About me
My writing career began at the age of nine when I wrote a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys type mystery called The Secret Treasure of Pirate's Cove. I don't remember much of it other than the many, many adverbs... Writing has remained my first love despite often having to relegate it to the back burner.
When I'm not writing, you can find me on a hiking trail or exploring different cities through the lens of The 99% Invisible City field guide. My dog, Güera, joins me in our exploration of my home away from home, Chapala, Jalisco.
"In a world where so much of our natural heritage is being lost, why not celebrate the few bright spots where it is surviving and adapting?"
John Marzluff, Gifts of the Crow
The story of
Daria Hilton
Raised in the tiny Coastal California town of Moss Beach, Daria Hilton grew up with an ocean view, five siblings, a series of rescue dogs and a love of nature. She has been a forklift driver, retail minion and fifth-grade teacher. Daria is an avid hiker and camper and has extensively explored the coastal and East Bay hills of her native San Francisco Bay Area. She spends much of the year living in and writing about the lakeside community of Chapala, Jalisco and is a frequent contributor to Mexico’s largest English language magazine, El Ojo del Lago.
Storyline
1973
I incessantly practiced for the interview with Phil Donahue I was sure my book would warrant.
1981
I met Beaver, the love of my life. Sadly, I was too young to recognize him.
1987
My daughter blessed me and the rest of this universe with her arrival.
1990
I graduated from Humboldt State University after a decade as a professional student and moved to San Francisco.
1992
My son arrived on the anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, shaking up my life for the better.
2004
I returned to the South Bay and humbled myself with a brief but not so spectacular teaching career.
2016
I fell in love with Mexico, eventually making a second home there.
Future
Days filled with creative pursuits, good friends and a loving family.
About the Illustrator
Leonel Lazcano Real
Hugo Leonel Lazcano Real was born and raised in the town of Chapala Jalisco, Mexico. Spending his formative years in the loving comfort of his family, surrounded by such rich natural and cultural wonders, he developed a taste for nature, art and creation itself. He credits his passion for art and music to the support and encouragement of his artistically inclined family, especially his father, who inspired him with music, crafts and drawing. Since childhood, drawing has been his refuge and companion. He values collaboration with writers and creatives of all types. In recent years, his vast catalog of talents has expanded to include music production, tattoo design and mural creation.