Bisbee native and mystery writer J.A. Jance shares her favorite getaways

November 6, 9:57 AMTucson Getaways ExaminerNancy Dickinson

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New York Times best-selling author, J.A. Jance
Photo credit: Nancy M. Dickinson

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Publishing nearly 40 books since 1982, best-selling author J.A. Jance, a native of Bisbee, AZ, shares her favorite getaways.  The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Chiricahua National Monument and the Coronado National Monument, to name a few.

Jance has appeared on the New York Times Best-Sellers list several times in the life of her career and with a new book, Trial By Fire, coming out on December 1, 2009, she's a busy writer, to be sure.  However, as busy as she is, Jance manages to find time to relax and rejuvenate so she can continue to give readers yet another book with which to escape.

Though she was born in South Dakota, she was raised in Bisbee when her family moved there while she was young.  Recently, Jance shred with Examiner.com her favorite getaways.

• the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR - beginning in mid-February and ending in October, the festival gives J.A. Jance the chance to experience the Bard, relish is beautiful fall foliage (she and her husband will usually attend in September) and to relax.  While in Ashland for the festival, she will attend six or seven plays, play golf and visit with friends.
• the Blue Giraffe Spa - As though being in Ashland, OR, isn't relaxing enough, J.A. Jance will always squeeze in a spa day at the Blue Giraffe when she's in the area.  A full-service spa, Jance will get the full treatment to ease away her stress. At the end of her day, she's had done her nails, a massage, a pedicure, her hair...  The sky's the limit on her spa day and while the rest of the year is about her work and writing, for one day a year, it's about her.
• the Coronado National Monument - In the early 1540, fueled by rumors of "cities of gold" and treasure lined roads, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, hired by the government of Spain, set out with soldiers, a few guides, some priests and stock animals to discover the "new world".  After two years of exploration, the Coronado expedition made it as far east as modern-day Salina, KS, and as far north as the Grand Canyon and Taos, NM, before considering it an epic failure, never having found their "cities of gold".  Jance finds this monument to be inspiring and uses her visits there to renew her spirit.  At the monument and national park, the views are amazing and can take your breath away.
• Chricahua National Monument -A national park dedicated to the rock formations there, formed from the eroded volcanic ash that was the result of the eruption of the Turkey Creek eruption 27,000,000 years ago.  A beautiful scenic drive, of 8 miles and 18 miles of hiking trails enable visitors to visit nearly 12,000 acres once inhabited by the Chiricahua Apaches and Buffalo Soldiers, Touring the Faraway Ranch Historic district will give you a greater sense of the history of the area.  Jance uses her visits to this monument to rest her mind and clear her thinking.
• Sedona & the Grand Canyon - Jance combines these as they both give her a greater sense of of who she is and her place in the world.  To use her words, "There's nothing like the Grand Canyon to give you a breathtaking lesson in your own insignificance."
• the Copper Queen Hotel - Whether it's berakfast, lunch or dinner, dining at the Copper Queen Hotel is always an experience.  The chef at the Winchester Restaurant is both extremely talented and amazing.  Many of the items on the current menu were also offered on the menu when the hotel opened its doors in 1902.  While Jance loves anything to do with the Copper Queen, they love her as well; four years ago they dedicated a room to her, the J.A. Jance room.

J.A. Jance now lives full-time in Seattle but she tries to come home as often as she is able, for Arizona and Bisbee is her home.  She donates a great deal of her time to charity causes in the local area.  Last month, she was in Bisbee to give a speech to help raise funds for the new mammography machine at the Copper Queen Community Hospital.  Her schedule of appearances is on her website.