Colorado

The Stanley and The Shining

~ Writer Jenny Berlin ~ 4 Comments

When you think of Colorado, what words come to mind?

Snow?

Mountains?

Hiking trails?

How about “horror?”

For me, horror in Colorado means I forgot to put my gloves on before going outside in below-freezing weather.

For a lot of other people, though, horror in Colorado means The Shining.

The Shining is a 1977 novel by Stephen King. Director Stanley Kubrick made it into an over-the-top movie starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duval. It hit theaters in 1980.

Jack Nicholson in a famous scene from the movie version of “The Shining.”

Coloradans have a bit of a love affair with the book and the movie, because our own Stanley Hotel served as the inspiration for Stephen King when he wrote the novel.

The Stanley is a beautiful hotel nestled against the foothills of Estes Park, Colorado.

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.

Guests and visitors are encouraged to wander about the hotel, take in its history and ambiance, and explore the grounds (which you can do on your own or with a guided tour). You can even wander through the hotel’s hedge maze (installed in tribute to a scene from the film).

And since Estes Park is one of my favorite places on Earth, as well as the most beautiful (in my humble opinion), I kind of click with The Stanley’s connection to all things Stephen King.

Last month production closed on a new movie called “Doctor Sleep.” This movie is also based on a Stephen King book by the same name, published in 2013.

And guess what? King wrote Doctor Sleep as a sequel to The Shining.

In the past I’ve enjoyed watching the movie adaptation of The Shining. The film is more campy and fun than scary and horrifying.

But the new movie adaptation of Doctor Sleep is going to be an entirely different animal. The director expects the movie will earn an “R” rating; and since the story involves vampires, I anticipate there will be plenty of graphic scenes involving blood and body parts. Not my cup of tea. But then, I’m a wimp about those kinds of things.

If you’re a Stephen King fan and want to learn more about the movie adaptation of Doctor Sleep, here’s a link.

What about you? Do you like horror movies? How graphic do you like your movies to be?

Fall in Colorado

~ Writer Jenny Berlin ~ Leave a comment

Fall is definitely my favorite season. To me, autumn means cozy sweaters, crisp air, and beautiful foliage. I took these photos in my neighborhood.

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The little bench in the photo below is the perfect place to spend a little quiet time, while thanking God for the beauty of the season.

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(Sigh) Isn’t Colorado beautiful? I am so blessed to be able to live here!

A Place to Belong

~ Writer Jenny Berlin ~ Leave a comment

Colorado is such a wonderful place to live. Our state motto is: “Nothing Without the Diety,” which fits right in line with my motto, too! Every morning I thank God for creating my beautiful home on earth. With wonderful people, clear blue skies, awesome mountain views, and wide open spaces within minutes of my front door, I feel a strong connection to Colorado that I don’t feel anywhere else. This is home, my place to belong.

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Maya Angelou said: “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”

I hope you’ve found your safe place in this world, too!

Our Colorado Columbine

~ Writer Jenny Berlin ~ Leave a comment

My new Christian romance, Ask Me Again, is set in Denver, Colorado. I’ve lived in Denver for many years (as so many Coloradans like to say, “I’m not a native, but I got here as soon as I could.”), and every day I marvel at how beautiful a place it is to live. One of our treasures is the lavender and white columbine, which is our state flower.

columbine_Lavender and white

There are many different species of columbine, but only the rare lavender and white variety is protected by law. In fact, all Colorado citizens have a duty to protect the lavender and white columbine from harm.

Artwork in the Sky

~ Writer Jenny Berlin ~ Leave a comment

It’s “monsoon season” in Colorado. We’ve had rain every day for the past week, which is pretty unusual for Denver. All the moisture is keeping my grass green and my flowers blooming.

Air Pollution

Over the last few days I’ve watched from my window as the storm clouds roll in each afternoon. Some of them are pretty incredible, like this towering cloud with beautiful pink and purple tones. It’s like artwork in the sky!