• “For me, there’s a creative release that comes with writing in a new place. There’s something exciting about being away from home and all its distractions...” — Elissa Haden Guest, author of novels and children’s books
  
  
• “Family and friends won’t confuse an insistence on solitude with rudeness... I holed up at my local Stanford [CA] Park Hotel for two nights of intensive writing. On the last night... I turned out 6,500 words, the last two of which were ‘the end’ A nice demonstration... of how much a writer can do when the plot path is clear and distractions have been eliminated.” — Barry Eisler, bestselling author of Rainfall and Hard Rain, the Putnam/PenguinGroup. (Read the entire quote: Writers’ & Artists’ Hideouts, page 73.)
  
  
• “One needs quiet time to write—to form undisturbed and focused thoughts, and sometimes it is necessary to have a special place. That place can act as a muse, of sorts—a way to allow the creative juices to flow. Getting away can stimulate one’s characters to visit, to raise their voices and show the writer the way they should continue along their journey.” — Kimberley Cameron, literary agent, Reece-Halsey Agency (Read the entire quote: Writers’ & Artists’ Hideouts, page 71.)

Brown’s book also offers testimonials about the getaways listed in its pages:

“I like to sit on the bed in my room at the Monterey [CA] Plaza Hotel, looking out at the sea lions eating their clams...” — Elizabeth Pomada, author and literary agent, Larson-Pomada Agency. (Read the entire quote: Writers’ & Artists’ Hideouts, page 83.)

This tome is clearly tailored to its readership. For example, Brown warns against certain venues during peak season because they’re too noisy to work. Not a critical consideration in most travel books!

Brown also offers tips about what to pack, including cash (“Not too much”) and hotel security (“Tell the desk clerk not to announce your room number at check-in”). She has hand-picked sites that are welcoming and safe, especially for women. All this and more to make your trip “memorable for the right reasons.”

Although Writers’ & Artists’ Hideouts is intended for solo retreats, it lends itself to multi-tasking. Self-disciplined writers may use it to plan a working getaway for their critique group, alternating seclusion with sharing.

Reviewer Nancy Sondel: “If you’re like me, you’ll love browsing through this book cover-to-cover. My imagination kicks in moment I envision any of these lovely locales. Even places I’ve never planned to visit... though now, thanks to these vignettes, I just might!”

Check out the sample entries:

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