We met Stew at a gallery opening in Durango and immediately hit it off. A man of words, love of adventure and creativity, it was a delightful evening of conversation and art.
Following a successful career in New York working in package design and branding, Stew moved to Colorado to write full time. From his bio: He is the author of two books on design, co-author of Colorado High Country Anthology, and author of In the Shadows of Canyon Road-a novel. Good Days, Bad Days is his latest collection of short stories. Stew’s innate curiosity and zest for life has led him to adventures around the world, and when not hiking the high trails of the southwest he can be found casting a line into a tranquil trout stream near his home in Bayfield, Colorado. We are pleased to introduce the kind of guy you’d love to have regaling his stories at your dinner parties, Stew Mosberg …
SWD Guest Q&A
SWD: Are you originally from the Southwest? If not what brought you here?
Stew: I was born in Brooklyn, NY, lived and worked most of my life in NYC. I retired from a career in Branding and Design to write full time and the love of skiing and the beauty of high-country, fly-fishing, hiking, and the wide-open spaces naturally brought me to Colorado.
SWD: Soft tacos or crunchy?
Stew: Hard. Not as easy to eat but I love the sound they make when you bite into them.
SWD: What are your favorite adventures or getaways in the Southwest?
Stew: Santa Fe for the art and I love to hike into high country and fish mountain lakes and beaver ponds, but a river, stream, or serene lake is good, too. Cruising the powder in wide open bowls… I do like the Anasazi ruins and walking quietly among them, feeling the ghosts, the spirits, the history they share.
SWD: What is your favorite margarita?
Stew: In a glass; preferably cold!
SWD: What is your favorite Southwestern National Park?
Stew: I have not been to as many as I would like, but have been to Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park and Chimney Rock, Mesa Verde; those are Nat’l Parks, right?
SWD: Red or Green (or Christmas?)
Stew: Green, it reminds me of the outdoors. Green is the predominant color in my home, although I’ve been told red looks good on me.
SWD: What is the most satisfying aspect of what you do?
Stew: That I can do it!
SWD: What is the most challenging aspect of what you do?
Stew: Getting it into the hands of people.
SWD: Corn or flour tortillas?
Stew: I love corn in any form.
SWD: What do you absolutely refuse to eat?
Stew: Anything still moving; otherwise bring it on!
SWD: This may have just been answered, but … What are your thoughts on menudo (and no, we don’t mean the boy band)?
Stew: I know of it, but have not had it. Hey, to each his own.
SWD: If you hypothetically moved away from the Southwest, what would you ask people to send to you in a care package? What would you miss the most about the Southwest?
Stew: The air and the mountains, no way can that be captured, corralled, or parceled.
SWD: Where is your favorite Green Chile Cheeseburger?
Stew: There’s a little roadhouse between Denver and Georgetown, just off H’way 70. Name escapes me. But great green chile, too!
SWD: Is there a place outside of the Southwest you would like to visit? Some intriguing spot around the world?
Stew: I’ve been to 21 countries and only scraped the surface. Hmmmm, maybe the Seychelles?
SWD: Is there a Southwestern destination you’ve been wanting to visit?
Stew: The “fourteeners” I haven’t climbed!
SWD: Do you have a mantra?
Stew: “Just do it!” and I had it before Nike.
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10 comments
I enjoyed your Q & A and I always admire the photos you include in your articles– magical!
Ms.M, one of the most enjoyable parts of SWD is meeting all of the fascinating people who take our Q&A, and we are so glad to know that you like them!
Great Q&A! My mantra is in the menudo answer — Hey, to each his own.
Brandon, thanks for the comment, and nice mantra! Amy’s is “Nothing is impossible, even the word says I’m Possible.” Mr.D’s is “Leave things better than you found them.”
Perfect candidate for your Q&A. Stew has been to 21 countries and chooses the American Southwest as his home. Anyone who embraces the region will completely understand that.
Doc, truer words have never been spoken!
How nice to discover an author I had not heard of. I look forward to reading his books. Nice Q&A!
ChileSage, after meeting Stew … who doesn’t know a stranger … we were delighted that he did the Q&A. Thanks for the comment and enjoy Stew’s books!
What a great mantra! Mine is “Why not?” which pretty much means the same!.
Ally, we love hearing people’s mantras and yours is fantastic