Writers'
& Artists' Hideouts: Great Getaways for Seducing the Muse ,
by Andrea Brown
This eclectic guide by Andrea Brown will
introduce you to nearly 530 of the most interesting resorts
and B&B's you are ever likely to find in any other guide
book. The underlying premise of Writers' & Artists'
Hideouts is that writers need sanctuaries away from their
day-to-day work environments to achieve greatness, or maybe
just to finish a manuscript. As a working writer who is constantly
under one deadline or another, I too, enjoy discovering new
places to go and unwind. Even though I don't need a remote
haven to write in, I do value time in a serene spot to read.
For those who want a chance to write in uninterrupted solitude
or those (like me) who want a chance to catch up on their
reading, Brown's book offers an enticing array of destinations.
Making these hideaways all the more appealing are the short
passages penned by novelists and poets sprinkled among the
listings. These tips for enticing a muse to come out and play
are both inspiring and motivating.
I've been to a few of the places profiled
in this book, and can attest that Brown's write-ups are accurate
and helpful. The book includes destinations in 49 of the 50
US states (North Dakota is the only one unrepresented). The
listings are further divided into ten geographic regions.
Perhaps not surprisingly, since the author's home is in California,
the western states have a larger number of listings. Descriptions
are concise, and each one includes a brief discussion about
the unique features of the property, general information about
the cost, and contact information. A listing by city of all
the venues makes the book especially easy to use.
This a great book for "random paging,"
a sure-fire way to awaken serious wanderlust. One place I
want to check out is The Empress of Little Rock in Arkansas,
which serves a full breakfast by candlelight. I'd also like
to stay at the Mount Elbert Lodge, which is perched on a mountain
ridge near Aspen, Colorado. Two more attractive options are
the Channel Road Inn in the Santa Monica Mountains in Los
Angeles -- for those wishing to emulate "lifestyles of
the rich and famous" -- and the Sylvia Beach Hotel in
Newport, Oregon. The Sylvia is particularly made-to-order
for writers -- each of the twenty rooms has a literary theme,
and breakfast is served in the "Table of Contents"
room.
Writers' & Artists' Hideouts
reveals dozens of off-the-beaten path retreats you would probably
never find on your own. Whether you want to seduce your muse
or just need an escape from the rat race, this book is a wonderful
and inspiring guide.
Mark
Sedenquist
5/23/08
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