The word “refuge” has never been better suited to a place or experience. Imagine scribbling in your notepad, overlooking Tomales Bay with a cup of just-brewed coffee and a freshly picked apple from the garden at your side.
I wrote at the edge of the restored wetlands of Tomales Bay. Like grief, the terrain was in constant flux.


Mesa Refuge played a critical role in my transition from nonprofit executive to author—helping me find my voice when I needed it most. Mesa’s grassroots orientation makes it a rare jewel among residencies.

Mesa Refuge is a sacred writing space. It’s a place of drift, of telling details, on the edge of consciousness and civilization, where my true inner self can emerge.
