Hey everyone, greetings from a wintry scene in Missoula. I’ve been writing all day and keeping toasty. However, I have some cool news concerning my short story collection “The Gloaming” coming soon. Also, Facebook recently made major changes to pages. You can now follow my official fan page here.
It looks like wolves are poised to return to Colorado thanks to voters and a re-introduction initiative. Although Colorado is home to beautiful mountains and national forests, the state is rather tame compared to Montana due to the lack of native predators like wolves and grizzlies.
Let’s hope this changes very soon.
I took this image of a wild wolf in Glacier National Park last fall, when Wrigley was still alive. It was our last trip into Glacier together. I’ll never forget you, old friend. It was an honor to have you at my feet for almost thirteen years. What a day we had in Glacier.
Well folks, it’s been an interesting time since last March, hasn’t it? With Halloween approaching (my favorite holiday) I wanted to delve into a writing update, social media update, and a thank you to a few people.
First, I’m sitting on a couple film deal announcements based on my stories. And I’m very proud of who is making these films. Over the last two years I’ve slowed my roll and shifted to screenplays and development. BUT…I’m now working on a new novel based on a short story called “Lost Planes, Lost River”. I’m exciting to be getting back to writing an epic, along with finishing THE PULLER screenplay.
People sometimes say to me “you’re lucky you’re a writer, Covid messed my job up”. But Covid also messed my job up. I was down in LA March 20th, and had really cool meetings set up with various figures in the entertainment industry (along with a talent agency) and the city was shut down two days later and all my meetings turned to zooms, and ultimately I ended up leaving LA for Montana even though the plan was to move to LA. I still remember my agent Lane walking up the street in the Hollywood Hills with his suitcase, trying to catch his flight. That’s the last time I saw him in person.
And to the “thank you” section. I want to thank the front line workers of Missoula for putting their asses on the line to keep this place running. People like my friend Caitlin, a barista at my favorite coffee shop. Or Denton, the pharmacist. Or my doctor, Dr. Acharya. Or the cleaning crew and front desk staff at my hotel, like William and Julie.
These are the people keeping this city alive during this crappy pandemic. And I CANNOT do what I do without them.
Finally, I should mention that Facebook recently invited me to their fan subscription program. You can sign up @michaelhodgesauthor for all kinds of unique content, from writing news to photography to everyday life content.
Thanks everyone. Be well.
Best,
– Michael
Late fall has turned into winter, and I doubt I’ll be filming my moose friends in the water this year. But hey, that’s the way wildlife photography goes. Each year brings something different, and you roll with the changes.
By the way, moose are a featured species in my debut novel, “The Puller”.
Well everyone, it looks like winter is here. How do I feel about it? the freezing temps and snow are cute for a few days. Then it turns into a relentless grind. It’s character forming, however.
Recently, the Washington Post wrote about the “land rush” here in Montana, and how residents from places like New York and California are “escaping Covid-19”.
They are in for a big surprise. I’ve heard estimates of 35,000 new residents. Many of whom bought houses sight unseen. This weekend, western Montana was slammed with below zero temps and up to a foot of snow. And it’s not even Halloween.
I’m not quite sure why California residents, or Oregon residents are bailing for Montana. The weather here is FAR WORSE than either of those states, both of which you have the option of driving to “new weather” within a half hour drive. This is not the case for Montana. What you see is what you get…for hundreds of miles.
I’m also a little confused as to why California residents would pass up the tens of millions of undiscovered acres and federal land between San Francisco and Montana. That’s a lot of amazing scenery, and much better weather they’re just skipping across.
And finally, I’ve never quite understood why people “escape the cities and suburbs” yet bring that exact property aesthetic to the new place (in this case the Rockies, and in this case cutting down native flora and replacing it with golf course lawns). I plan to write some more about this, and it is of course detailed in a few of my unpublished novels I have set aside for a rainy day.
Anyway greetings from Montana. It’s freaking cold.
