welcome to my First Blog Post!

(Is it too late to toast in the New Year?)

Like almost every other human being on the planet, I’m all in on the “new year, new habits” mantra, starting with actually writing a blog.  I’ve talked about it for years, I’ve written three books since I started thinking about it so it’s not like I couldn’t write the words. ​You know what it was?  I don’t think I’m that interesting! ​​

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And it’s so confusing—a good length for a post is either 300, 600, or 1,200 words depending on who you ask. I spent months trying to figure out the perfect post before I finally said the heck with it. As Wayne Gretzky (probably) said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” #GoKingsGo.

​So bear with me while I allow myself to be imperfect and attempt to grow this blog, get guest bloggers, maybe even review books and such. Time will tell.  I thought I’d start off this blogging journey writing about the things that interest me the most; small and/or quirky inns, wine, whiskey, and books.  Let’s start with one of my favorite places to go for a long weekend or fall getaway…

Silver Pines Lodge, Idyllwild CA

​I originally stayed at the Silver Pines a few years ago (in the Before Times) as part of CineStory’s* television writers’ retreat where I was a mentor.  I’d been to Idyllwild before to partake in the same retreat but that was the first year I stayed at Silver Pines and I fell in love.  The rooms all have names rather than numbers and each is unique into itself. All woodsy, all the time. Fireplaces in most rooms and lots of bear motifs that prove the lodge doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s not posh, there are no bathrobes or winery views, but it maxes out on the cozy coefficient.

The lodge has a long history, first built in 1923 according to the lodge website. Then in the 30s it became the Rustic Tavern Restaurante and then the Rustic Theater movie house in 1944.  (That extra “e” at the end of restaurant is the only pretentious thing about the place :D) There’s also a main lodge room with books and games for the whole family.  There’s a fantastic koi pond right behind the main building that makes a delightful burbling sound and Strawberry Creek that, because of our drought, rarely makes a splash but is pretty all the same.

​The setting is just beautiful; a semi-rustic but one hundred percent quirky small town with maybe three traffic lights, one movie theatre with living room furniture for seating, and coffee shops plus ice cream parlors galore. 

Plus a totem pole. Well, it used to have a totem pole, but due to wear and tear it was replaced by a statue that's still pretty cool.  Even if I wasn’t coming from smoggy LA, Idyllwild has fresh mountain air and the bluest sky I’ve ever seen.

​Thanks to CineStory, I’ve been back several times and love it more each time. So when it came time to create my first Cookie Book, “The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder,” it was a no brainer where I wanted to set it.  My fictionalized version of Idyllwild and Silver Pines Lodge doesn’t quite do it justice, but on the flip side the real place is a lot less murder-y!

​Is there an inn, lodge, or tee-pee you love to stay at?  Let me know in the comments below!

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​*CineStory is a fantastic non-profit foundation that supports the careers of television and feature writers from all over the country and indeed the planet. If you are working on a script or even just thinking about it, visit their website for more details.