I wrote a book
When COVID shut everything down, my job as a writer for a small ship adventure cruise company didn’t last long. Like so many others, I scrambled to find work. When the typical searches resulted in nothing of promise, I turned to a less likely resource: Craigslist. And there, I found a job posting for a writer who liked to travel, knew Idaho, and had a bent for outdoor recreation. I must’ve read and reread that job description for half a day. It seemed to describe me to a T. It was like finding the golden ticket.
After several of the most positive interviews I’ve ever had—they were so comfortable and I clicked so quickly with the acquisitions manager, Nikki, I kept pinching myself to ensure that yes, this was real—I was offered a contract to write the new edition of Moon Idaho for Moon Guides.
Starting in early spring 2021, I began traveling the state to research places to visit, things to see and do, where to stay and eat. My first stop was Bruneau Sand Dunes, Lawson’s Emu-Z-Um, and Shoefly Oolite Trail. The last big stop was up north at Priest Lake in early November, staying at the wonderful Hill’s Resort where we woke up one morning to winter’s first dusting of snow. It was magical.
Traveling the state to research and write this book was a great adventure. But in a state as huge and spectacular as Idaho, how could I share everything worth doing in only 500-ish pages? The choosing, and then researching and writing was a monumental challenge for me. So many nights, Neal would bring me dinner to my little office so that I could keep pounding away at the keyboard working into the early morning hours in order to meet a deadline. The last chapter was sent off to my amazing editor, Leah Gordon, on May 2, 2022. I won’t forget that date for a long time!
Another date I will remember for a long, long time—May 30, 2023. I am so proud and happy to share that next Tuesday, my book is released. I hope travelers new to Idaho and long-time lovers of the Gem state will find it informative and helpful on their own adventures.