Living as a writer in California, inspiration abounds. From the Bay Area to the Central Coast, from the scenery to the cultural atmosphere, life is full and complementary to a writing life.

Running is my time for organizing my thoughts, and mostly, it is a breeding ground for ideas. Sometimes so many ideas come to me, it's hard to keep track of them until I get home.

I'm a marathoner and write about running from the perspective of a 26.2-mile enthusiast. I did my first marathon in 2003, and completed my 19th in 2023, the California International Marathon. I'm always training for the next one.

The beauty of the ocean can restore a writer's soul, The Central Coast has to be seen to be believed. Its healing properties stride across your viewfinder with plush resonance.

Please check out my non-academic writing, written under my pen name, Merre Larkin: https://medium.com/@merrelarkin.