Mark Salzman

* Author of “Iron and Silk,” “Lost in Place” and the new “Lying Awake.”

Fauna Fun: One of the things I love about Southern California is the landscape. The fauna still blows my mind. I love to get up in the morning and take a walk in the foothills of Glendale. I see a family of deer that walks through the backyard, great horned owls, barn owls, red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, humming birds--and sometimes the bobcat family that lives in the hills behind our house.

Literary Pursuits: Every Saturday morning I go to juvenile hall in East L.A. and teach a writing class to a group of boys. I love working with those kids. In fact, that’s the high point of my weekend. Then I go to my favorite bookstore, Vroman’s in Pasadena. It’s a great place to look for books and also have coffee and look around. I know most of the staff and pester them and ask what they’re reading.

A La Carte, Al Fresco: I’d have lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Montrose, La Cabanita. It’s a little home-style place, with friendly people. I always get things a la carte, the chuletta, stewed pork chops and chili vegetariano, which is chili with a special cheese sauce, and side of flour tortillas. Then I’d spend the afternoon in La Canada at Descanso Gardens. It’s so beautiful. In the winter they whole place blossoms with camellias, and the garden has all these oak trees that are so high that it makes me feel like I’m walking though a cathedral.

Brain Teaser: Sunday, a good project for me is to venture west to see my favorite museum of all time: the Museum of Jurassic Technology. As a writer you’re always trying to remind yourself that art is serious, but it’s also good to remember that art can be serious and be a puzzle.

Preferred Primate: I’m a big fan of the Los Angeles Zoo, especially the new big primate exhibits. I’ll park myself in front of the gorilla habitat for hours. It’s the eerie resemblance to humans that fascinates me. I’ll watch orangutans or the chimpanzees, but the gorillas are my favorite.