James Dain Takes a Hike
At twenty, James set out to hike the Appalachian Trail. A thousand miles later, he understood what he had been fleeing from.
Notes from the desk
The Blog
Inspiration, Perspiration and the Surprise at the End
James Dain reflects on the uneasy balance between careful planning, daily discipline, and the discoveries that reshape a novel as it is written.
"Artist Residency"—Vacation or Work?
Nine artists, a hilltop village in Provence, and the eternal question: is an artist residency a retreat, a vacation, or hard labor?
Vincent and Theo Redux
Reading Vincent van Gogh's letters, a memory of two people talking past each other—and what Vincent really wanted from his brother Theo.
Before There Was Amazon, There Was Sears
For over a hundred years, the thick Sears catalog was more than a shopping guide. It was a wish book and a connection to the wider world.
Gated
Palm Springs is known for sunshine, palm trees, and mid-century architecture. But it should also be known for something else: gated communities.
Encounter in the Borrego Desert
Deep in the desert wasteland between California's Salton Sea and the small town of Borrego Springs, a dragon awaits unwary visitors.
Scaling Mt. Whitney
I often drive north on Highway 395 to go skiing at Mammoth Mountain in central California. The road skirts the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada, and as you head north the peaks rise in a kind of escalating drama.
A Life in Lunch Buckets
Watching my friend Larry carry his lunch to work kicked something loose in my head—a memory of my father heading off to the steel mill, gray lunch bucket swinging from his hand.
Joshua Tree in Winter
Joshua Trees are strange, archaic-looking things—stubby, twisting branches, gnarled elbows, no leaves. They look less like trees than like a child's bottle-brush drawing of a prehistoric plant.
A Short Guide to the American Thanksgiving
For my readers outside the U.S., Thanksgiving is perhaps the most American of holidays—a late-November Thursday dedicated to turkey, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and enough starches to astonish even Babar the Elephant.
Reflections on Palm Springs Modernism
In the early 1990s, Palm Springs felt like a faded resort town barely hanging on. Still, to me, Palm Springs was a wonderland—a mid-century dreamscape of glass walls and butterfly roofs.
The Case of the Crappy Pet Insurance Lawyer
When my lovable little dog, Dapple, needed surgery for a bladder stone, the vet bill topped $4,100. Painful, but not catastrophic, since I'd had pet insurance on her since day one.
The Hardest Lesson
François Truffaut, the great French film director, once said, "When I start a film, I intend to make a masterpiece. Halfway through, I hope just to cross the finish line."
I Am a Tourist
Mass tourism is ruining Italy. Such is the growing complaint—from Italians at least—tired of the hordes of tourists descending like locusts. Yet, I confess, this summer in Italy, I am part of the swarm.
Why Italy Keeps Pulling Me Back
I'm spending a few weeks here in mid-July in Bracciano, a charming Italian town just north of Rome that I stumbled into by accident a few years ago.
Caffeine Memories
Some writers glug from a bottle to fuel their work—Faulkner, Fitzgerald, Hemingway—but others, myself included, prefer to sip our creativity awake with coffee.
Discovering the Secrets of Racetrack Playa
Recently, I journeyed to Racetrack Playa, deep into the remote heart of California's Death Valley.
Plein Air Week in Borrego Springs
Plein air painting—creating art outdoors, in direct sunlight and shadow—brings to mind Monet's haystacks or Renoir's sun-dappled picnic scenes.
More Blood on the Mountain
It's January again, which means I'm back on the slopes at Big Bear Mountain Resort in California, where I've been a snowboard instructor for some 19 years.
On the Slow Road to Dansville
When I first started writing thrillers, I planned to be a faster writer. I imagined cranking out a book every six months.
A Trip to Charleston
To escape the punishing summer heat of Palm Springs—and to get some concentrated work done on my upcoming thriller—I recently took a cruise up the East Coast of the United States to Quebec, Canada.
Coming Down to Earth
We had just taken off from the Dayton, Ohio, airport when I heard the noise. It was a clunking, metal-against-metal grinding sound.
James Dain's Bigfoot Encounter
On a recent trip to my brother in Ohio, he casually mentioned he had recently encountered Bigfoot--right there on his farm.
Beyond the Edge: A Terrifying Journey
Facing fear on the steep slopes of Mammoth Mountain during advanced snowboard training.
How Not to Discover a Secret Oasis
An "easy hike" to a desert oasis that turned into a challenging climb with Dapple in tow.
Pay Yourself First: A Lesson from Mark Harris
Writing advice from author Mark Harris that helped produce four novels in six years.
A Day at Liberty Station
Exploring San Diego's Liberty Station, a former naval training center transformed into an arts and food destination.
Hiking to Big Falls, the Hard Way
A challenging hike through icy streams in Nevada's Spring Mountains that didn't quite reach the destination.
James Dain Survives a Blizzard
Battling eight feet of snow at Big Bear Mountain, plus a scared dog who hates car rides.
La Jolla Beach Adventure
Taking photos with Taylor, saving a wounded seal, and dealing with a bad dog back home.