A Return to the "House of Happy Walls" at Jack London State Park in Glen Ellen

I spent the afternoon in Glen Ellen, California, at the House of Happy Walls, the place Charmian had built as a museum/home for herself after Jack died in 1916. Made of the same volcanic boulders use on "Wolf House," the great house that burned, it fits right in to the surrounding woods. She used the boulders, steel window frames and stone floors to fireproof the building. A two-story square, it has great texture and presents a solid front.

The first time I entered, I found a semblance of Jack's office, displays featuring hundreds of artifacts from the Snark cruise, and Charmian's apartment taking up the second floor. Her main room was as she left it, complete with her beloved Steinway grand and her furniture. Her sleeping area, a simple built-in bed in a corner to the right of the stone fireplace, could be sealed off from the room by a lovely ivory Tapa cloth on a rail, not unlike a shower curtain.

Today, the entire house has been redone as a museum of Charmian and Jack. Her parlor is now a small, but well-stocked, book store. Contemporary titles (Such as The Second Mrs. London) compete with historical reprints, biographies and books of the London's time. Gifts, toys and puzzles for young and mature abound. Ask to see the secret door Charmian had installed.

Interactive experiences with historic photos fill the first-floor area around the main room with audio enlightment as you watch the photos change. There is a gorgeous model of The Snark. Jack and Charmian's boxing glove hang in a glass case along with their fencing regalia.

In what had been the Dining Room are more displays. When I first saw it, a room set out into the Madono woods from the back of the house, the beatifully carved table was set with the Robert Louis Stevenson china Charmian bought in Apia. It is now safely ensconced the in built-in cabinet along the house wall.

When I give my presentation in Charmian's apartment from 2:00-3:30 pm on October 30, only fifty-five people will be able to purchase tickets. l'm hoping the curator of Charmian's wardrobe will be able to provide her red new-born lambsking hunting jacket for the afternoon. Featured on the cove of the book, it is what inspired my journey to tell her story.

I will tell of my journey to tell her story as well as to illustrate with photos of all of the real characters in the book. I plan to give a reading, to answere questions and to inscribe books. My book is available in the Jack London Bookstore as well as at the wonderful Readers Bookstore at 103 West Napa Street, Sonoma, California (just off of Sonoma Plaza). Tell your friends, family, book clubs and those who love the inside story of history about the event.

NOTE: There is an electric cart and an elevator available for the mobility limited. Call the phone number below. It is necessary to be able to climb carpeted stairs to get to Charmian's apartment. There are no public facilities in the building, only two porta-potties in the parking area.

For more information: www.jacklondonpark.com. Or call 707-9388-5216. ext 5 and ask for Ciara Pegg (pronounced like the Sierra mountains) for ticket information.

I hope to see many of you there!

Signing books in the Jack London Book Store in the House of Happy Walls, Jack London State Park, Glen Ellen, California.