Recently, I was in California for six days—four if you don’t count travel days, which were an adventure unto themselves. The trip was related to my soon-to-be-published book, MAYA BLUE A Memoir of Survival, and I had such a fabulous time. I stayed at great hotels; the fresh fruits and vegetable were dazzling—better than anything at the farmers’ markets here in Texas—and the beauty of Santa Barbara, Montecito and Beverly Hills was swoonworthy. Then there’s the incredible writers’ retreat I attended and the awesome women I met. It was just what I needed to reset and get ready for the May 20^th publication date of MAYA BLUE.

Here are some of the photos from my trip, and a few of my favorite things.

The begininng of my trip reminded me of Steve Martin’s 1987 film, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, with an emergency landing thrown in that turned into an airplane that was no longer fit to fly, and a transfer to another aircraft. Add to that, the insane Los Angeles traffic and a two-hour ride to the Art Deco Union train station; the Amtrak Surfliner Train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, countless Ubers and a tour bus, but once I got to Santa Barbara, everything was chill and sublime.

Me and author, Laura Cathcart Robbins, at lunch in Montecito. Photo by @saritarelisphotography.

If you’re a writer; you’re thinking about writing, or you’re interested in books, may I recommend one of Zibby Owens’ Writers’ Retreats? Zibby’s retreats are planned to perfection and held at beautiful boutique hotels around the country, with forays to great restaurants, visits to local bookstores, and numerous panels with talented authors, not to mention the other amazing women you’ll meet on the retreat. 

We each received a blue lapis bracelet, a gift from a jewelry maker friend of Natasha Sizlo, author of All Signs Point to Paris.

Zibby and Kristin Hannah, author of The Women, which has been on the NYT bestseller list for 41 weeks! I loved that book. If you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for? Photo by @saritarelisphotography.

If you don’t know Zibby Owens, Zibby has taken the book world by storm. What started as a podcast in 2018, turned into what the LA Times calls “the Zibby-verse.” Started by author and powerhouse, Zibby Owens, her growing book-related empire includes a publishing house, a podcast, several Instagram accounts, a bookstore in Santa Monica, the retreats she hosts, with more book-related categories to come. 

In addition to Zibby, Graça Tito and Jordan, the wonderful people who work for Zibby, I met so many incredible women, some of whom are authors, and others who aren’t published yet, or who’ve always wanted to write. There’s nothing like finding your tribe to inspire and fuel your well of creativity, so if you’re interested in writing, or you like to read, sign up for Zibby’s Newsletters, follow her on Instagram @Zibby Owens, or follow her podcast @Totally Booked with Zibby. From there, I’ll let you’ll figure out the rest of the Zibby-verse on your own.

Montecito. Photograph @Brenda Coffee

I bought a number of books written by the authors at the retreat, and I’m sharing three of them with you. 

My copy of STASH My Life in Hiding, by Laura Cathcart Robbins, the host of the popular podcast, The Only One in the Room, is already dogeared and well-loved. Named the Best Memoir of 2023 by Elle, STASH is a vivid and compelling story of addiction, a high-profile marriage and Hollywood lifestyle, and self-sabotage. After years of stockpiling and hiding pills in her Louboutins, finding excuses for why she needed to cancel PTA meetings and tennis matches, and an insistent voice of internalized racism that nagged at her as a Black woman in an incredibly white world, Laura reveals her long and riveting journey to sobriety. Laura Cathcart Robbins is a superstar, and her memoir opens up new ways for us to talk about addiction, race, class, and gender. I loved this book and this woman!

LION A Novel, by Sonya Walger, a British and American actress you’ll recognize from starring roles in The Mind of the Married Man, Lost, Tell Me if You Love Me and many more, consumed my flight home and every waking hour until I finished it. Set in multiple exotic locals around the world, LION is an autobiographical novel, which is code for “it’s really a memoir.” At times, I was almost convinced the gorgeous, charismatic, race car driver and cocaine addict was my first husband—the one I write about in MAYA BLUE—instead of Sonya’s real life father. Like Sonya/the young woman in the novel, we both craved their attention, and Sonya’s father and my late husband had a heavy hand into shaping us into the women we became. You won’t find a more beautifully written book anywhere. I can’t wait to read it again.

ON BEING JEWISH NOW: Reflections from Authors and Advocates, by Zibby Owens who collected and edited these important views is about being Jewish at this critical moment in world history. The essays in the book cover a range of emotions, from inspiring and meaningful to funny, sad and emotional, what it means to be Jewish, and how life has changed since the attacks on October 7^th, 2023. Whether you’re Jewish or not, this is a must read book that has the potential to bring us together with more understanding hearts. 

COSMETICS

At one of the showstopping Montecito resorts at Zibby’s Retreat, I found myself in one of Gwyneth’s Goop boutiques. With only a couple of minutes before another panel of great authors began, I did a quick once around the store and was almost out the door when I noticed a round jar of Goop’s Colorblur Glow Balm in the color Whiskey. Color me obsessed! Glow Balm is a sheer, almost translucent pop of cheek color that’s buildable. It’s the ultimate no-makeup makeup. For those of a certain age, I think cream blush is the only way to go, and this one is my new favorite. Softer and sheerer than anything I’ve felt before, I’ve decided it’s made from the gossamer wings of angels.

The other product I want to turn you onto is Soshe’s Waterproof Precision Eyeliner. Hands down, it’s my new favorite eyeliner! Don’t talk to me about another one. The 1.5mm tip is “micro-precise,” which allows you to get so close to the lash line, it doesn’t look like you’re wearing eyeliner, but it gives the allusion that your lashes are lush and thick. I chose a brown color called Lovesick because it doesn’t take away from my eye color or my eyeshadow. I think you’re going to love it.

But back to the Bel-Air Hotel I featured in my first photograph, a 12-acre landscaped, blooming paradise in a gorgeous neighborhood set back from the street.

I completed my stay in California at the stunning Bel-Air hotel in Los Angeles. Westwood to be exact. If you can’t book a room–they feel like individual cottages–you must stop by for lunch, walk through the gardens, follow the stream, and drink in the beauty of the swans.