Mysteries

Chick Chat: Where should we all go next?

With Left Coast Crime and Malice Domestic behind us, and all of us living in different parts of the country, it’ll probably be a while before we get to see each other in person again. So let’s plan a hypothetical Chicks retreat — and everyone’s invited! So, Chicks: where would we go and what role would you volunteer for? Readers, you should chime in on this, too!

 Ellen Byron

In a dream world, our next get-together would be a villa in Tuscany. The French or English countryside? Oooh… Hawai’i! But my family would KILL me if I went to any of those places without them. So, I’d opt for somewhere that would be relatively easy to get to — the “relatively” being SoCal traffic, which can make a transcontinental flight easy by comparison. But what about a long weekend at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes? A stunning location and my family wouldn’t begrudge me a long weekend within driving distance. Frankly, a drive on the 405 to the South Bay would earn me pity, not jealousy!

Leslie Karst

Of course, if the retreat were in Hawai’i, that would make it easy for me. We could hang out on my lanai and eat pupus and sip Mai Tais, and the next morning head off to the beach to laze around and swim with psychadelic-colored tropical fish.

But it would also be super-fun to meet in Paris, where we could stroll the city streets, stopping for un espresso et croissant at a sidewalk café, then pop into the Musée d’Orsay to check out the Van Goghs, finishing the day over a leisurely dinner in the Latin Quarter discussing writing and how best to kill people in our books.

And I’d volunteer to be tour guide and bartender.

Lisa Q. Mathews

I don’t think we should rule out ANY of these ideas! In fact, why don’t we each take turns being Chick in Charge for planning? Money is no object, of course. I guess I could dip into my massive royalties just a bit. Ordinarily, I’d be wildly raising my hand and shouting out, “BEACH!” But there are so many amazing choices here. Sure, I’d go for the Cape or Martha’s Vineyard but I’d be okay with the Jersey Shore (Maine can be chilly). The only problem with anywhere near a beach is that there is so much to do, and we might not get any actual writing done. So I’ll let out a heavy sigh and say, How about the Cotswolds? Maybe in the winter, when it’s all cozy and charming like that village in The Holiday and we could walk down to hit the pubs at night. Or we could just stay at the pub all day to write with cheese and soup and later do readings by candlelight.

Jennifer Chow

Well, I also wouldn’t mind Hawai’i. Send me all the sunshine and beaches! I’ve also always wanted to visit the Caribbean. On the flip side, something like the ice hotel in Sweden would be great. It’s just so unique and (literally) cool. Other than that, I think something fantastical and fabulous like the Wonderland House in UK, which is Alice in the Wonderland-themed and would make for a great literary retreat. Also, I volunteer to be the researcher of restaurants (thanks, Yelp) and the resident taste tester (thanks, Leslie).

Patricia Sargeant

Oh, my! I love all these suggestions. Loving the Mai Tai’s idea, Leslie! I’m ready to belly up to the bar. Hawai’i would be awesome, I think. We could go water skiing during our afternoon writing breaks. Or we could go to Jamaica and climb Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios during our writing break. Or parasailing in the Florida Keys. Okay, Jen’s in charge of researching restaurants and I’ll check out the water sports.

Marla Cooper


Okay, ironically, I was going to say Hawai’i before I saw anyone else’s answers. So maybe for the second year we get a remote cabin in the woods and then — no wait, I’ve read enough horror novels to know better. I would second Ellen’s original suggestion of a villa in Tuscany. (Ellen, just invite the family along!) The problem with this exercise is now I want to do it! But also I want all of our friends to come, too, so we’re going to need a venue that can hold us all. Not a problem:  My travel superpower is obsessively scouring VRBO and AirBnB until I find the PERFECT house, so that’s my job! 

Cynthia Kuhn

Have laptop, will travel. My brain is screaming Hawai’i so that’s my first vote. But I’d be honestly happy near a beach, as long as I can hear the waves, walk on the sand during writing breaks, and hopefully wade in to jump the waves and not get eaten by a shark. (Cannot tell you how much I regret watching Jaws.) In terms of what I volunteer to do, I’ll bring the makings for smores because we are having campfires every night. Although… did someone say Paris? Because I didn’t take French for ten years for nothing. Allons-y!

Readers: Join us! Help us plan our hypothetical Chicks & Friends retreat! Any place you’d like to pitch? Any special skills you’d like to volunteer?

43 thoughts on “Chick Chat: Where should we all go next?”

  1. I’d love to join you Chicks in a villa in Tuscany! I could even write it off as research for an Intrepid Traveler Mystery.

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  2. I vote with Leslie.
    Paris would be first choice, so I could see it through the world traveler’s eyes.

    Hawaii would be second guess. No beach for me though, with my outdoor allergies.

    Hmmm, what to do, what to do. I know!
    i offer to be the scribe. Scrapbooks for everyone, already designed, created, and filled out with interviews and memories made, you just add your personal thoughts.

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        1. I’m on it. Just tell me where the chicks want to go for the imaginary retreat, and I’ll get started on the imaginary scrapbook! Complete with superimposing photos if I can.

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  3. The problem with all these plans is that while I love *being* in a place, I hate *getting* to the place. I’d love to go to Hawai’i – if I could teleport there. Same for Tuscany.

    But hey, if any of you want a nice mountain retreat, you can come to the Laurel Highlands and I’ll give you the tours of all the local parks – and provide the meals when we return!

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    2. Man, when we lived in California we started going to Hawai’i once a year, but now it is a *journey*! But since this is an imaginary journey, I’ll save you a room and you can be in charge of booking our teleportation!

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        2. This is how I lure you all in! It starts out imaginary, until it sounds like a really good idea and everyone wants to do it!

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    3. I must say, a certain series I’m prioritizing this year REALLY makes me want to visit the Laurel Highlands and see all this geography I’m reading about in person.

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  5. I think a beautiful mountain lodge near a small village, either the Dolomites or the Alps, bakery. Lots of fabulous scenery and locals with interesting stories to share, just as a bit more inspiration for you. As for me, I am pretty handy at making both tea and coffee so can keep you supplied with caffeine, ooohhh, I’m pretty decent at picking out and pouring wine too!

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  6. It may not be actual Hawai’i, but Leslie’s new book, Murder, Local Style, is launching at the Scotts Valley Library in California on May 15 and we’re having a big Luau to celebrate. There will be music, pupus and tropical trivia. A mini getaway. And it’s free!

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    1. that sounds totally fabulous. Just finished reading it this morning. Wish I could teleport across the country to be there. I’d so come as Tammy barker, potter extraordinaire

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    1. mark,

      I totally think she’s offering. I didn’t get to talk to her at malice, but I think if she got enough encouragement, a great auction item would be dinner for 8 catered by Leslie. Especially if you can come up with 7 friends willing to fork the $$ to go to Hawaii for it!

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    2. Maybe if we got financing through a streaming deal for a White-Lotus-style series featuring mystery writers at retreat locales…in which none of US are killed, of course!

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