility the wolf turned to regard me one last time, and then disappeared.

I hiked back to the trailhead. The wind stopped blowing, the landscape hushed. I thought about how incredible my time in Montana has been.

When a wolf crosses your path, you know you’re headed in the right direction.

Best,

– Michael

Whew. What a crazy few months.

I’ve been on the road. A lot. I’ve been in Hollywood, Redwood, Oregon, Washington, Montana and all points in-between.

Thing are coming. Cool things. The re-write on THE PULLER script started today, and I have a new novel coming. It’s very descriptive and dark, and is absolutely in the same literary style of THE PULLER…but it takes place in Montana. My agent and I are crafting into it’s best possible form right now.

My social media presence continues to grow organically. I focus on my verified Facebook and Instagram, both of which use the same handle: @michaelhodgesauthor If you want more frequent updates from me, those are the places to be.

I’m sorry that I can’t answer everyone’s messages. I simply don’t have the time but I try to get to as many as I can.

I’m looking forward to launching thee cool projects on you all soon. Thanks for sticking with me.

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"Great are the sounds of all that live." – Acts of Man by Midlake

A post shared by Michael Hodges (@michaelhodgesauthor) on Aug 5, 2019 at 1:53pm PDT

The New Year

Hey everyone, I hope the new year has been amazing for you all.

I’ve got cool writing news coming, but in the meantime be sure to check out my social media pages. I focus primarily on my Instagram and verified Facebook page.

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The dominant bull of the park. The biggest bull moose I've ever seen in the lower 48, and by far the most impressive in all attributes. He doest make much noise. You don't see him calling out a lot or hanging with the smaller bulls. He doesn't need to. It's his valley. When I run into him, he gives me a minute at best, as if I'm on a timer. I was flat on my stomach for this shot, strong winds chopping the water, temps below freezing. We watched each other, in an almost mutual and unspoken understanding. Of course, this doesn't last long before he saunters into the deep woods. Maybe I see him a year later…a brief glimpse of his unique antlers hovering through the woods. Or maybe I don't see him for two years. And that's okay.

A post shared by Michael Hodges (@michaelhodgesauthor) on Feb 3, 2019 at 12:44pm PST

Huge black bear, Glacier National Park.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Wishing you and yours all the best in 2019.

I’ve got some really cool news coming. In the meantime, check out my social media pages. I focus on my verified Facebook and Instagram.

Best,

-Michael

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A massive black bear in Glacier. I was filming a landscape image and staring through the viewfinder when I felt "something wasn't right". When I turned, this bear stood on a rock outcrop watching me. That's how silent he was. We stared at each other for a bit, and then I walked away. In late fall/early winter, bears are scrambling for calories. But I was the intruder in this scenario, not the bear. So I left him to his search in the 40mph winds and freezing environment of Glacier.

A post shared by Michael Hodges (@michaelhodgesauthor) on Dec 8, 2018 at 5:31pm PST