Northwest Perks

Kristine Grayson

When people hear that I live in the Pacific Northwest, they assume I came for the rain. I did come for the weather—I was raised in Northern Wisconsin where the summers hit 90 degrees and the winters could go to minus 30 (without wind-chill). So living in a temperate climate truly appealed to me.

But everyone assumes writers stay indoors, and rain keeps them there. Naw. In fact, I like the rain. It’s usually warm, and I take a daily walk, rain or shine.

What brought me to the Pacific Northwest were other writers. Science fiction and mystery writers Damon Knight and Kate Wilhelm lived in Eugene, Oregon. After my future husband Dean Wesley Smith and I visited them while on a trip looking for neutral territory to live, we thought Eugene might be a good environment. Lots of writers lived nearby. Even more moved to the city later.

Ultimately, Eugene wasn’t to our taste. We moved to the Oregon Coast, where even more writers live. From Jean Auel to some playwrights whose work you know, but whose names you never heard of, writers flock to this place. And even more show up to visit. Just last week, two bestselling mystery writers dropped in unannounced.

We have a weekly lunch for professional writers only, and anywhere from ten to twenty writers attend. We keep up with the industry and we gossip about cats. What else would writers do?

But I have to admit that one thing I love about the coast is its quiet. I do get a lot done, primarily because there isn’t a lot to do here. We have seven movie theaters, a summer concert series, and that’s about it. The beach appeals, but everything else in town shuts down around 9 p.m.

I can’t get distracted because there’s nothing to distract me. And except when I’ve finished a book and want to Party!!!, I like it that way. At those times, I visit places like Los Angeles, where my latest novel, Charming Blue, is set. I get some business done, I see friends, and I do lots and lots of things you can’t do on the Oregon Coast.

Then I come home, climb into my little office, and make things up—rain or shine.

Charming Blue

Fates #8

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