Dear Friends,

And now it’s almost the holidays. Where did the time go? In some ways it has been the longest Autumn ever—I swear, October was about 100 days long! But in others, it’s flown by.

Life has continued to be interesting, hasn’t it? We’ve decided to move back to our original Chicago condo, the one we left (and rented out) when we made our move to Virginia in 2020. When we returned home to Chicago in 2022 we decided to keep it rented and buy something smaller, in a high rise. We don’t want to own 2 properties any longer and are looking forward to moving back to our first city home. But of course there are so many logistics involved—showing our current house, working with the renters, being ready to go into temporary housing if necessary. Whew! When will I find time to write?

Well, I’ve made time to write. I’m currently in one of my happy places, Colorado, for a solo retreat. I’ve given myself a solid week to finish this manuscript (I’m very near the end) and start polishing it so I can turn it in by the end of the year.

I first did a solo writing retreat in Colorado way back in the 2000s, before I even was published. It meant a lot to me; it was the first time I’d traveled on my own. Always before, I’d traveled with family or friends. I was over 40 when I took my first solo trip and I’ve never looked back. I don’t always get to do this for every book; sometimes life gets in the way, or the timing isn’t right. I like to go in late Autumn because it’s off season (cheaper!) and much quieter. But it only works for me if I’m nearing the end of the book. The last time I was here was November of 2019 when I finished up The Children’s Blizzard. (And appropriately, it snowed the entire time!)

I know many writers who do group retreats, and while it works for them and they get a lot out of the communal aspect, I know that wouldn’t work for me. I am a loner at heart and that’s one reason why I became a writer, so I could live in my own fictional worlds with imaginary people for long stretches at a time, on my own schedule. In my PJs if I feel like it. I don’t have to be social, except for when a new book publishes and I get to tour. (Don’t get me wrong—I like people. I really do! But I’m finally able to own that I’m happiest with my own company, and my husband’s, and a few select people for short amounts of time. I’ve always felt that I should apologize for this, for some reason.)

Early on, I knew that for me, I had to rely on my own instincts, my own voice, when it came to writing. I don’t want to share my work with others until it’s almost perfect. I enjoy collaborating with my editor but I can’t imagine letting anyone else read it and weigh in on it. Ultimately, the buck stops here—with me. I’ve always believed it’s important for authors to be their own most critical editor and I’ve worked hard to learn those skills as I’ve progressed in my career. So, solo it is.

I’m also looking forward to being in one of my personal favorite places, away from the noise that has been this season. I need time to recharge my batteries. I love my husband dearly but I have always needed my alone time, and he really gets that. I’m very lucky!

Do you have a place like this, a place that brings you peace as well as inspiration, a place that you need to go back to every year or so? I hope you do. I don’t think we realize how much we need to unplug and reset; sometimes life is just so challenging and consuming, and we don’t remember to put ourselves first.

If you follow me on FB and IG, I’ll be sharing photos from my mountain retreat. And as always, please consider following the podcast I do with my friend Edward Kelsey Moore, called Who the Hell Are We?

And don’t forget to put yourself first sometimes, especially as the holidays approach.

Love,

Melanie

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