I finally wrote my newsletter!

And here is a snippet:

Hello, awesome people! I’m writing this, my very first newsletter, while I am on retreat. I had been stalling on writing newsletters. It was all the usual stuff – too busy, too stressed- but in reality, it was all about creating a time and place where I could believe in myself. Finally, I decided I needed to get away from my usual routine, pull back, and focus on just this.

I think everyone needs a chance to pull focus (movie term, yay!), revisit their goals and dreams, and see how they can make them happen. Topics can range from “how am I going to pay this month’s bills” to “how am I going to run this multi-million dollar business in an ethical manner?”

Retreats can range in extravagance from “I’ve got a raspberry popsicle and fifteen minutes to get this figured out” to “I’ve got a month on Richard Branson’s private island”. (If you are able to do that kind of retreat, please invite me.)

Since most of us don’t have *those* kinds of resources, here are some easy and cheap retreat ideas that I use.

1    Going to the library.

o   The local library is a perfect place for a completely free mini-retreat. You can sit down, spread out, and study a problem to your heart’s content.

o   You can find books, magazine, and electronic resources to help with your brainstorming. Some libraries even loan out things like sewing machines and games if you have a need of them.

o   Everyone you know can go to the library and find something to amuse, entertain, and inform them. This is no small thing when you have a bunch of energetic peeps to run herd on.

2  Headphones, your phone, and a long bus/train ride

o   Only slightly more expensive than going to the library is public transportation. I don’t recommend taking your laptop or a paper notebook while you are working on the bus – they are too easily stolen or lost.

o   Staring out the window can be wonderfully soothing and conducive to free-associating. Once, I had the joy of taking Amtrak from Portland, Oregon to Vancouver, BC. On the eight-hour trip, I had so many ideas and solutions that I filled my little travel notebook.

3  Sit in a swanky hotel’s lobby.

o   This is completely free and you get to work in beautiful surroundings with all sorts of cosmopolitan types wandering around. Good for people watching, too. If you are feeling extravagant, you can order a fancy beverage, too

Enjoy your retreat time to clear your brain and find joy in life again!

Recommended Links

Richard Branson’s private island: https://www.virginlimitededition.com/en/necker-island Very ooh-la-la.

Previous writing on Retreats

https://lindamercury.blogspot.com/2013/04/retreats-and-why-we-need-them.html , https://lindamercury.blogspot.com/2016/02/back-in-saddle.html https://lindamercury.blogspot.com/2016/12/self-care-retreats.html ).

I highly recommend going on retreat BEFORE getting sick or causing serious bodily damage

What did you like and what would you like to see more of? Let me know at

LindaMercuryRomance@gmail.com

Oh, and of course, you can buy my books at

https://amzn.to/2GRYlIe

Self-Care: Retreats

The Forest Grove Grand Lodge.

A retreat is a form of radical self-care. It's not always (or usually) possible. If you are in financial tough times, I recommend getting a cheap notebook and scoping some time during your lunch break to empty your brain into it.

You get some time away from your normal schedule and develop your ability to see the trends and patterns that are good for you.


 Back in November of 2016, I took a two-day retreat to clarify my life and my writing. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have a local chain of brew-pubs and hotels called McMenamins.

Buy it HERE.

I went to the Forest Grove Grand Lodge. Here I had several hours to journal, soak, think, and write. (Yeah, and take lots of pictures of the awesome artwork.) I finished my upcoming novella, Keeping It Up (to be released in January 2017), a sequel to Vamping It Up.

Retreats are perfect for refreshing your intelligent, sexy, and curious selves. (If I may be so immodest, allow me to recommend Vamping It Up as a great retreat book!) 

Ok, back on track.

If you can, find a place that is really pretty.

Explore your environment.

You get some time away from your normal schedule and develop your ability to see the trends and patterns that are good for you.





What feeds your head and your soul the best? Written words? Visual Art? Music? Scent? I like to check out art books from the library and read them for a mini-retreat if I don't have time for a proper get-away. 

Isn't this the perfect place to dream?

Gorgeous view out those windows.

McMenamins' locations are known for their whimsical art.

Serious Whimsy.

This was on the ceiling of my room.

A little face to watch over my fire alarm.

My room number: I was almost James Bond.

Back in the saddle.

Buy HERE

The last month has been rough on me. As a result of my push to finish Curse of the Spider Woman, I ignored my body's warning signals and ended up with nerve damage in my hip. Leg numbness and tingling has resulted. As a result of the chronic pain and discomfort, I'd fallen into a depression.


After several months of hoping it would go away, I finally went to a physical therapist. I'm slowly getting better, and that means I'm slowly feeling my mojo coming back. To kick start the whole process, I've taken a short retreat to the Oregon Coast.

Haystack Rock

 To the right is my view from my hotel room. The big monolith is Haystack Rock, the little guys are called (get this), The Needles. Oregonians are pretty funny, no?

Cool sand and oil patterns

Couldn't seem to prevent getting in the water.

World's comfiest pants from Kim Sakkara, natch.

Something about the waves and the wind help me find where my boundaries are broken.

Slowly finding my smile again.

Retreats, and why we need them.

Since the beginning of the year, I had had two vicious bouts with the flu (bad), house guests (great!), traveled to Las Vegas (more fantastic), conferred for a second tattoo (scary), and been to conferences.

Notice the one thing I haven't put in there? Yep. Actually writing.

This is Su.

This past weekend, I was able to fix that.

For me, at least, the purpose of a retreat is to claim a time and space to focus

And this is Darla!

on one task, surrounded by others who are following the same path. Everyone's combined efforts lift us from the everyday distractions and clears the mind.

I am blessed to know Susan Lute and Darla Luke. 
They graciously allowed me to join them at their weekend away in Waldport, Oregon. Tucked into a small cottage, the three of us shared silence, plot difficulties, and writing strategies. I foresee asking Darla for an interview on her mapping technique! ;)

Here I did more work than I had in the previous month.

I'm refreshed, ready, and full of mojo. Thank you, Darla and Su!


Here are a few pictures.

Bridge over the bay

Wild Strawberries, turning the sandy soil into a garden.

Su's work ethic amazes me.

The morning after a huge storm.