and yes. it was indeed a Big Adventure for me!
i just returned from a week long writing retreat
in gorgeous San Miguel de Allende. the reason it
was a Big Adventure is twofold:

1. this was the first writing retreat i had ever attended.

2. this was the first time i’ve truly traveled abroad
for pleasure since my ten year anniversary trip to fiji
back in 2007.

i honestly didn’t know what to expect.
and i worried–as even tho i’ve been to many
countries and love traveling–i had never traveled
abroad alone. even if mexico is pretty close.
also, i’m just a worrier. it’s only become worse
since spawning the rabid monkeys. it is my new
superpower. haha!

well, i needn’t have worried. one of the reasons
i couldn’t say no to this retreat was because it had
authors attending whom i like that wrote books i love.
i had met delia sherman, sarah rees brennan, holly
black and cassandra clare before and had hung out
with all of them briefly–but never like this!

never in a bubble of non-stop books, craft and plot
talk. in the pool. over meals. while walking to restaurants
or going for ice cream. there was always someone to Talk
Story with. and it was amazing and wonderful. it truly felt
magical and like a trip of a lifetime.

now i want to go back!
but instead, i console myself by sharing fotos! =D

*the cathedral on the square.

*and this was the converging crowd in front of it on a
sunday afternoon. theo asked if i wanted to take a foto
with those giant puppet things in the back, but NO, i was
too afraid. *runs away screaming*

*the same cathedral lit up gloriously at night. the square
is especially filled with tourists and locals with families on weekends,
but also on weekdays, late into the evenings. the san miguel
folk definitely enjoyed their outdoor space and sense of community.

*walking down hilly cobblestoned paths for an
early dinner.

*this was our earliest dinner at 6.30pm on a roof deck
mexican restaurant. (delicious!) i think it was early because
we were meeting Franny Billingsley (who happened to be there
for a writing conference). she was lovely to meet and, of course,
we talked books! it was especially cool as both Franny and Delia
had just found out they had been short listed for the Norton for
Chime and The Freedom Maze.

*the restaurant was next to this cathedral? the architecture
and colors of the city were gorgeous.

*i wandered alone on the roof top a bit to snap
touristy fotos. how could i resist? it was a beautiful sunset.

*another view from the roof top deck.

*(this foto just fills me with joyful glee!)
for all you sarah rees brennan fans out there, you may
or may not know this, but sarah’s grace (as introduced
by kristin cashore) is “reenactment”. partly because she has
a boundless and astounding memory, and partly because she
can reenact with such enthusiastic conviction. we were very
much entertained! <3

*theo (who is an artist) proved to be an excellent
shopping companion with fantastic taste. (i would venture
that he is much more chic than i am and has more Exciting
Clothes than i do as well! 8) i did get some great shopping in
and am the owner of a gorgeous pair of boots thanks to theo’s
addiction to boot hunting. he stopped to buy a pinata. it was a hot
day and we were hauling four pairs of boots between us, i think.

*thanks to delia for taking a foto of me in my cool
new cowgirl boots. they are super pointy in the front which
is something i shy away from (never bought) but these
boots are super comfortable. amazingly comfortable! i bought
the typewriter tee at union square market when i was visiting
for BEA. it reads: Tap That on the bottom. *guffaws*

*on my last full day in our wonderful writing villa, i went
to our own rooftop garden to take some fotos.

*a view of probably one of the biggest hot
tubs in san miguel. it’s only meant to be a heated pool,
but let’s just say i wasn’t complaining when we prematurely
used up all the propane. ahem.

*i wasn’t able to get a complete group foto with
the lovely ladies of the retreat. so there are two!
(me, holly, sarah and delia.)

(me, holly, cassie and sarah.)

and now, i tackle revising novel 3 for the final time!
so close. =D