I flew into Phoenix this weekend. My ultimate destination was Flagstaff, where I am now, but I first stopped by the Frank Lloyd Wright house Taliesin West in Scottsdale. As with any freelancer, I rarely do a trip that isn’t at least part work. This one is no exception. I’m helping a friend work on her nonfiction book, as well as some other travel posts. Tomorrow is an excursion to the Grand Canyon on a train, Wednesday is Sedona and then back home to L.A. on Thursday.

At Taliesin West, the temps hit about 111 degrees. Still, I survived most of the tour and even managed to be inspired. The guide told us that Wright was actually most productive, as well as did some of his most admirable and enduring work, during the last 12 years of his life. Of course, I’ve read about Wright, including the book Loving Frank, and get that he was a small man with a huge ego who was doted on by his mom. Still, I find it inspiring that he was most creative and productive from ages 80 to 92.

Speaking of inspiration, I’m also convinced I’ve hit upon an as-yet-unknown link: extreme heat and vampire writing. I’m talking about Phoenix native Stephanie Meyer and then Anne Rice in New Orleans. When it’s hot as hell, I mostly think about air conditioning and shade, but I can see where the vampires might come in too. Thankfully, the Flagstaff temps are much milder!