Over the mountains and through the desert
Last weekend, I went to the second year of a new sf/f convention, Fandom Verse Expo 2015 in Antelope Valley.
Because the trip was long (2 hours each way) and I had a full day of panels and a booksigning, and because he was curious what the scenery would be like, my husband drove me.
I took some pictures on highway 138, between I-15 and the con. Here are some of the better ones so that you can see a different type of desert landscape than I've posted before. Notice how the amount and type of vegetation changes over the stretch of highway, as well as the shape and smoothness or roughness of the mountains.
Because the trip was long (2 hours each way) and I had a full day of panels and a booksigning, and because he was curious what the scenery would be like, my husband drove me.
I took some pictures on highway 138, between I-15 and the con. Here are some of the better ones so that you can see a different type of desert landscape than I've posted before. Notice how the amount and type of vegetation changes over the stretch of highway, as well as the shape and smoothness or roughness of the mountains.
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Robin
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Sep 18, 2015 10:18AM
It looks very much like my neck of the woods in Pioneertown, CA, near Joshua Tree National Park. That's where we have a private eco- retreat and wildlife sanctuary - www.highdeserteden.com.
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I've looked at your Website. You have some truly beautiful scenery near you. What a wonderful place to write! Someday I want to book the cabin for a writing and hiking retreat. Robin wrote: "It looks very much like my neck of the woods in Pioneertown, CA, near Joshua Tree National Park. That's where we have a private eco- retreat and wildlife sanctuary - www.highdeserteden.com."
I've written 10 of my 12 novels here. It is incredibly nurturing to creativity. Our guests say that it's everything from inspirational to a spiritual experience, to a place for healing to life-changing. I hope you do come, Shauna. It would be lovely to meet you!
Sounds lovely, both the spiritual experience and meeting you. I'd love to bring one of my critique group members, next time one visits, too. They'd be stunned by the scenery.I need to pull Signora da Vinci and The Wild Irish from my to-read piles and actually read them now so that I won't be embarrassed when I meet you.
Robin wrote: "I've written 10 of my 12 novels here. It is incredibly nurturing to creativity. Our guests say that it's everything from inspirational to a spiritual experience, to a place for healing to life-chan..."
Sounds like a great idea! Hope you can make it happen sooner than later. I've considered having an event called "Book Club Weekend Getaway." There are a number of other vacation rentals very nearby in beautiful locations, and I thought it would be cool to get either an already established book club or put one together. Bring everybody here having read the same book. There would be stunning accommodations, gourmet food, nature walks right on our property (22 acres) or on the 33,000 acre Wildlands Preserve adjacent to us, and yoga and breathing classes with my husband, one of America's great yogis. Then, of course, discussions about the chosen book and other subjects pertinent to publishing, for example how the publishing world has changed since I started writing novels in 1997.It's been an idea for several years now, but I've always been too busy to actually put my mind towards putting one together. What do you think the reality of something like that would be?
It sounds wonderful. Every reader would love to do that. On the practical side, it would be a lot of hard work for you to put together. It might be difficult to even find attendees for something so luxurious until the economy improves more, unless you spread your search for attendees across the US. I don't know what the job market is like on your side of the mountains, but in the Inland Empire, a lot of people are still unemployed and underemployed.
Oh, the economy stinks here, too. I once had a book club from Palos Verde express interest (that's a pretty affluent community), but I never followed up. Otherwise, I think you're right, I'd have to pull a group together from all over the place, and that could be difficult.On the other hand if I could make it a 1-day event (no one needing accommodations, and it could be more local), that might work. People could come from as far as 2 hours away, perhaps. A morning session, a nice lunch and an afternoon session. Just spit-balling here.
A one-day event sounds much more affordable (in time and money) for participants. A day is still long enough to have good discussions and to make new friends.On the other hand, with so little time, participants will miss out on one or two of the big attractions of your location—the yoga and/or the wandering around the desert.
Are you thinking of inviting readers or writers? Do you have ideas for finding them within a two-hour drive radius?
This is strictly for readers (or writers who love to read). I am not a writing teacher! But I do give good book club talks, and I have lectured (everything from book store readings, to keynote speeches, to talks on Tarzan and Jane at Tarzan conventions, to panel member at the L.A. Times Festival of Books and at the San Diego Comic-Con, to radio and TV interviews) on the subject of my books and on writing (Learning Annex). Yes, it would be a shame not to take advantage of the gorgeous surroundings and the yogi mon. Maybe I could just be one session about the book (with a Q&A about the biz), then a wee hike and a wee yoga class. A jam-packed-get-your-money's worth-day.I think there are plenty of Max's students and my fans in the high desert who would come for a 1-day-er, but I'd really love to get folks that I don't know, too. Just haven't got a clue how to round them up. I'm not really adept at using Goodreads. Do you think there's any way to "advertise" here?
Do you belong to any Yahoo groups or Facebook groups? When I wanted to publicize a new audiobook, I asked in a couple of FB groups where I could give away the free trial codes, and someone gave me a long list of sites on FB and Goodreads where people were interested in audiobooks.The problem with Goodreads is that there seems to be hundreds, if not thousands, of groups. And then there are topics within groups. So I'm almost certain there are places on Goodreads and FB to announce a one-day book discussion and yoga retreat, but I don't know what they are. I'm not facile with Goodreads either.
