UCLA Medical Center

The entrance to the old UCLA Medical Center, where my story Wonders Never Cease is set. I finished the story just a few months before the hospital moved across the street to brand new facilities.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical center

The beautiful new Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, just across the street from the old UCLA. The Med Center relocated there in the late spring of 2008.

Westwood Village

Beautiful Westwood Village at night, just down the street from UCLA, where the Bruins go to party. O'Hara's Bar is located on Gayley Avenue, where I set chapter 36 of the book.

Natalie's House

An average-sized house in Culver City, not far from UCLA, where Kemp and Natalie rented for $2200 a month. Welcome to California.

Wilshire Boulevard

Wilshire Boulevard, where several scenes from Wonders Never Cease take place. Think it's easy talking on your cell phone while you're driving? Try taking pictures.

Starbucks

Starbucks at the corner of Beverly Blvd and North Robertson, where chapter 38 takes place. It was critical to my research to relax on the patio and have a latte there.

Jerry's Famous Deli

Jerry's Famous Deli on Beverly Blvd, just across the street from Cedars-Sinai, where chapter 26 of Wonders takes place. Of course I had to try the food--outstanding Reuben sandwich.

Kate Mantilini

Kate Mantilini on the corner of Wilshire and Doheny, where the story of Wonders Never Cease begins. Can you imagine a more California-sounding name than "Doheny"? Pure Beach Boys...

Bar at Kate Mantilini

The bar at Kate Mantilini, where aging movie star Liv Hayden meets a depresssingly young director in chapter 1.

Restaurant Interior

An interior shot of Kate Mantilini. I had lunch at one of the booths on the right. Movie stars are known to frequent Kate's, but not while I was there. Darn.

Santa Monica

Beautiful Santa Monica, just a few blocks from the beach, where Kemp McAvoy desperately wanted to buy a house. I can't imagine the prices.

Santa Monica Pier

I couldn't resist taking a shot of the famous Santa Monica Pier, though I didn't end up setting any part of Wonders there. It was a beautiful afternoon anyway.

UCLA Cafeteria

The cafeteria at UCLA Medical Center, where several gracious nurses where kind enough to sacrifice part of their lunch hour so a novelist could interview them.

UCLA Lobby

The main lobby at the old UCLA Medical Center, where chapter 40 takes place. Notice the gift shop on the left and the flower vending machine on the right; both are mentioned in the book.