USA Archives - Books And Travel

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, USA

I love ancient Gothic cathedrals, but I’m finding some interesting things in modern cathedrals too. Coventry showed me how beautiful new cathedrals can be, and in September 2026 I visited another surprising place, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles.

I arrived in a Waymo, my first ride in an autonomous vehicle, so the whole morning was modern meets ancient from the moment I stepped out of the car. I hope you enjoy this virtual tour.

Exterior with the cross lantern, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Photo by JFPenn

The cathedral sits on the old Bunker Hill above the Hollywood Freeway, in a part of town that is all traffic and concrete. The building is concrete too, poured in a colour that the cathedral says recalls the sun-baked adobe of the California Missions, and although it felt quite brutalist and gritty, especially given its location, I started to find beauty there immediately.

Desert Storms and Superblooms: Death Valley With Steve Hall

Places, Podcast

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What are the fascinating — and also dangerous — aspects of Death Valley National Park? How does visiting a stark desert landscape give us perspective about our place in the world?

Steve Hall is a multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker and a seasoned adventure hiker renowned for his extensive explorations of Death Valley National Park.

What’s special about Death Valley National Park?
What are some of the iconic places to visit?
The dangers of Death Valley
Solo adventures and challenges
Dark skies and star gazing
Legends and history
Conservation and visitor etiquette

You can find Steve’s hiking videos of Death Valley and other places at YouTube.com/stevehallDV. The Death Valley National Park website has lots more info.

You can find pictures and notes, as well as book recommendations on Death Valley here.

You can find Death Valley, A Thriller, by J.F. Penn, here.

Death Valley, California, USA

Behind the Book, Places

In November 2024, I visited Death Valley, California, on a day trip from Las Vegas, USA as part of book research for my next thriller. Here are some of the interesting aspects and my pictures. You can also watch a highlight video below or here on YouTube.

The first stop was one of the most breathtaking panoramas in the park, Dante’s View. It provides an incredible vantage point, offering sweeping views of the valley floor.

Classical Architecture, Angels Unawares, And A Surprise Gutenberg Bible. A Long Weekend In Washington DC, USA

Weekend Trips

I’ve always wanted to visit Washington, D.C. as it features in so many films and TV shows. I set a scene in my thriller, Ark of Blood, at the George Washington monument (they have a replica Ark), but I had never visited — until now.

On this long weekend, I enjoyed the classical architecture of the government buildings, the ecclesiastical grandeur of the Basilica and the cathedral, and discovered the beautiful Library of Congress. This trip ended up inspiring Spear of Destiny, which features the library and the Capitol.

JFPenn at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC, Feb 2023 — it was very, very cold!

In February 2023, I managed a long weekend before speaking at a conference in Colorado Springs. It was an unseasonal cold snap, so I was freezing but the sky was blue, and I spent days walking the city, which was really empty as it was off-season. Here are some of the places I visited and would recommend to others.

Thoughts On Traveling To The USA Again Post Pandemic And Differences Between The US And UK Cultures

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I’ve been traveling to the USA regularly since the mid-90s, for family trips and then business conferences and book research. The pandemic years meant a long hiatus (for us all!) but recently I went back to the US for my first trip in a long time and it felt quite foreign in many ways. I’d forgotten so much about how our cultures differ, and I thought it might be interesting to record my thoughts before I get used to it all again.

Context and my history with the USA
Flying again post-pandemic
Arriving in Phoenix, Arizona, and some immediate differences
Visiting the Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, and a day trip to Sedona
Other things I’d forgotten about the USA

I’d love to know what you think about our cultural differences, so please leave a comment, or tweet me @thecreativepenn or contact me here.

The Unexpected Road To An Unconventional Life With Brianna Madia

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How can we step away from the established patterns of life and choose a path that makes us truly happy? How can we redefine travel to find it in our own country, and choose a home in a place that calls to our soul?

Brianna Madia talks about her unexpected road to an unconventional life in the desert of Moab with her four dogs.

Brianna Madia is the author of Nowhere For Very Long: The Unexpected Road to an Unconventional Life.

Show notes

Questioning the established patterns of life — even when that’s hard
The freedom and challenges of #vanlife
Travel as an attitude, even without your own country
Highlights of the desert in Utah
The power of feeling insignificant in the face of natural beauty and how it helps to find perspective
Traveling with four dogs — and redefining happiness
Recommended travel books

You can find Brianna Madia at BriannaMadia.com and on Instagram @briannamadia

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