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What’s New

What’s New

Fodor’s Travel

Can a Luxury Wellness Retreat Make Me Well Again? (May 2024)

The Boston Globe

The Women by Kristin Hannah (Feb 7, 2024)

The Washington Post

City of Night Birds Gives Readers a Thrill (November 26, 2024)

Los Angeles Times

A tale of fashion, misogyny and the brutality of capitalism (Sept 18, 2024)

Pasadena Magazine

Against All Odds, A Civil Conversation (May 2024)

message in a bottle

meredithmaran

Our place. Rough times. Good times. This place mak

Our place. Rough times. Good times. This place makes it, us, better. On our way in I asked the ranger if they'd seen any bighorn sheep lately. When he said no I said, "Then this must be the day." And it was.

Twelve years ago I was newly arrived in LA, broke

Twelve years ago I was newly arrived in LA, broke and broken, crashing at my niece's Hollywood Hills house. I'd stand at the window watching the couple next door and their many friends coming and going, laughing and hugging with arms full of flowers and food. Finally one night I wrote a note on my #bookpassagebookstore stationary--"Lonely lesbian next door seeks dinner invitation"--and dropped it into their mailbox. As I was scurrying away my phone rang. All I heard was laughter, and then, "Get over here right now." 2024 was my tenth Thanksgiving at their table, twice now with @dnsbray, draped with food and flowers and friends and fun and most of all, love. My gratitude for these dearest and deepest of friends knows no bounds. #friendsgiving #loveislove🌈

@dnsbray and I were walking the dog along Sunset w

@dnsbray and I were walking the dog along Sunset when we came across a new-school "strip mall" called #sunsetrow replacing the junk stores where I used to find my treasures. We wandered by the soft opening of a Mongolian dumpling shop--opening tomorrow. The sweet owner invited us in and fed us for free, asking only for feedback. His daughter, wife, and friends wanted to know which was tastier--the shrimp or beef dumplings. And whether the jasmine tea-fruit juice was sweet enough. It was all as delicious as it looks, and by the time we left to get ready for our Friendsgiving we felt like family members. Everyone go eat at @XIBEI starting tomorrow! #atruethanksgiving #silverlakeoldandnew #singles-bachelors

A book reviewer's dream come true: when an author

A book reviewer's dream come true: when an author gets that she's been gotten. Thanks @juhea_writes for saying so in print. I loved reading and reviewing #cityofnightbirds and I love watching your Birds soar.

I can tell when I'm reading a masterful writer by

I can tell when I'm reading a masterful writer by the unbridled envy that rises up in me. That started on p. 1 of #cityofnightbirds by @juhea_writes which I reviewed for the #washingtonpost. Still scraping my jaw off the floor. Hiiiiiiiiiiiighly recommended, obvs. #amreading #amreviewing #amlovingit❤️

For the past week I've been in huge pain and fear

For the past week I've been in huge pain and fear about a close loved one who's sinking under addiction. Yesterday, for comfort, @dnsbray and I hiked the Cross Trail for the first time and at the very top, beyond the cross, we found two letters carefully folded beneath some stones. The top letter was written by "a stranger," consoling Jared, who had left the bottom letter, addressed to Adrienne, a fellow addict with whom he'd shared closeness in a rehab before they both got kicked out and relapsed and Jared found Adrienne overdosed in her bed. In Jared's letter (hard to read in the photos, sorry) he makes amends to Adrienne for being too high to get help. Adrienne died, and Jared got sober. In the stranger's letter (more legible), she urges Jared to know that he's loved, that he'll have a beautiful life, to forgive himself and stay sober. Neither Jared nor the stranger will see this post, but I want them both to know how much their letters meant to me at the precise moment when I needed to read them. Adrienne, I send blessings to your afflicted soul. Jared, and Stranger, I appreciate and admire you both. #godshot #onthemountain

I'm writing a big story for the #sfchronicle about

I'm writing a big story for the #sfchronicle about trans writers preparing for the next Trump reign of terror. Trans folks are far from the only group facing life altering circumstances at this time but...it makes me want to shield them (and immigrants, and other queer people, and women needing abortions, and...) with my body. That time may soon come. See you out there, kinfolk. 💜

Cozying up in LA and PS. #postelectionblues #recov

Cozying up in LA and PS. #postelectionblues #recovery

Just like old times, before we stayed home watchin

Just like old times, before we stayed home watching our rights being threatened: a reading at #storiesbooksandcafe with the renowned and brilliant @bricewagner. Sometimes it's nice to smell a bookstore.

Surprised/not surprised to find myself on the new

Surprised/not surprised to find myself on the new endangered species list. In good company. Currently writing a story for the @sfchronicle about the particular dangers facing trans writers. Let's all do what we can do, okay? Promise?

How are your family ties doing post-election? I fo

How are your family ties doing post-election? I for one am beyond grateful for the solidarity I share with my 96-year-old spitfire mother, @ritamaran7803 and my quietly hilarious, soulful brother @drew.maran, both shown here in yesterday's Zoom debrief. Other families, bio and chosen, are struggling, I know. It's hard not to take it personally when someone who loves you votes to hurt you. I'm dealing with that in my life too. I'm (imperfectly) going with "being the peace I want to see" while building the movement to stop the carnage that is already beginning. Courage, my friends. And love. 💜🤜🤛🏼

II'm not normally a fan of self-care at times like

II'm not normally a fan of self-care at times like this. I usually look around for my tribe, dress for battle, join them in the streets. At 73, having been an activist since 15, this is not my first time being reminded with a slap upside the head that I hold minority opinions, minority values, a minority, love-driven way of life. In fact, my beliefs are less marginal now than they've been most of the past 60 years. (When I started protesting the Vietnam War, only 48% of Americans opposed it.) So. Yesterday I got my head taken care of by @curls.la_ashley in Ashley's creative, imaginative, nurturing space in DTLA. Getting my curls loved on won't solve what's grieving us all but it made this old warrior curlier and readier for what comes next. #electionapocalypse2024 #readyforwhatsnext #igotyou #yougotme

Captured here (click thru), the story of a warrior

Captured here (click thru), the story of a warrior writer who died yesterday--told from the points of view of a friend and colleague in the early queer movement (me) and from the beloved editor who gave her the break she so deserved. I hope Dorothy's spirit fuels our work, literary and activist, as we face the next few years. Thanks to @janetfitch323 and @desanticarole and most importantly to @dorothyallisonwriter who changed American literature and the queer movement and me.

Instagram post 17862849579199438

Instagram post 17862849579199438

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Instagram post 18040545653135548

How are you all doing? Right now he has a lot more

How are you all doing? Right now he has a lot more electoral votes than @kamalaharris does. I know those numbers are predictable and early, but it's hard to see them. Hard to think of all those Americans having those ugly and/or oblivious beliefs. So here's our moment of #electionday zen. A long line to vote in beautiful Beachwood Canyon. And, right now, sunset in the desert, which occurs nightly regardless of who wins. #breathe #considerthealternative

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Instagram post 18032780231351636

My friend @thepamelaredmond, the author of #younge

My friend @thepamelaredmond, the author of #younger among many other books, is also the founder of the naming website #nameberry. Please go to the site and check out her essay about the connection between @kamalaharris's name and our changing for the better nation. Proud to know you, Pam. #dosomething #3daystogo

Google Julia Roberts Kamala to watch the most asto

Google Julia Roberts Kamala to watch the most astounding TV ad I've ever seen. Then please tell me what you think. Is the right right--that lying to your husband about your vote is akin to cheating? Apparently this is a real thing. #whateverittakes #byanymeansnecessary #dotherightthing

Apparently no one set this particular ballot box o

Apparently no one set this particular ballot box on fire. #lfg #votebluetosaveamerica🇺🇸💙

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